Dyslexia is primarily thought of as a learning difficulty affecting reading and writing, but it takes many different forms. People with dyslexia may find it hard to match letters to sounds, to remember how to spell words or they may even see letters moving around when they’re reading. Some may have trouble telling left from right. Remembering lots of instructions can be particularly hard. Some may need more time to remember the right word, and some may struggle to organize themselves.
But seeing things differently can be very positive – people with dyslexia may be very good at identifying patterns and solving problems, imagining objects rotating in their head, telling stories, making people laugh, taking things apart, understanding how they work, understanding how to put them together again, inventing, making things and seeing the bigger picture, for example.
Many people feel uncomfortable identifying as dyslexic for fear they will be judged as less capable than others, when in reality many of the perceived ‘weaknesses’ dyslexics experience can be turned into strengths with the right support. And there are plenty of examples of famous dyslexics, from Bill Gates to Agatha Christie, Albert Einstein to Leonardo da Vinci, to name but a few, who are testament to what dyslexic people can achieve.
Dyslexia is a condition affecting 10% of the population or 700m people worldwide, yet it is not very well understood. As mortgage lenders there are simple yet effective changes we can make to help our dyslexic colleagues and broker partners function more effectively, and assist them in turning the challenges they face into strengths.
I was diagnosed with dyslexia at a very young age at school, because I was slower to pick things up than my classmates.
I chose not to disclose my dyslexia when I interviewed for a job in the mortgage collections and recoveries department at Nationwide in 2018. My previous job was not in financial services and had not involved numbers. I knew that coming into Nationwide I would need to deal with numbers, such as reading out large sums to customers over the phone! I am very dedicated and knew I could work on my numeracy skills to get it right. But I didn’t know how educated my interviewer might be around dyslexia, and didn’t want to tell them in case they thought I couldn’t do the job.
During training, my manager picked up on some of the challenges I face which she also experiences as a dyslexic person. She pulled me aside and told me about her challenges and her journey. Naturally, I then opened up about the problems I was having. Nationwide put in measures to help (see below), and introduced me to their Dyslexia + support group, which has more than 200 members. My confidence grew, and when I saw a job come up in the intermediary relations team I applied – and was happy to disclose my dyslexia this time. In the interview I laid it out clearly: here are my challenges, this is what I can do about them and here are the other things I can bring to the role.
I have since been promoted, am very happy in my job and feel I am doing well. I’m also in the process of completing a Level 2 apprenticeship in Leadership. If you’d told me five years ago I’d be back in education, I would have laughed! All the way through school I struggled learning new things, and shied away from doing A Levels and going to university. Nationwide helped me grow in confidence and now I’m trying to see my dyslexia as a strength and use it to my advantage. I have started talking about and learning about my dyslexia, and now I’m keen to educate others and help spread awareness.
For more information, tools and guidance, visit the British Dyslexia Association website.