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Original poster

Dyslexia and Careers

43 replies

Tauranga · 05/05/2025 16:39

Do you have dyslexia and if so what career/ job do you have?
My child is extremely dyslexic, processing quite slow/ mixed up.
Can't cram, needs lots of short bursts for revision.
Probably will be passes at gcse level but only 4 and then maybe 2 A levels, probably grade C.

I am worried about what he can do as a job or career. His grades don't actually reflect how hard he works or his aptitude. In maths for example he frequently answers correctly but has read the question wrong.

Anybody have inspiring tales?

OP posts:
TeenToTwenties · 05/05/2025 19:07

Why A levels rather than T-Levels / BTEC?

There may well still be exams, but also coursework assignments and practical assessments too.

You can do Outdoor Pursuits for example. (or a host of other things, but picked that as related to things you say he likes to do.)

Original poster
Tauranga · 05/05/2025 19:22

TeenToTwenties · 05/05/2025 19:07

Why A levels rather than T-Levels / BTEC?

There may well still be exams, but also coursework assignments and practical assessments too.

You can do Outdoor Pursuits for example. (or a host of other things, but picked that as related to things you say he likes to do.)

Yrs, I think he can do that or a mix of these, we have to wait and see what he gets first... our school does day release type things.
Another problem is he has no idea what he likes doing.

OP posts:
TeenToTwenties · 05/05/2025 19:26

Is he y10 or y11?
If y11 I would recommend looking at options before results day, not waiting for results so as to be ready to spring into action.
If y10 then definitely make a variety of applications.

Better to do well at T-Level/BTEC than poorly at A levels imo.

Too many kids seem to sleepwalk into A levels without really thinking what is best for them.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General education SEN
Brody77 · 05/05/2025 19:26

My DH has dyslexia and messed up a lot as a teen but realised he wanted to do so worked incredibly hard and is a dentist, but would rather have been a plumber/carpenter as he loves fixing and doing things, my DB has dyslexia and got a degree and masters and worked in the oil industry and also as a tree surgeon but is now dabbling in ecology as is primary carer for kids with high flying wife, my mum is dyslexic and was a nurse but one of the smartest knowledgeable people I know. My DD11 is dyslexic and desperate to be a dentist too, not sure she will manage the academic side but has the sheer bloody mindedness of DH so who knows, too early to tell.

Karatema · 05/05/2025 19:38

Tauranga · 05/05/2025 17:00

Brilliant!
Did they get good exam results?
I need to stop analysing everything and just let him get on with it.
It's hard. He works so hard but is not going to get the results he should.

Show quote history

The paramedic did an access course and then did a degree in Midwifery (1st class) and then decided the sexism (from fellow midwives not patients) was too much so converted to Paramedic Science.
The engineer did a mechanical engineering degree and is now an avionics engineer. He had a laptop with reading software and had extra time in all his exams.

user2848502016 · 05/05/2025 20:40

My brother is dyslexic and is an engineer. I used to work with a dyslexic laboratory technician

Somethingscintilling · 05/05/2025 21:24

Hi op we suspect my dd has dyslexia but we've never had 800 spare to test her when paying for tutors etc. She needed lots of early stragety and intervention.

Can you get tutors for him?
Unfortunately success of people with support early on because school cannot provide it so parents need to get in early self esteem gets crushed very early on in the system.

By now I would be throwing every penny at tutors to get him through gcse.

Octavia64 · 05/05/2025 21:28

BTECs or similar are likely to be easier for him than A levels.

lots of teens go to university from BTECs and because they spread the work out much more with coursework and assignments they are much better for dyslexic students.

100PercentFaithful · 05/05/2025 21:32

I’m believe a rather high proportion of millionaires are dyslexic OP.
Maybe starting a business would be a good idea?

Sofasloth · 05/05/2025 21:35

Gchq specifically hire people with dyslexia because they see things/patterns neurotypicals often miss.

Original poster
Tauranga · 05/05/2025 22:34

Sofasloth · 05/05/2025 21:35

Gchq specifically hire people with dyslexia because they see things/patterns neurotypicals often miss.

Wow this is interesting. I know he problem solves amazingly compared to his brother- his brother who is off to Oxford!

OP posts:
Original poster
Tauranga · 05/05/2025 22:36

100PercentFaithful · 05/05/2025 21:32

I’m believe a rather high proportion of millionaires are dyslexic OP.
Maybe starting a business would be a good idea?

This is interesting too, as he has started importing clothes and selling them.

Thank you, everyone has cheered me up!
He is wonderful, I just worry, but I have to let him find his own path.
Hard!

OP posts:
Original poster
Tauranga · 05/05/2025 22:57

Somethingscintilling · 05/05/2025 21:24

Hi op we suspect my dd has dyslexia but we've never had 800 spare to test her when paying for tutors etc. She needed lots of early stragety and intervention.

Can you get tutors for him?
Unfortunately success of people with support early on because school cannot provide it so parents need to get in early self esteem gets crushed very early on in the system.

By now I would be throwing every penny at tutors to get him through gcse.

Yes, he has had an English tutor for over a year, and a tutor for every other subject since March too....
It costs me an arm and a leg but my mum is helping, and it is just a short time, and hopefully worth it.

OP posts:
CalmDownCats · 05/05/2025 23:10

I came on to say any type of job that involves practical, problem solving and finding solutions as dyslexics tend to see the bigger picture.

DD is amazing at this, it's such an amazing life-skill, not just for work. She just rolls with it all and never lets things get to her because she seems to see things so clearly.

CalmDownCats · 05/05/2025 23:23

Tauranga · 05/05/2025 22:34

Wow this is interesting. I know he problem solves amazingly compared to his brother- his brother who is off to Oxford!

Show quote history

My kids have a similar dynamic. The non-dyslexic one is highly academic but also such a daft whazzock at times.

Original poster
Tauranga · 06/05/2025 07:55

CalmDownCats · 05/05/2025 23:10

I came on to say any type of job that involves practical, problem solving and finding solutions as dyslexics tend to see the bigger picture.

DD is amazing at this, it's such an amazing life-skill, not just for work. She just rolls with it all and never lets things get to her because she seems to see things so clearly.

Edited

That's so lovely to hear, and it is a definite skill. Thank you!

OP posts:
douber · 08/05/2025 21:02

Tauranga · 05/05/2025 16:54

Thank you this is very inspiring.
Did your DH get good exam results?

Show quote history

Apologies for the late reply. My Dh got a very mixed bag of GCSEs a mixture of As,Bs and Es!
He needed 4 at grade C+ to get into Art school, and just got that. He passed English, History, Art and one other, bombed sciences and maths! Knowing him now, I can see that such a big mix of subjects would have been overwhelming for him, he is better hyper focussing on one or two things.
He also benefited from doing a very practical and creative subject at higher education.

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