My Name is Daniel, and I have Dyslexia and Dyspraxia

Snapshot of Daniel from Diverse Learners, Diverse Nurses YouTube video

I think neurodiverse profiles are still very much misunderstood. People seem to think that dyslexia means you can’t read, dyscalculia means you can't count, and dyspraxia means you can’t… keep your balance? But having a neurodiverse profile is far more than that.

As a child, I was covered in bruises, and now I have scars on my knees and elbows, plus one on my chest. I always did okay in school, but was told that if I just applied myself, I’d do so much better. I got 11 GCSEs between A-C, then went on to do A levels. And later, did an access course, which allowed me to get into nursing.

It was here, on the access course, that I was diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia. I had heard of dyslexia; my Dad and one of my brothers have it. But what is dyspraxia? I wanted to ask these questions, but I ran out of time with the educational psychologist, so I turned to Kerry, a friend of mine from Twitter who runs Diverse Learners and who is dyspraxic herself.

She told me it’s more than falling over. It’s coordination, it’s memory, it’s perception, and it’s processing. It’s difficulty with holding a pen, it’s struggling to do jigsaws, and it’s reacting to a ’Oh Shiny’. Like dyslexia, it does not fit into a single box. Everyone’s experience is different.

Rough estimates suggest that 1 in 10 of the general population is affected, and there is evidence that, in certain caring professions, this is much higher (Wray et al., 2008, 2012; Pace, 2016). Research conducted at the University of Hull by Wray et al. (2008, 2012) screened a cohort of nurses in their first week of the course for dyslexia and found that 28% exhibited characteristics of dyslexia and should proceed to further assessment.

In my first year of nurse training, I disclosed to a senior staff nurse that I had dyslexia and dyspraxia after struggling with the coordination required in ANTT. She snorted and said that they don’t exist; perhaps I just need to work harder.

I wasn’t surprised by her response, as it wasn’t the first time I had been met with the attitude of ‘back in my day, we didn’t have dyslexia’. However, what she said stuck with me, and now I can do ANTT/Scrub just as good as ANYBODY!

My dyslexia means I have processing issues. My determination means I don’t accept brush-off answers. My mentor in my first year drilled into me the importance of writing my notes with an A-E approach. I love this. I love systematic approaches.

Throughout my nurse training, I developed helpful coping mechanisms for my dyslexia. Colour coding words and symbols, two notebooks, mnemonics and mind-maps. I’ve turned those coping strategies into success strategies whilst working with Kerry, my 1:1 tutor throughout my time at university.

These sessions were funded by the Disabled Student Allowance, or DSA. DSA is a government grant here in the U.K. that helps cover the costs of resources and study time, helping to create an even playing field when you have a learning difficulty or health problem.

It isn’t a handout or a charity, but it gives those with neurodiverse profiles and health needs the

ability to complete their higher education without facing potentially unfair disadvantages. DSA is available to part-time and full-time students and requires suitable medical evidence, such as a full diagnostic assessment from an educational psychologist.

Daniel at his Graduation

These success strategies are things I’ve carried into my career as a Registered Nurse.

I was surprised by the number of nurses who have disclosed their dyslexia, but I’m disappointed by how few people make use of the Royal College of Nursing's Dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia: a toolkit for nursing staff.

I’d highly recommend that those with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia read through it so they know their rights, and I hope ward managers do so to help students and registered nurses with a neurodiverse profile.