My Dyslexia Story: Hannah Davies
Monday 10 February 2025
I was diagnosed with dyslexia at 14 and a half. It had taken that one teacher to listen to my parents concerns, as they were previously called pushy and they were expecting too much from me and not to compare me to my siblings.
I had always struggled with reading and spelling throughout school. I would often have tantrums when it came to having to practice reading and spelling in primary school, I would try and think of ways I could put it off and not do it. That feeling of dread followed me through to high school especially when I would have to read out loud- I would always struggle to get my words out, lose my space and get flustered which affected my confidence.
鈥淗aving dyslexia has made me more determined as an individual, because of the obstacles I've had to overcome鈥�
With dyslexia, you will always need work ten times harder, and you might find your own way of achieving it. You may find you take the long way round of doing it but you will find your way that works for you. Especially with being deemed slow and lazy until I had my diagnosis, I felt like I had to prove myself and show my worth, as I had always enjoyed learning however the aspect of reading, writing and spelling made this difficult and affected my confidence.
But having dyslexia meant I was able to excel with communication, my organisational skills, problem-solving and being able to think outside of the box. It has also made me the person I am today and allows me to see things differently to others which is a great skill to have.
School versus University
Whilst I was in high school, for my exams I was provided with extra time which was really beneficial as I did not have to stress when it came to reading the questions. I was also provided with a visor to assist with my Meares- Irlen Syndrome.
However, when it came to me receiving support in university, this was a different story. My university wouldn't accept my school assessments, they wanted me to be reassessed, but I couldn't afford the test, and the most frustrating thing with this test is that it was means tested. So I felt like I had been let down in my education again. I just managed university but struggled with no support.
Workplace support make all the difference
One achievement I'm proud of is my current job. I work as a Research Administrator in the NHS, which is a job I love. I remember before I started this role I was quite nervous as I knew there would be a lot of reading, paperwork. I remember my first day in the job I'd made the right decision, I sat down with my manager and she asked what she could do to help me, what my needs were and what adaptation I needed for me to succeed in this new role.
Finally, after years of struggling I felt like someone other than my family understood dyslexia and how it can impact on someone's day to day life. With in the first few days these adaptations had taken place, I was provided with my laptop, a DSE assessment, buff paper had been ordered and communication with occupational health for further support in the work place.
The working environment can have a massive impact on you as an individual, and having a supportive manager and team around you can help you excel more as a person. My manager also makes a point in checking in on me, seeing how I'm getting on and if there is anything else that I could benefit from to assist with my working day. This just shows that someone having an understanding of dyslexia, can have a positive impact on their experience all be it in school or workplace.
It's a massive relief once you have your diagnosis, you finally feel you have an answer to your struggles. Carry on believing in yourself and never be ashamed of having dyslexia. You just learn in a different way to others.
I hope that in the future that there is more education for teachers so they are able to spot the signs of dyslexia from an early age. As getting an early diagnosis is everything, the sooner support is given the more of a positive impact this can have on a child鈥檚 education. Hopefully then less children will be branded slow and lazy with regards to reading, writing and won't be overlooked.