Preparing for Dyslexia Awareness Week
People describe dyslexia in different ways. For some, it feels difficult. For others, it can feel frustrating, exhausting or simply part of how they experience the world. Some people use the word “superpower”, and that may feel right for them. Others may find it does not reflect the whole picture.
There is no single way to be dyslexic. Dyslexia can affect people differently, and its impact may change depending on the situation, the support available and how much pressure someone is under. Although dyslexia is often discussed in relation to school, reading and spelling, it can also affect adult life, including everyday activities, work, relationships and life choices.
The everyday things people might not see
Some of the challenges associated with dyslexia may be easy for other people to miss. They can arise in ordinary situations: buying a birthday card, finding your way around a shopping centre, reading signs or instructions, or using a car park ticket machine while trying to remember your vehicle registration.
Remembering a phone number, keeping track of appointments or managing several tasks at once can also take more effort for some people. Working memory, planning and organisation can all affect how someone manages everyday tasks. These experiences are not the same for everyone, but they can help explain why a seemingly small task may feel demanding.
Dyslexia can also affect relationships. Someone may forget part of a conversation, struggle to find the right words under pressure, or need more time to take in information. That can lead to misunderstandings, especially when other people assume that forgetting or asking for something to be repeated means a person is not listening or does not care.
At home, everyday responsibilities may involve more than one challenge at once. Shopping, managing money, keeping track of medication or organising the week can involve reading, remembering, planning and handling interruptions. Not every dyslexic adult will find these things difficult, but these experiences deserve to be understood without judgement.
Dyslexia at work
This year, Dyslexia Awareness Week takes place from 5 to 11 October, with the theme “Dyslexia in real life: At work”. The focus is on dyslexic adults and their experiences of work, including recruitment, communication, workplace systems, management and access to adjustments.
Work can bring its own pressures: processing a lot of information, remembering verbal instructions, writing emails, managing deadlines or switching between tasks. When systems rely on one particular way of reading, remembering or communicating, people may face barriers that have little to do with their knowledge, experience or ability to do the job.
Small, thoughtful changes can help. Clear instructions, written follow-ups to verbal conversations, checklists, assistive technology, extra processing time and access to a quiet space may make a difference. What works will vary from person to person, so it helps to ask the individual what would support them.
Workplace champions, staff networks and internal resource groups can give people opportunities to share experiences and find support. They are most useful when they are part of a wider commitment to inclusive policies, informed managers and adjustments that are understood and used in everyday working life.
Strengths belong in the conversation too
Talking about the challenges should not mean overlooking the strengths, skills and achievements of dyslexic adults. People with dyslexia contribute across many types of work and bring their own knowledge, experience and ways of approaching problems.
A strengths-based view does not require anyone to call dyslexia a superpower. It means recognising the whole person: what they find difficult, what they do well, what they have learned to manage and what helps them thrive. Support should make it easier for people to use their strengths without expecting them to hide the areas where they need help.
Support at work and at home
Support does not have to begin with a complicated plan. It can start with listening and asking what would make a task easier. At work, that might mean clearer instructions, a supportive colleague, suitable technology or time to process information. At home, it might mean sharing responsibilities, using reminders or lists, or agreeing how important information will be communicated.
Rest matters too. When someone is tired or under pressure, tasks that already take extra effort may become harder to manage. Having time to pause and recover can help people look after their wellbeing and return to things with more energy.
Dyslexia Awareness Week gives us a reason to talk about adult experiences, but understanding and support need to continue throughout the year. When we make room for different ways of thinking, communicating and getting things done, we can reduce unnecessary barriers and help people feel understood.
A Studying with Dyslexia reminder
Dyslexia does not look the same in every adult, and no one should have to prove that they deserve support. Listen to people’s experiences, ask what helps, and recognise both their challenges and their strengths.
What is one thing you wish more people understood about being an adult with dyslexia?
Join the Studying with Dyslexia Community
Our Studying with Dyslexia Skool Community is now free to join.
It is a space for parents, educators, dyslexic people and others interested in dyslexia to have conversations, ask questions, share experiences and learn from one another.
Rather than simply reading another article, you can join the discussion, talk about your own experiences and explore some of the subjects we cover through Studying with Dyslexia in more depth.
Come and join the community, introduce yourself and be part of the conversation.
Studying with Dyslexia provides information and community discussion rather than individual diagnosis or medical advice