“I was really keen to learn but was never able to recall facts as my friends did and i was much slower”

Forsyth&Power (2020)

Starting this blog, even getting to the stage where i can navigate to the correct page on the wordpress platform and begin typing has been a real challege for me. I’m an academic and i’m proud of my achievements to date, but beggining the process of the PGCERT has been both anxiety inducing and challenging as it’s the first time i’ve been a student having to create written academic coursework for over 20yrs.

I was diagnosed with dyslexia 5 years ago when i started as a year leader/senior tutor on the BA (hons) Textiles Design course at Chelsea college of arts during my probation period in my first year in the position. The diagnosis explained a lot about my personal experience in education.

• Creative arts is the only thing i felt confidence in doing or pursuing
• There was limited knowledge of ‘Neurodiversity’ in the late 80s/90s. I was certainly not made aware of the possibility of being neurodiverse.
• My tutors often made me feel that i was just not as ‘bright’ as my peers at both secondary school and subsequently my foundation and diploma years within arts education.

I am very grateful to the Course Leader and my lead at the time i started my role at Chelsea for taking the time to notice my frustration of trying to navigate a PC after years of using a MAC in my work as a sports footwear designer and taking the innitiative to get me diagnosed for neurodiversity. In the past i can imagine undiagnosed neurodiverse candidates may not have made it through the probation period. This lead me to the following.

• Seek support when i feel challenged with an administrative task from the wider team.
• Take regular breaks when going through extensive periods of written administrative work.

The diagnosis has also helped me recognise the unique strengths i have in supporting my students on their creative journeys especially students who may also have neurodiversity. One of my strengths is that i’m a confident verbal communicator, i am comfortable with presenting creative concepts and perspectives to an audience.

• I make students aware of the variety of ways they can visually and verbally communicate ideas.
• I try to make myself available to have regular face-to-face tutorials with students that have made it aware to me that they have an ISA and students who have to resubmit unit work.

Hopefully undergoing the process of doing a PGCERT will add to the strenths i’ve identified with my neurodiversity.

Reference: The Big Picture Book of Amazing Dyslexics and the jobs they do. Forsythe&Power (2020)