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I wasn't diagnosed with Dyslexia until I was in my late thirties. Despite my horrendous experience in primary school and challenges through most of high school, I was never tested. In fact, I don't even remember hearing the word Dyslexia discussed in my array of school meetings, special ed classes or out-of-school therapies. But here we are, and I am proud to call myself Dyslexic; honestly, it never occurred to phrase it any other way. Maybe because my diagnosis came with an enormous sense of relief. So much of my life, particularly the struggles, finally made sense.
I understand and respect the many conversations about how we use labels, and how they relate to our children with Dyslexia is just as important. When my son was officially diagnosed at seven years old, I had many thoughts about what Dyslexia may or may not mean for him. I was hyper-aware of not projecting any of my story onto him, particularly the suffering. So when it came time to discuss his diagnosis and what it meant, I decided to try to only ever refer to him as 'having Dyslexia'. It isn't who he is and most certainly doesn't define him. But also knew we would only ever talk about Dyslexia with pride in our house; His perception would one day soon become his reality, and thankfully, it didn't take long before it started to take effect. In turn, he often refers to himself now as Dyslexic.
Do I worry that he thinks it's who he is, not what he has? No, I don't, not at all. I have and will continue to raise him to understand what Dyslexia is and isn't, what it has gifted him, and where it may challenge him. The choice of how he chooses to refer to it is his, as it has been mine and should be any person's choice.
I think it's a very valid conversation and definitely something to consider when talking about other people; however, it's not a conversation I would choose to hold above changing the narrative of what it means to be a child in the mainstream school system with Dyslexia. For me, the dream is there will be a day when children & parents alike are empowered by the diagnosis of Dyslexia, a day when they will know that not only is the support that they need to thrive available to them but because their brain does work differently, they have an enhanced ability that will benefit them for life, once they truly tap into its gifts.
We have important work to do for our children; let's keep going.
B
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