for Once i think i may have landed on my feet temp jobwise!

I HOPE, I DON’T MESS IT UP!!!

RECENTLY AT MY TEMP JOB (WHERE I SEEM TO BE ABLE TO DO MY DUTIES WELL): I SUBMITTED AN IDEA TO THE COMPANY NEWSLETTER ALONG WITH THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE (MY IDEA INCLUDED IDEAS FOR ACTIVITIES TO BRING MY COLLEAGUES INTO A CLOSER, MORE UNDERSTANDING TEAM.WHEN I WAS FACED WITH TALKING ABOUT MY IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES WITH MY DYSLEXIA, I THOUGHT OF THIS!

All of us here at Automated Document Services (Autodocs) will be wearing our Ellie’s Blue Ribbons during Dyslexia Scotland’s Awareness Week between 2nd and 8th November.

Why not check out the story behind The Blue Ribbons on:

https://alifelessordinaryds.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/ellies-story-2/

We have decided to observe various awareness events to better understand ourselves, each other and our wider community.

I suggested the Dyslexia Awareness Week as I am dyslexic. Although Dyslexia is made of Greek words: dys meaning abnormal and lexis meaning word the hidden disability isn’t purely about reading and writing (I still can’t get over the irony of the name for a condition causing bad spelling should be so difficult to spell).

Those of us who have dyslexic brains have issues with processing the information from our eyes and ears. Therefore it is not a simple sight or hearing problem.

The processing problems can also cause ordering, sequencing, word finding and directional problems.

OK that’s the difficulties extremely roughly covered; if you would like to find out more check out http://www.dyslexiascotland.org.uk/.

However if this was the whole story then we would be classed as having low IQ or as having an intellectual disability.

Dyslexics tend to have average to above average IQs. We tend to use our creative right brains a lot more than neuro-normal left brain thinkers.

We think outside-the-box and we see the whole picture (often a lot faster than anyone else) especially when calm and not stressed.

One of the golden rules I try to remember is: If you have met one dyslexic (disabled/neuro-diverse) person. You have met one dyslexic person. I.e. just because we have a hidden disability doesn’t make us any less individual than anyone else (and our problems can be almost as diverse as our talents).

OK enough words I will add two visual diagrams here to try to give you more of an idea of the dyslexic way of thinking:

This violent volcano and picturesque mountain illustrates both the good and bad aspects of dyslexia. I tried to use the fact that volcano lava can be extremely destructive to existing vegetation but when the magma cools and consolidates it creates new rocks and mountains.

THE END

A week or so ago Dyslexia Scotland and Cathy asked me (and other volunteers) for quotes to use in some kind of grant application.

The following is what I sent them:-

I am a temp; when I don't have work I volunteer for Dyslexia Scotland. And I have written articles for "Dyslexia Voice". So when in my latest temp job (which is presently going extremely well [and I have high hopes it will become permanent])  we were asked for ideas to humanise the company newsletter: I had the insight and courage to suggest having charity awareness days and reporting them in the newsletter. The idea went down well and I was asked to pick a charity and to write the article. Before volunteering for Dyslexia Scotland I would have freaked out at this

and nothing would have happened. But I actually provided what was asked for within around 3 days (doing the work at home, outside of working hours).I suggested the first awareness day be about Dyslexia and include Ellie's blue ribbons. Also I believe I used the article to speak to my bosses about my dyslexia but without the stress of defending my right to be in the post or bringing it up as a possible problem that may never come up. And also in a way speaking to possible future employers (employers of other dyslexics who have not had the beneficial volunteering experience I have had).

THE END

This week we were handed out the new company newsletter, the following is the Dyslexia Scotland piece:-

RESULT (I guess of I sort). I put the pictures in as I thought the company was trying to brighten up the newsletter. But it actually contains plenty of photos and the company is advertising itself (rather than Dyslexia Scotland).SO YES RESULT, nice one!

So to finish up I think the following photos of some of my creations will sum up some more of my thoughts and feelings about dyslexia (yes I know the cross-stitch isn’t finished, but hey neither is my battle with and/or understanding of dyslexia):-