For a long time, dyslexia was talked about almost entirely in terms of what people found hard. That view is changing. Many dyslexic people, and the organisations that support them, now talk about dyslexic thinking as a set of strengths as well as differences.
The British Dyslexia Association describes dyslexia as a specific learning difficulty that primarily affects reading and writing skills, and notes that it can also affect things like memory, processing speed and organisation. It also points out that many dyslexic people show strengths in reasoning and in visual and creative fields. We explain more in how dyslexic brains actually work.
Everyone’s profile is different, but these are strengths dyslexic people often recognise in themselves.
Visual and big-picture thinking
Many dyslexic people describe themselves as visual or big-picture thinkers, picturing ideas, systems and spaces rather than working through them word by word. That can be a real asset in design, engineering, architecture, strategy and any role where you need to see how the pieces fit together.
Reasoning and problem solving
Working around systems that weren’t built for you tends to make you inventive. Many dyslexic people are good at finding alternative routes to an answer, spotting patterns and connecting ideas from different places. Employers are increasingly recognising the value of this; we look at why in the benefits of employing dyslexic people.
Intuition
Some dyslexic people say they often reach an answer through reasoning and gut feel before they can explain every step. That can be valuable when decisions need to be made quickly, as long as there’s time afterwards to check the detail.
Determination and resourcefulness
Many dyslexic adults have spent years finding their own way through education and work, often without the support they should have had. That builds persistence and resourcefulness. Resilience shouldn’t be needed to get past avoidable barriers, though. With the right tools and adjustments, people can put that energy into the work itself.
Making the most of your strengths at work
Know where you shine and say so in applications and interviews. Use the tools that remove barriers, such as text-to-speech, dictation and spellcheck, and ask for reasonable adjustments if you need them. Our list of adjustments for dyslexic employees gives plenty of examples.
If you’d like to share something with your employer, our page on dyslexia in the workplace explains how organisations can support dyslexic staff, and our dyslexia style guide shows how to make written information easier for everyone to read.
How Enna can help
Looking for a role that plays to your strengths? Browse the Enna jobs board for vacancies with neuroinclusive employers, set up job alerts so you don’t miss new ones, and get practical help with your CV so your experience comes across clearly.
