Love is in the air! It’s time to get outside, grab your loved one and breathe in the romance of early spring*. And what better time than now to show your special somebody with dyslexia that you really care?
Being with someone with dyslexia is more than just stepping in to help out with spellings once in a while. When your loved ones struggle with reading, they might approach entire situations differently. This can be anything from taking a little longer to read a sign, to feeling isolated in some social scenarios, to even being the next Leonardo DaVinci on the quiet. There’s a huge spectrum of traits and strengths as well as literacy difficulties involved in having dyslexia. Understanding these is a hugely worthwhile part of maintaining a happy relationship, in which you can both flourish and be yourselves.
Sometimes, someone with dyslexia might take a little longer to respond to your texts or WhatsApp messages. This is because reading can sometimes be a little difficult. Although many people make use of text-to-speech programmes to take the stress out of reading, many people with dyslexia simply prefer to call instead. It’s a lot easier when you think about it, and means that nobody’s waiting around anxiously for a response. Also, who doesn’t like getting a sweet little just-thinking-of-you call in the afternoon?
From job applications to letting that eBay seller know it was broken when it got here, you might have to help out with a quick spellcheck sometimes. It’s also a good exercise in remembering that spelling errors don’t mean that somebody is ineloquent or has bad language skills. It’s just the way some people with dyslexia experience reading and writing.
What’s better than curling up with a good book? Curling up with somebody you love and a good book. Sometimes, people with dyslexia find it much easier to hear words than read them, and you might find that they love being read aloud to.
Documentaries and podcasts are a great way of staying informed if you struggle with reading. This is why many people with dyslexia tend to love learning visually from places like The Discovery Channel, as well as platforms like SkillShare and YouTube. Be prepared for a lot of David Attenborough — but then again, who doesn’t love David Attenborough?
Sometimes dyslexia can affect short-term memory. This means that your partner or loved one might forget some important dates, a conversation or an appointment. Having a to-do whiteboard or setting phone alarms is an easy way to make your schedules dyslexia-friendly.
There’s a well-established link between dyslexia and creativity, especially in the arts. Many people with dyslexia are excellent spatial or visual thinkers and have a real talent for craft. They’re also good at thinking outside the box. Still don’t believe us? Pablo Picasso, Steven Spielberg, John Lennon, and Albert Einstein are some of history’s most famous people with dyslexia, and that’s just the beginning.
It’s believed that around 5-10% of the global population have a form of dyslexia, but these numbers can be much higher when we take a look at certain positions and industries:
Around 35% of company founders in the US have dyslexia. Whether it’s their problem-solving skills, creativity, or just their ability to think about the box, people with dyslexia seem to have an enviable knack for the world of business. Good news if you’re thinking of opening a start-up together! (…but less good news if you’re not that into spending your weekends binge-watching The Apprentice).
Some people with dyslexia struggle with orienteering, like map-reading and taking directions. They can also confuse compass points sometimes, or even left and right. This is why it’s important to rely on visual aids like landmarks when you’re telling them how to drive to your Grandma’s house for the first time. The travel anxiety can be real.
Whether it’s dense emails, badly designed webpages, or even just having to read a menu in a short space of time, the world isn’t fully designed with dyslexic people in mind. That’s why they need you to be understanding, as well as supportive and helpful — sometimes it’s frustrating having to work at a skill other people take for granted.
Looking for something literary to spoil someone with dyslexia with on Valentine’s Day? DysBooks has a great breakdown of what kind of books make the perfect gifts. Some other fun and lockdown-friendly date ideas could be virtual craft nights, movie nights, or even a video-call cook-along!
*(Just kidding — we’d still advise staying in, connecting via Zoom, and keeping your facemask on for the foreseeable).