Author name: Jake S.

What It’s Really Like to Live with Dyslexia – A young adult’s perspective When people hear the word dyslexia, they often think it just means “mixing up letters” or “having trouble reading.” But for me and for many others it’s so much more than that. Dyslexia isn’t just about reading; it impacts nearly every part of how I experience the world. The Early Years: When Reading Felt Impossible As a child, I remember staring at a page and watching the words blur together. I justcouldn’t seem to read the words accurately. Homework took hours and spelling listsleft me feeling frustrated and tearful. I couldn’t understand why things felt so difficultand often just gave up. Teachers assumed I wasn’t trying hard enough and accusedme of being unfocused or lazy. And I started to believe it! When I look back at thechild I was, that saddens me so much- the feeling I always carried that somethingwas wrong with me. Finding Out There Was a Name for It When I was eventually tested and diagnosed at the age of 23, I finally understood what had been holding me back. Suddenly, there was a reason why reading, spelling, and even remembering sequences of information felt so difficult. There was a realisation that I wasn’t stupid, my brain just worked differently. This was really pivotal and validating for me. Adapting and Thriving Living with dyslexia as a young adult means I’ve learned strategies and incorporated adaptations into my life to help support my learning experience at university. I use text-to-speech software, audiobooks, and note-taking apps that read things back to me. I receive extra tutor support and am not shy to ask for additional help when I need it. A Different Way of Seeing the World Dyslexia can make life complicated but I’ve also learned to see it as a difference not a weakness. I’ve learned not to be so hard on myself and to appreciate the strengths that come with dyslexia such as creative thinking and problem solving. Learning to accept that my brain works differently has been a powerful life. Dyslexia doesn’t define me, but it has definitely enriched my life in unexpected ways.  Jake is a student at a London University. He is in his third year of a media undergraduate degree.