Disability Narratives
Support from Colleagues
Interview excerpt: Lyn explains that sometimes it is the small things that people do that can really help manage her dyslexia.
© Disability NarrativesSo I've often said to people "Would you mind taking notes of the minutes, and then just letting me know?" Or, "You may need to remind me of that." Or "It would help me if I could see the paper ahead of time, so that I have time to read it." So I don't need to hang dyslexia on that, I think that's just common courtesy in a way. So I don't feel I've had to specifically say - I can say what would help me, but I don't have to say why it would help me. Because I don't think it's - They're not unreasonable adjustments for anybody.
So, an example of asking for help is - rather than - I will ask people to proofread what I've done. So I learned that it's okay, and actually it can be quite helpful to get more than one person's opinion on what you're planning to send out or to put in a report. So I will often do my first draft and then I'll circulate it to my colleagues and just say "How's - How are we doing? What have I missed? Please amend, feel free to comment. I won't be offended." You know, and they understand - leave the tracking turned on - we have a little way of doing things. And, and that means that - So for me, that's like asking for help. To other people, that's perfectly normal.