Dyslexia success stories

Don’t underestimate the difficulty with organisation that goes with dyslexia. Make sure she doesn't view asking for help as a failure.

Have you investigated the spectacles that can help?
Improving reading is the key.
Also using a laptop to type assignments etc.
Starting to learn to type is of huge benefit to every student, but particularly dsylexics.
Start looking at any and every aid to help your child.

Agree with this, what colour overlay is she using? There is loads of aids and apps now that will help with her reading and reading comprehension.

How is she academically?

id also buy her colour notebooks, I still use them now, I’m degree educated and am a specialist in my professional role.

Look up dyslexia is my superpower on LinkedIn for people sharing their stories

No advise as we are in the same situation. Looking now ive no idea how he will ever manage GCSEs as his written work is prob 4-5 years behind. DS is also 12 with dyslexia. Currently reading is much stronger than it was but spellings he still struggles with 3/4 letter words.

I am severely dyslexic was told at school I couldn’t do x y z and that I would never be a nurse, which I is what I’d always wanted to do. Primary school I was bullied well really until high school finished. I had a horrible time but worked hard. Surpassed what anyone expected. I did a year at college then went to university to be a paediatric nurse in Edinburgh. 19 years qualified and love it. I also did summer school for kids with dyslexia when I was younger which I loved, being with other kids with struggles like mine gave me confidence, no bullying either. I hope your daughter gets the support to succeed in whatever she chooses to do.

My boss has severe dyslexia and is a ceo of a very successful company. She's also very open about her dyslexia and manages to navigate life fine with voice notes 😆 if I see a voice not pop up I know exactly who it is..! She's also a very well known speaker and angel investor.

DH has dyslexia and has 3 degrees and a PhD. I think the key is to know the strengths in the spiky profile (his is coding and spotting detail, awful at spatial recognition and spelling though) and leaning into those. Then using as much support to bring the lower points up as much as possible. Fight for things like being able to dictate assignments and specialist software. DH has campaigned to allow all ND employees in his team to use AI to help with emails for example.

Dh was diagnosed at 22 and the real damage wasn't the actual dyslexia but being told he was stupid all through secondary. So you have the gift of being able to not do that with your DC.

Signed up just to answer this one.

My husband has dyslexia and dyspraxia. He once muddled up the spelling of Tuesday and Thursday in an email to a lecturer at university and that's when they sent him to get tested.

He's also got a degree in computer science and is on a mumsnetty 6 figure salary. Coding is a good one for dyslexics because depending on the dev environment it uses a lot of syntax that's colour coded and can be filled in using keyboard short cuts rather than typing long hand.

He is intensely practical, can turn his hand to just about anything. Other things he would do in hindsight would be to be a carpenter, electrician, plumber or plasterer.

Just about anything where there's a problem to be solved really, he's got an amazing working memory too that seems to have grown out of necessity.

My sister (now in her 50s) is dyslexic and was totally failed at school. She came out with nothing. After working in low paid jobs and working out what she was good at she went back and did all her qualifications as an adult. She started with GCSEs and went through to a degree even while working with a family to support. She got amazing results and now has an excellent graduate career (and I'm sure is very good at her job). I have so much respect for her.
My own son is dyslexic and I'm not sure where he'll be when he comes to sit GCSEs as he is in secondary and still can't read properly. I am confident he can get there but the pressure in our education system is to be at the same point by a certain age and I think he might need a little extra time.

Both of my children have been diagnosed as profoundly dsylexic, having been privately assessed.
It was a shock because they both are academically very strong.
One has recently been awarded an honours degree at a top university and has landed an extremely prestigious Graduate Programme Placement in a huge multi national. They worked hard, that was the ingredient.
My other child is still in education and is doing well too, again hard work.

Have you investigated the spectacles that can help?
Improving reading is the key.
Also using a laptop to type assignments etc.
Starting to learn to type is of huge benefit to every student, but particularly dsylexics.
Start looking at any and every aid to help your child.

We also found regular nessy (online subscription to computer game ) helped a lot but you have to do it 4 times a week.

Richard Branson and many successful entrepreneurs are dyslexic. As is jay blades from the repair shop. My son is severely dyslexic but I don't know what his reading age is. He is ten and is just about managing the bunny Vs monkey books. But three years ago he was still only able to manage CVC words very slowly. He also has ADHD which probably hasn't helped.
We focus on the things he is brilliant at like being amazingly creative and making things, and have explained that there is noone who is brilliant at everything and that he is extra talented at being creative but will always find reading hard and to play to his talents instead of feeling sad about how hard reading is. We are lucky because he has quite a resilient sort of personality naturally.

I bet your daughter has things she enjoys and is good at? Maybe sports or art?

Mine is moderate but I've managed by being very open about it and making use of every tool available. Almost anything written can be read aloud by technology now. Look into tools for thoes with sight challenges. Explore every avenue, colour contrasts, screen rulers to stop words swimming.

Boss has absolutely terrible dyslexia. She's on 6 figures plus and well respected in the industry.

This is very late in the day to be realising severe dyslexia is present. Planet dyslexia is really good.

Hi, I have 4 sons, all of whom are dyslexic with various degrees of severity. The 3 eldest have degrees (1st or 2i). The youngest is currently at university. All educated in the state system.
I’m sure you are working closely with the school, the boys were allowed to drop a compulsory language at GCSE and they did choose subjects that played to their strengths. They had extra time in exams and I think one may have had a scribe. The 2 most affected had a private dyslexia tutor for many years.
I know you will worry, I did endlessly but they have done well and I am immensely proud of what they have achieved and their resilience. Best of luck to your daughter.