My (Invisible) Dyslexia Story ??

By Mike Bedford, CEO of Bee Brilliant People Development LTD

As #InvisibleDisabilitiesWeek unfolds, I invite you to join me on a journey through my life, where my "invisible' Dyslexia has been at the core of my existence.

My name is Mike Bedford, and I identify as Neurospicy ???, a Neurodivergent blend of ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and undiagnosed Autism. I share my story, hoping it may resonate with someone, making them feel seen and reminding them they are not alone.

The Challenges of Education with Dyslexia

The road through education for me was a complex one. It wasn't until later in life that I received a diagnosis from the psychologists at Lexxic . I had known my truth for years but had hidden it, as it wasn't something I felt I could openly discuss.

The neuronormative education system, rigid and unforgiving, couldn't accommodate my Dyslexic thinking.

I've always possessed empathy, lateral thinking, and a natural curiosity, but I found fitting into the traditional education mould challenging. I excelled in history but struggled with planning, revision, and exams. Rote learning and Dyslexia are incompatible, and the lack of reasonable adjustments made it a formidable hurdle.

"Mike is very bright, creative, and engaging, but he can be lazy and lacks attention to detail and focus," read my school reports. Dyslexia wasn't seen, acknowledged or supported - and I resorted to masking as a coping an surviving mechanism. I left school with no qualifications, no prospects and feeling like a complete failure.

Turning Points

The late nineties brought a turning point. I met an adviser at the local Jobcentre who encouraged me to apply for an Admin Assistant job in the Department for Social Security.?

For the first time, this provided me with a supportive environment where I felt trusted and valued. For the first time, I was encouraged instead of made to feel worthless.

I have learned from my many experiences, both valuable and not, about the importance of nurturing and supporting diverse and talented individuals. My path towards supporting others was foretold long ago, and my mission is to help people and organisations survive and thrive with different minds and thinking.??

My Advice for Someone with Dyslexia

Dyslexia is for life, and you shouldn't try to make it disappear. It doesn't define you but it is part of who you are. Denying this and masking to fit in can lead to mental health issues and a sense of purposelessness; I know; I’ve been there and got the t-shirt. Challenge people's behaviours, be honest but kind, and embrace your differences.

Your unique skills, empathy, creativity, lateral thinking, and insights are real strengths.? Yes, there are genuine challenges - it is a disability, after all, but with the proper support and the right people around you - you can and will succeed because you can see things others simply cannot.?

Encourage your employer to join the Global Invisible Disability Scheme, making the invisible visible and promoting inclusivity for your current workforce and for future generations ??

https://hdsunflower.com/

Neurodiversity at Work

The topic of Neurodiversity at work is gaining momentum. We are beginning to understand the complexities of the human mind, and Dyslexic thinking is now recognised as a gift. As AI and automation rise, human skills such as innovation, empathy, creativity, lateral thinking, spatial thinking and problem-solving are highly sought after. These are skills that Neurospicy ??? folk are blessed with.?

I left the corporate world to become an entrepreneur, using my #DyslexicThinking and Neurospicy ??? brain ?? to support business leaders and organisations. I aim to disrupt Neuronormative working methods and actively support, nurture, and attract diverse minds and people to the workforce.

I also retrained as a professional Coach and Mentor, eventually becoming recognised, by my peers, as the UK Coaching Leader of the Year. I now put these skills to good use to support fellow Neurospicy folks to achieve their potential - see www.beebrilliantpeople.com/coaching

Remember, just because you can't see someone's brain doesn't mean you can't appreciate their brilliance.

Employers take note: you do not want to lose this talent!

Embrace Neurospicy minds and support the invisible disabilities that make each person unique. ??????

“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” – Stephen Covey

#Neurodiversity #Dyslexia #DyslexicJourney #InvisibleDisabilitiesWeek #SupportDiversity #Neurospicy ???

A few helpful resources:

• Visit my Website www.beebrilliantpeople.com to find out more about me, what I do and I how I can help you in the space of Neurodiversity.
• Find out more about Invisible Disabilities and the national campaign by visiting https://invisibledisabilities.org/ ???
• Find out more about the Hidden Disabilities Scheme by visiting https://hdsunflower.com/ ??
• You can learn more about Dyslexia by visiting the website of the British Dyslexia Association .
• You can read the report "The Value of Dyslexia" published by Made by Dyslexia and EY.
• You can watch a TEDX talk on the “creative brilliance of Dyslexia” by Kate Griggs, founder and CEO of Made by Dyslexia.
• You can watch and listen to me talk about my Dyslexia Diagnosis in a pre-recorded interview with Lexxic from July 2018.