My Dyslexia Story: Elle Hunnisett-Wright
Monday 26 August 2024
I was diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia from a young age. I was quite verbose and used a wide range of vocabulary but as we started learning how to read/write at school I began to really struggle. There was a substantial contrast between my oral and written communication, and teachers started to write me off as being lazy. I also had challenges with things like memory, maths, remaining focused, processing times, etc. These traits weren’t recognised until I joined Mrs Williams class in year two. My school only had one SEN trained teacher, and I was lucky enough to be put in her class, which led to my diagnosis.
“Dyslexia has been such a huge part of my life as it affects so many aspects of it”
In some ways, dyslexia has made me more resilient, empathetic and solutions focused but it has also had an impact on my self-esteem and confidence at different times.
I have learnt to turn negative perceptions into positive motivation. At school one of my teachers told my Mum (in front of me) I was a very nice/polite girl, but I would never amount to much academically. Whilst that teacher has probably long forgotten this conversation, it has stuck with me, and it still drives me to prove that perception wrong.
Dyslexia misconceptions
Whilst dyslexia can be very frustrating, I don’t feel like I have a ceiling. I honestly believe there are no limits, and I want others to feel that too.
After my diagnosis, my teachers understood I wasn’t being lazy but due to their misconceptions, now believed I had a lower level of intelligence. I was added to the schools ESN list of educationally subnormal pupils (I was given an unsealed envelope with a letter explaining ESN to give to my Mum, as the teachers believed I wouldn’t be able to read it) and was separated from my friends when I was placed on a table with children who had very different educational needs, which was nicknamed the stinky table. I also had to attend extra classes whereby pupils were publicly pulled out of subjects like art and drama to do extra Maths and English lessons.
“However, it wasn’t all bad with my diagnosis came some positive things such as extra time in exams but as a child the negative changes seemed to far outweigh these positive points.”
So when I was 10 yrs old I asked my Mum to remove me from the ESN list at school as I didnt want my new secondary school to know I had dyslexia and dyspraxia. My Mum listened to me and agreed. Between the ages 10-25yrs I hid my dyslexia/dyspraxia from schools, university and employers so I could try to fit in. My Mum supported me throughout with extra tuition at different times, which I am so grateful for.
Dyslexia in the workplace
In 2022, I was interviewing with new firms and in an effort to be more open about being neurodiverse, I had disclosed my dyslexia and dyspraxia at the third stage of interviews with my preferred firm. I thought it was received well in the interview but shortly after I was told they had found someone who was a better fit. I had a suspicion my neurodiversity had put them off which felt like a massive knock back at first so I took some time to think of a solution for my next attempt I was certain I didn’t want to hide my dyslexia/dyspraxia anymore but didn’t feel confident enough to apply to more firms straight away.
Finally, I decided to add dyslexic/dyspraxic thinking to my list of skills on my CV before sharing it with recruiters. My first interview from my new CV was with my current firm, Julius Baer International Limited (JBI). Throughout the interview process they were very open minded and positive about my dyslexia/dyspraxia. It was so refreshing for these to be seen as a positive skill set rather than a disadvantage or disability. Their positive outlook continued through my new joiner process, and I am now a member of JBIs newly formed Neurodiversity Working Group, helping to share accurate information and encourage an open culture.
My advice for someone who has recently been diagnosed with dyslexia:
I think getting a diagnosis means different things to different people but it’s important to be kind to yourself and take time to process it. I found it really useful to listen to relevant podcasts and read books to understand how/why it affects me. Whilst dyslexic minds process information differently, it doesn’t impact our IQ!