Shine Light on the Hidden Talents of People with Dyslexia

With the right support and mindset, those with dyslexia can bring unique strengths to the workplace. It's simpler than it seems.

- Pearllyn Kang

When we think of dyslexia, challenges often come to mind, especially difficulties with reading and writing. But for many individuals, dyslexia is not just a hurdle, but also a catalyst for innovation and creativity.

Research has shown that those with dyslexia—a lifelong specific learning difficulty that affects reading and spelling—often possess underappreciated strengths.

Take Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad, who struggled to remember the numerical codes of his products due to his dyslexia. Instead, he gave them unique Swedish names. These names went on to become an iconic feature of his products.

Closer to home, filmmaker Josiah Ng grew up struggling with academic demands and was labelled "weird" by peers.

Despite these challenges, he found his way of connecting with others—through moving images and films, directing works like Andre & His Olive Tree (2020) and One For The Road (2023).

These stories are just the tip of the iceberg. While dyslexia presents obstacles, it can also unlock unique strengths that can help individuals excel—if we know how to tap into them.

UNDERAPPRECIATED STRENGTHS

Studies have shown that individuals with dyslexia have different areas of strength compared with those without. Rather than investigating their weaknesses, there has been a gradual shift to highlight areas where they can excel and thrive.

In general, such individuals may find it challenging to retain verbal information when performing tasks, so many may rely on visual processing to reason and problem-solve. This might help them to connect ideas and see patterns others might miss.

An adult I assessed to have dyslexia shared that he learned and remembered concepts taught in school by visualizing and drawing out the relationships between ideas. While his friends wrote wordy lecture notes in university, his notes often contained drawings and diagrams.