Callum Murphy

I was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of three. From that point onward, it was always something I was aware of, but I never felt it held me back. To me, it was more of a personal quirk than a limitation. It wasn’t until I learned more about dyslexia that I began to understand how it truly affected me. I realized that many habits and approaches I had naturally adopted were actually strategies to manage and counter its challenges. As I progressed through school, university, and eventually into the professional workplace, I became increasingly adept at figuring out how to get the best out of myself. While there were certain situations where I struggled more than my peers, I learned how to overcome and manage these challenges. One of the most important lessons I’ve embraced is not being afraid to ask for help when I need it. In fact, I’d say that dyslexia has shaped me in a positive way—it’s made me more social, helped me build connections, and given me a deeper awareness of other people’s struggles as I reflect on my own. In addition to dyslexia, I also experience dyspraxia, though this wasn’t recognized until I was at university. Once it was identified, many aspects of my childhood suddenly made more sense. For example, I was always a bit scruffy and clumsy as a child (and, truthfully, I still am as an adult). I struggled with tasks like fastening the top button of my school shirt, and to this day, I still can’t tie a tie.

A funny memory comes to mind: my younger brother, who’s four years younger than me, used to tie my shoes because I didn’t learn how to do it myself until I was 10. Back then, everyone assumed I was just too lazy to bother learning. Another story my mum loves to tell is about when I was just eight months old. To her shock, she turned around to find me walking into the kitchen toward her. At that point, I had never crawled or even taken my first steps. Later, after learning more, we discovered that this is a common early identifier of dyspraxia. During primary school, I also attended speech therapy when I was in Primary 3. At the time, it wasn’t linked to dyspraxia, and my speech impediment was mild enough that it was quickly resolved. Interestingly, despite not having dyspraxia formally recognized until much later, I received a lot of the right support during my childhood in the form of speech therapy and involvement in sports. Because of this, I never saw dyspraxia as a major issue—it’s just another part of what makes me uniquely me.

The emergence of assistive technology has significantly transformed the way I approach reading and writing. During my school years, I often struggled with large amounts of text and would frequently avoid it altogether. Instead, I relied on discussing the material with peers to better understand it. Today, however, tools like text-to-speech technology and AI-generated summaries allow me to process large volumes of information with much greater ease. Similarly, spell check has resolved many of the challenges I faced with writing. While I still occasionally misread things and make mistakes, the improvement has been substantial.

I always go out of my way on projects to discuss issues verbally as well as keeping a written record. Having dyslexia creates a large disparity between my understand of spoken and written communication and by discussing problems and instructions out loud, I gain a much clearer understanding of what’s required, which complements the written documentation and ensures nothing is missed.

One of the most valuable strengths I’ve gained from living with dyslexia is my ability to simplify complex information and communicate it effectively to others. This skill has proven especially beneficial in the workplace, where I’ve used it to train new analysts on our workflow processes and to break down intricate corporate structures for team members and relationship managers. It’s a strength that allows me to bridge gaps in understanding and enhance collaboration within the team.

LinkedIn has recently recognised "Dyslexic Thinking" as an official skill, highlighting the unique strengths that come with neurodiversity. With the advancement of assistive technologies, many of the challenges associated with dyslexia have been significantly reduced. By embracing these tools and fostering an inclusive environment that values the contributions of neurodivergent individuals, we can create opportunities for everyone to thrive and excel.

Everyone is different so the best way to assist anyone is by getting to know them and understand how they work. Saying this, by familiarising yourself with neurodivergent conditions and their common difficulties and strategies to overcome these will help to identify these conditions in your team and help empathise with them.

The idea that dyslexia is just words moving around on the page isn’t the case. Although those simulations do slow people down to the speed of someone with dyslexia, it’s not how we see the world. We see it the same as everyone else, it just doesn’t go in quite as well.

The more information that is out there, the more we can work to benefit those around us. By removing negative stereotypes and reinforcing helpful strategies and practices everyone will benefit.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Asking for help and talking to people has led me down this path and helped me foster great relationships which I am very grateful for.