Over the past few decades, society, workplaces, and education have made huge steps towards greater inclusivity for people with dyslexia. From celebrating neurodiversity to championing accessible learning environments, there’s a real sense that things have improved for anyone living, learning and working with dyslexia. But, as we take time to mark dyslexia awareness month, it’s important to acknowledge that the journey isn’t over: social stigma around dyslexia still lingers, leaving people facing barriers to understanding, diagnosis, and acceptance.
Dyslexia awareness month for us is all about challenging those myths, promoting understanding, and opening up new conversations that celebrate each and every dyslexic strength. Although we’ve come a long way, it’s a real problem that these broad strides may make us feel complacent, that things are equal and that we’ve done enough—because even though we have come a long way since the bad old days, we’ve still got a long way to go until there’s equity of access for all.
Where myth and stigma stick, inequality persists. And without breaking them down, we can’t put ourselves in a position where we’re able to mandate change.
And sadly, these pervasive myths and misconceptions about dyslexia still have the power to shape how people with dyslexia experience education, find their way in the world of work, and even interact with their peers socially. It’s these mistaken beliefs about dyslexia that form the basis of the inequalities and the barriers that are still a pervasive force in so many people’s dyslexia journeys, and it’s about time we left them in the past where they belong.
…Let’s bust some myths together today.
Unfortunately, one of the most enduring myths is that dyslexia equals low intelligence… which couldn’t be further from the truth.
Dyslexic people have the exact same potential to be highly intelligent (whether that’s book-smart or practically smart) and creative, but may interact with information or the world differently from their neurotypical peers. Famous dyslexic thinkers include Maggie Aderin-Pocock, a brilliant space scientist, Sir Richard Branson, entrepreneur extraordinaire, and Stephen Spielberg, a man with more award nominations to his name than we’ve collectively had hot dinners. But what often happens is that somebody with dyslexia may not get the right support, which can impact their grades, careers, and opportunities in life—which makes it all the more important we ensure that support and early intervention are available to all in education.
False! Dyslexia affects both men and women, though the way it’s detected or understood can vary, partly because gender biases show up in parenting, classrooms, and workplaces. The most common example that many educators report experiencing is that when a boy doesn’t understand the work, they’re more likely to express those frustrations outwardly, leading to disengagement, non-completion or challenging behaviour; whereas girls are more likely to try to obfuscate the issue, i.e. covering up lacklustre written work with time-consuming illustrations, or feigning misunderstanding of the task at hand. We don’t seem to have any information, either research-based or anecdotal, on children and young people who identify as non-binary or other genders yet.
But current research suggests in actuality, dyslexia rates are fairly equal across all genders, but girls and women are far less likely to receive a diagnosis due to differences in how challenges manifest and are processed by external observers. Dyslexia awareness month is a great time to highlight this and dispel the myth that it’s a ‘boys’ issue’— everyone with dyslexia needs access to support just the same, even if it’s not as outwardly visible.
It’s true that reading and writing can be challenging for people with dyslexia, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Dyslexia can also impact somebody’s capacity for organisation and sequencing, timekeeping, telling left from right, following directions, and managing multiple instructions at once. During dyslexia awareness month, let’s broaden the conversation and talk about all the ways dyslexia can show up in daily life, not just on a page.
Not so! Dyslexia is a lifelong neurodiversity, which means people don’t “grow out” of it with age. As people age, they might develop unique coping strategies, or find that leaving the reading- and writing-heavy environment of full-time education lessens the extent to which it impacts their life, but your brain? You’re stuck with that big ol’ wiggly mass of grey cells for life.
…But just as people can find that just as their dyslexia might become less of a dominant force in their life as they become adults, it can feel like it’s resurging as they hit somewhere around retirement age. That’s because the cognitive changes associated with ageing can effectively mimic dyslexia, and some people even believe that they amplify the impact of dyslexia due to the chemical and physical shifts associated with transitioning into old age.
This myth can be particularly harmful: while excellent teaching can support dyslexic learners and help them thrive and achieve their dreams, dyslexia isn’t the result of neglectful parenting or poor education. Our educators are the best support mechanism we have for dyslexic learners, and even in the age of AI, that’s always going to be true—so it’s harmful when dedicated teachers, teaching assistants or SENCos get the blame for a difference that’s wired into the brain from birth, and can be easily supported with the right combination of learning changes and supportive tools.
Teachers, here’s to you.
Here’s our biggest “um, actually” of the article: everybody experiences dyslexia differently.
Some people read fluently but struggle with spelling, while others might have trouble with numbers or time management. Some might be great writers, but find following a sequence of instructions challenging. Some people only struggle with more applied tasks, like learning to drive.
Dyslexia awareness month is a fantastic time to remember that everyone’s journey is unique, and there’s no single “type” or list of symptoms that fits everyone, and that there are dyslexic people out there who read and write fluently.
Nope! It’s a lifelong neurodiversity, and the name of the game is to support somebody’s needs, not ‘cure’ them—there’s nothing wrong with being dyslexic, and it’s not something that people should be ashamed of or try to take medicine for. What might be useful to some dyslexic people, however, are medical interventions taken to support the anxiety and the mental health impact that dyslexia may have on them. Don’t be afraid to seek support from your GP or a therapist if you’re finding things too much, because it’s perfectly valid to seek support in this way.
Remember, your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and millions of people all over the world seek assistance for dyslexia-related anxiety or mental health challenges.
The idea that reasonable adjustments, like extra time on tests or assistive technology, are “cheating” or unfair is a myth that needs busting right now.
Accommodations level the playing field so everyone has a fair shot and the tools to succeed, and they’re a vital part of recognising neurodiversity in practice. Dyslexia awareness month encourages everyone to see these supports as equal opportunities, not exceptions or advantages—would you say somebody wearing glasses to an exam was cheating? No, of course you wouldn’t.
And you were very wrong to do so! This damaging myth can stop people asking for the help and accommodations they need in order to thrive.
In fact, dyslexic people are often working twice as hard to process information, manage tasks, or keep pace with their peers. The challenge doesn’t stem from motivation (although that might come into the equation afterward, if people become disillusioned or disengaged), it’s working with a brain that processes the world a little differently.
We’ve just unpacked some of the most common myths about dyslexia, and from them, it’s clear that there’s a long way to go until everyone understands dyslexia for what it is, and each and every space is one that dyslexic folks can thrive in. And knowing the facts is only half the story: real change happens when we use that understanding to rethink how we see dyslexia and the people who live with it, and drive improvements where we are.
Dyslexia awareness month is a great time to keep the momentum going. Every honest conversation, every story shared on social media and every time someone challenges an old, inaccurate assumption, it all helps chip away at stigma and create space for inclusion and empathetic understanding. And if we go further, and carry a bit of that mythbusting energy through into our daily lives as dyslexia awareness month draws to a close, we can build workplaces, educational experiences and social spaces that work for everyone.