Dyslexia Always a Learning Disability? At One Time It Might Have Been an Advantage

I was born in the wrong era

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I grew up hearing the oft-told stories, “ we could read your writing, but we had to hold the paper up to a mirror.” “ It took you forever to learn to tie your shoes, “I would get so frustrated.”

Mom and dad embraced the labels the doctors gave me, “ Lawson’s Brain-Damaged. There’s not much hope for him having a productive life.”

There might be advantages to having Dyslexia

I was online today searching for something to write about when I came across this article. The article stated that under different circumstances, Dyslexia might have been an advantage. (here)

Dyslexia is Genetic and it affects a large part of the world’s population, so it must have had a purpose. Dyslexia is a problem now because humans are dependent on reading and language. That wasn’t always the case.

It seems logical to me, but people say I think differently

People have said that I have a different way of looking at things. I have heard that said of other Dyslexics as well. Scientists think that different ways of thinking served an evolutionary purpose.

Perhaps ancient Dyslexics helped their tribes solve problems like where to build shelters. Outside-the-box thinking could have led to inventive ways for the tribe to hunt or forage for food.

I’m sure if my parents were still alive, they would be as fascinated as I am about the possibilities. I can see how, in a simpler time, I would have had it easier.

I’m easily distracted until I get dialed-in

I know that I do better when I’m away from twenty-first-century noise. It doesn’t take much to break my concentration. In the right environment, if I get locked in, I can be highly productive.

I bought a book years ago, “ The Gift of Dyslexia.” My dad saw me with the book and said, “ How can anyone call that curse a gift?” I believe that Dyslexia can be a gift if it’s developed properly.

It’s easy to think out of the box when I can’t find it

I learn differently, I have had jobs where the comment would be, “ I never thought about doing it that way.” My co-workers would soon adopt my innovation.

That happened rarely, most of the time, I lost jobs because I didn’t learn them fast enough. If it happened to me, it happened to other Dyslexics as well.

Businesses are missing out

Businesses are missing out on a workforce that would benefit them. Dyslexics and Neuro-divergent workers work hard, and they can stay focused on tasks.

It takes longer to train some Dyslexics, I had a hard time learning new jobs. When I did learn, I was the best employee a supervisor could ask for.

How many Dyslexics are under-employed, or not employed at all, because they were not given a chance? Employers complain about not being able to find people that will work hard.

Where would I be now if one of the employers that let me go gave me a chance instead?

Dyslexics and other Neuro-divergent workers need to be given a chance. In the 1980s, I worked most of the summer in Texas, during a heatwave, working in a warehouse.

I worked hard, but it wasn’t enough. I was fired after screwing up a major order for the company’s best customer. At that stage of my life, I was used to being fired, but it upset my parents.

It was discouraging because I knew I was a good worker

What if, instead of firing me, the manager could have had me do smaller orders? Or he could have had me load trucks.

I know from my many stints in Vocational Rehabilitation, that there are a lot of people like me. Hard workers who just want a chance.

I would rather be working

I hate that I’m on Disability. I get tired of not having the money that a paycheck brings. I don’t miss the drama and pain of being fired, or wondering if I would make it through the week.

Employers will say that they do not have the time to work with someone that doesn’t catch on fast enough. They would rather hire someone that doesn’t have a disability. That person will do as little as possible to get that paycheck.

All I wanted was a chance

All any new employee wants is a chance. I know that time is money. It would be better to lose money in the short-term, to have a loyal employee that will work hard.

Reach out to Rehabilitative Services in your area. Give a Dyslexic a chance. You might find that the Dyslexic you hire may see innovations that you never thought of.

Hire a Dyslexic, be patient. Let him learn his way. You might be surprised, and he might bring innovative ideas that will help your company grow.

Give someone a chance:

It hurt that I never could keep a job until I became a security guard. Where would I be now if I was given half a chance to learn before I was fired?

Don’t waste the potential of a Dyslexic Employee.

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