Dyslexia and Me: Why Different is the Best Way to Be

Living with dyslexia has shaped every part of my life, not just as a learner, but as a teacher and now the founder of Kindling Minds. In this episode, I explore what dyslexia really looks like day-to-day, why it’s more than just “struggling to read and spell,” and how it’s given me strengths I wouldn’t change for the world.
From classroom experiences to running a business, I share how dyslexia has made me a more compassionate educator, and why I believe being different is the best way to be. With Dyslexia Awareness Week Scotland underway, this episode is a reminder that dyslexia is not a limitation, it’s a different way of thinking.
Follow for more episodes of Neurodiverse Voices | A Kindling Spark, where we celebrate the power of learning differently.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Neurodiverse Voices, the podcast where we can celebrate difference,
break stigma, and shine a light on the power of
neurodivergent minds. Hi everyone, welcome back to Neurodiverse Voices. I'm Kara,
a teacher, small business owner and someone who knows firsthand

(00:20):
what it's like to live handwork with dyslexia. Now, because
it's Dyslexia Awareness Week in Scotland, I wanted to do
something really close to my heart. Today. We're diving into
dyslexia and me, how it shows up in my everyday life,
how it shaped me as a teacher and business owner,
and most importantly, why I've come to believe that being

(00:43):
different really is the best way to be. Now, this
is going to be a personal one, so grab a cupper,
get comfy and let's dive in for a chat. People
often assume dyslexia is just about struggling with reading or spelling,
and yeah, it is those things. They're definitely a part
of me. But the reality is it seeps into so

(01:05):
many moments of daily life. For me, it's things like
forgetting the spelling of a word I've written a thousand times,
or trying to spell a word dessert, kept spelling it
as desert today, mixing up letters when I'm tired, needing
to triple quadruple check emails before I send them because
one misplaced letter makes the whole thing look messy. Or

(01:27):
being mid conversation and knowing exactly the word I want
to use, but it's just stuck out there and my
brain won't let it come to me, so I'll rearrange
my entire sentence just so I don't have to say
the word. Even as an educator, these moments happen daily,
and from the outside they look like obstacles, and honestly

(01:49):
they are. But here's the thing They've also taught me patience, resilience,
and creativity. Dyslexia has been one of my biggest challenges. Yeah,
but it's also been one of my greatest teachers in
the classroom. Dyslexia pops up in ways people don't really
think about. It's the panic of knowing an answer but
not being able to get it out quickly enough. It's

(02:11):
having reread instructions three or four times just to process
them and then I've got to teach them. It's trying
to teach a lesson while also worrying that might spell
a word wrong on the board. Well, I used to
worry about it. I don't anymore. Children show up for
you with kindness and patience, and they enjoy spotting it out.

(02:35):
It became a game, so spelling words, it's okay to
get wrong. We're human, and now even running kindling minds.
It doesn't just go away. When I'm creating resources, I
have to prove and reproof. When I write blog posts.
Sometimes I notice those mix ups. But here's the twist.

(02:58):
Instead of weaken me as a teacher, dyslexis actually made
me a better one because I know how it feels
to be the child who learns differently. I know what
it's like to need more time. I know how overwhelming
really big tasks can feel. So I design my teaching
with that in mind. I use visuals, hands on tools,

(03:22):
and alternative strategies because those are things I need myself.
I try and break things into smaller tasks, achievable steps,
and I celebrate mistakes and use laughter to make learning
feel safe. Up on my wall, I have mistakes of
proof that you're trying, and that's it. You're trying your

(03:43):
best and that's all that's important. The truth is dyslexia
shaped the way I teach. It gave me empathy, creativity,
and a really deep connection with my learners. Because they
know I understand, they are able to tell me Miss
she made a mistake, We laugh about it and we

(04:04):
move on now. For a long time, I saw dyslexia
as a flaw, something that made me less capable, something
I should hide or apologize for. But over the years,
as I've grown into my role as a teacher and
business owner, I've realized the opposite is true. Dyslexia is
my superpower and it's yours too. It pushes me to

(04:27):
think differently, problem solve creatively, and adapt in ways others
don't even consider. It forces me to find new parts
when the obvious one doesn't work. And isn't that what
education and life is about. New ideas, new perspectives, new
ways of seeing the world. That's the beauty of neurodiversity.

(04:50):
Being different doesn't mean being less. It means brings something
new and need it to the table. So instead of
hiding my dyslexia, I sell it, break it because it's
part of what makes me me. This week in Scotland,
it's Dyslexia Awareness Week, and it's really important to me.

(05:11):
This week isn't about just raising awareness of our challenges,
though those challenges are real and do need to be addressed,
but it's about changing that conversation. Too often, dyslexia is
framed in terms of what we can't do. But what
about our strengths, our creativity, our resilience, the problem solving skills,

(05:34):
and the empathy. We can think outside that box, and
sometimes that's what the world needs, is outside the box
thinking these things are just as real and they deserve
to be celebrated. Dyslexia Awareness Week is a chance to
challenge misconceptions, highlight strengths, and remind every child, parent, teacher,
and person that dyslexi is not a limitation. It's a

(05:58):
different way of thinking. When we raise awareness, we create
a space for understanding. When we create a space for understanding,
we build environments where every leader, learner, and person can thrive.
That's the mission act in the minds for me, reminding
children and myself that different isn't something to be ashamed of,

(06:22):
it's something to celebrate. So to wrap up dyslexias doesn't
defight me, but it does shape me. It shapes the
way I see the world, It shapes the way I
teach and support others, and honestly, I wouldn't change it
because being different is the best way to be. So

(06:43):
whether you're listening as someone with dyslexia, a parent, a teacher,
or as a friend, remember this. Your differences aren't flaws.
Their your strengths, your superpowers, and they're what make you
you and that's exactly what the world needs more different people.

(07:05):
Thank you for joining me for this very personal episode
of Neurodiverse Voices. If you've enjoyed this chat, please share
it during Dyslexi Awareness Week Scotland or Dyslexia Awareness Week
next week for the rest of the UK. Let's keep
raising awareness, breaking stigma and celebrating the unique strengths that
dyslexia brings. And if you'd like to keep the conversation going,

(07:27):
you can follow me on all socials or sign up
for the newsletter on my website to get resources and support.
Until next time, remember different is the best way to be.