Dyslexia

[oceangirl]

This has never happened to me before.  On Thursday morning I was asked to leave my job.  I worked for a small (very small) training company based in the midlands of England.

I am dyslexic and yes spelling is not something I am not good at as my brain and my fingers get at odds with each other, with my brain being two sentences in front all the time and I tend to miss words out (my sister always said it was an education reading my letters!) it takes me longer to produce written work than others and I do not see errors easily in work.  So I work differently, I use the telephone over letters and email more the letters.

Matters come to a head about a week ago after a review meeting when further issues were raised and I was asked to submit all my letters for checking.  Which I willingly did and also emails would also be checked.

Again I have no problems over this.  They said they would be supportive and help me over it.  Yet on Thursday I was asked to leave the company and told that they had changed their mind and that they had decided that they were not going to support me and that  my probation period was finished and that they didn’t want to keep me on and would I leave the premises.  He also said that he was surprised that this had not happened to me before and that he thought I was total in the wrong career( he imply that I had lied on my cv and that is something I would never dream of doing as these things have a habit of finding you out)  I have been working since I was 17 and most of that time I have been in admin.  I am now 35 ish.  

I have no idea what caused them to change their  minds almost overnight and since they were not in on Wednesday and I was on my own all day, working on things which were on the system and therefore already spell checked and correct. I spent most of the day  re-branding the course notes and convert fonts.  And getting a mail merge ready to send which had been checked the day before.

My husband to be thinks is a bit of a cop out on their part and that they really are short of cash flow and they couldn’t afford to keep me on.

While I have been at this company I have become more and more unsure of myself and now feel that I will not be able to get another job due to my dyslexia and that I am now almost sentenced to a life times supply of dead end no hope jobs that pay very little with hardly any holiday.  My husband to be, pointed the other day that in all the time I have know him I have only cried once.  Since working at this company I have cried more times than you can shake a stick at.

I guess what I am asking is, does anybody else out there have any happy endings? Has something like this happened to you and is there life at the end of the tunnel? I cant tell you how fed up I am with people think that dyslexia can be switched off with a flick of a switch.  Do they not think I would if I could? Do they think I enjoy it? Dyslexia has been and will always be the bain of my life.  

Sorry to rant but it all going round and round in my head and I need to get some perspective on it and I cant yet….


Georgie Girl.

[Jackie G]

Georgie

Firstly, let me say I'm very sorry you have lost your job, apparently because of your dyslexia.  It is a tribute to your strength that you have achieved - as have others also suffering from this disorder - in your chosen field.

I think it's imperative that you find out a real reason for your dismissal.  Remember the new Disability Act has just come in, and I would reckon that dyslexia may be a form of 'disability' covered by the act - I don't know, but I suspect it could be.  If the company has dismissed you because of this, then there are routes you can take - industrial tribunal for one.

It does also sound, however, from what you said about your emotions in this company, that you perhaps didn't really enjoy it anyway, if you have cried more there than ever before in your life.  It may well not be the particular job for you, but there are other companies out there who I am sure would be more supportive and willing to take on a dyslexic member of staff.  Yes, I'm sure it does take a lot of patience on the part of a colleague to be the one checking your work, and an equal amount of patience/resilience on your part to be constantly checked up on, simply because you have a disorder which puts the letters in the wrong place sometimes.

I think there's a Dyslexia Association - no doubt you are aware of them - are they able to help you at all in terms of practical advice etc about work.

I absolutely do NOT think you are condemned to never work or simply have dead end/low pay jobs.

I can't give you a happy ending - I don't suffer from dyslexia, but knowing our great DD community, we are bound to have someone out there who either has dyslexia or a similar type of disorder which affects their working life to a greater or lesser extent.

And remember, take heart from people like Susan Hampshire and all other famous dyslexia sufferers (none spring to mind at the moment, but I know there's loads of them) - they have managed to get on with what they wanted to do with their lives and you could maybe model your future on them - I'm sure you already do actually!

Please keep us posted about your situation and let us know how you get on.  I do think though it's imperative to find out the 'real' reason for your dismissal - some legal advice wouldn't go amiss here.

Oh, and also, if you hadn't admitted to being dyslexic, none of us would ever know.  Your posts don't give anything away!

Jackie, Peer Moderator
www.iqps.org

[raindance]

I agree with Jackie.  There is more to this "dismissal" than what the company has told you.  I think you should get some legal help over this.  Dyslexia is NOT a reason either not to employ someone or to dismiss them.

Two of my previous bosses had dyslexia, and were respectively director and chairman of my employing companies, and therefore hardly "stupid" and most certainly NOT in dead-end jobs.

You may be need to take some time to think about how you can progress this matter, and perhaps accommodate your dyslexia into your working life.  

I know it is different, but I offer this only as an example: one of my friends has severe rheumatoid arthritis and finds it very hard to type - disastrous for an admin!  Her employers have been very supportive and she now uses ViaVoice, which has made such a difference to her work.

With very best wishes,

Raindance

[ControlledChaos]

I am really sorry to hear your news.  I agree with Raindance and Jackie - there is more to this dismissal.  As far as I am aware Dyslexia is not a reason for dismissal - I would take this up with someone who knows the latest laws on Disabilities, perhaps your local CAB.

Please keep your chin up, it does sound as though you were not happy in your last job but every cloud has a silver lining.  Sending you cyber-hugs and hope that everything works out for you.

[mina]

Again, sorry to hear about your dismissal.

I have a friend who is dyslexic and he spent some time testing computer products for dyslexics.  If you contact the Dyslexia Institute or the British Dyslexia Association I am sure that they will be able to tell you your legal rights about your dismissal and of the latest software available to help dyslexics with their typing.

I would also say that your post doesn't give your dyslexia away and as you have obviously being doing a good job for other companies in the past (I won't say how many years) don't let this one company knock your confidence.  From your post I also think that you are probably best off out of there.

Best wishes.

mina

[countrigal]

Passing along my sympathies for your dismissal.  Please do follow-up on the "real" reason for it, though, and take actions as appropriate if it really is because of dyslexia.  As the previous poster(s) said, perhaps you are better off away from this company as you've been crying more there than any other time.  Take action, but keep your chin up and look for your next opportunity, for it will be out there waiting for you.  And I'm sure that there are options available to you to assist you in any career field you may choose to follow, including admin, so don't feel that this one negative experience has branded you forever -- simply keep looking and find that one that fits you.  And make use of any and all options that you can to work with this disorder, be that working with a collegue to proof your writing (which seems fine to me!) or changing your own proofing techniques or using other options (ie: computer or software adaptations) that may be available.

Keep your chin up, and go get'em!  Keep us informed.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[oceangirl]

Thank you all for this encouragement.  I have been to see a recruitment officer this morning and after a long conversation with her she felt that it was perhaps a business decision rather than anything else as if it was about performance the Boss would have seen her as the recruitment officer works in the same building as the company I worked for.   So tomorrow I’m over to see a company about a temp to perm job.  Lots of travel booking apparently and answering the phone.  Customer skills are something I can do and I will be okay in long run.

 Again thank you all.  I really needed a big boost and you wonderful people gave it to me.
However this does mean I now have finished my curtains (long time in the making) made two Christmas puddings and made the Christmas cake.

You are all right of course dyslexia is always going to be there and I can always see the bigger picture in 3D and I know companies who in America only employs Dyslexics in their design department as they can see images in 3d in their mind!!  Airport is what they design I believe!!


Georgie Girl.

[Jackie G]

Hey Georgie

remember us when you cut those cakes!  Virtual slices please (good job, I'm on a diet - again! - anyway!)

Glad to know, though, that things are looking up and sounding more positive.  You just needed to vent - that's what we're here for.  I would still definitely pursue a reason though... just for your own peace of mind.

Jackie, Peer Moderator
www.iqps.org

[marieh2000]

Georgie,
I'm really sorry about your job.  My daughter has dyslexia so I can understand some of what you're going through (she's only 11 though and still in school).  

What I try to make her see is that eventhough she can't spell very good and sometimes struggles reading, there are so many other things she's great at.  She's very artistic, is a wiz on the computer and can remember things that I have long forgotten.  You need to find the things you are great at and focus on them.  

I get frustrated also especially when trying to explain to her teachers that the problems they see with her (not knowing her times tables, not reading on her levels, etc.) are not because she's not trying, it is an effect of dyslexia. I usually end up feeling like I'm beating my head against  a brick wall.

Also, there are alot of good websites out there - I just typed in "dyslexia" in Google and bookmarked several.

I don't know that I've helped you any, but please post or email me if you need anymore info. Maybe you can give me some ideas to help with my daughter.

Marie

[jane]

Hi Georgie,

Glad to hear things are looking up.  

I'm dyslexic as is my whole family (in the genes apparently!) and none of us have done too badly.  My sister, despite only getting one 'O' level has climbed to near the top of her tree at a very large publishing company  and my brother, who scraped a degree by working 10 times harder than everyone else, is a successful businessman in Washington DC.  I also have dyslexic cousins working in music and fashion and I have worked in the media for more years than I care to remember.

As a dyslexic you're in good company.  Winston Churchill, Richard Branson, Jonathan Dimbelby, Linda Le Plante, Micahel Hessletine and Robbie Williams, to name but a few, are all dyslexic too.  

Dyslexics often have very high IQs and tend to be innovative and creative thinkers, intuitive with great verbal communication skills - look upon your strengths and, as I'm sure you already do, use spell check and calculators and check everything over several times!

If you want to know more about dyslexia or your legal rights visit:  http://www.bda-dyslexia.org.uk.  

Best of luck