In this blog I focus on potential careers for children with dyslexia.

In other words, I want to look at dyslexia as a gift – not a burden, because when you change your mindset, you will see that possibilities and adventures abound for your child.

However, I also understand the journey we must all take as parents of a dyslexic child. For example, that feeling of being overwhelmed if your child has recently been diagnosed with dyslexia. Due, in part, to the endless information and lack of clarity on the internet. As a result, I’ve firstly broken the information down into bite-sized manageable posts which focus on different aspects of life with dyslexia. Secondly, I offer relief from of the jargon filled articles and dispassionate accounts. Click here for my personal and detailed account on the signs of dyslexia.

See the world differently

While Ella struggles with many aspects of reading and writing, she has taught me to look at the world in a different way. She sees it in colours, in pictures, in sounds and in music. For Ella, nothing is black and white and everything is there to be explored.

But it is of course never always so rosy. She has had her struggles but she’s also taught me so much. She’s 10 now and since she we found out she was dyslexic aged 6, I’ve learnt to see her strengths. For example her empathy and creativity never fail to astound me. And it is her strengths that have led me to where I am now and  understand how she can use her ‘out of the box’ thinking to her advantage now, and in the future.

Also, just because she struggles with the mechanics of reading, writing and spelling does not mean she doesn’t understand. Far from it as she’s gifted in many areas controlled by the right side of the brain.

Right-brain dominant

The right side controls:

  • imagination
  • artistic skill
  • musical ability
  • athletic ability
  • people skills
  • intuition
  • creative
  • global thinking
  • curiosity
  • 3-D visual-spatial skills
  • mechanical ability

Imagination, creativity, curiosity, empathy and the ability to see ‘the whole picture’ lead to careers in the following fields:

  • architecture
  • interior or exterior design
  • psychology
  • teaching
  • marketing and sales
  • culinary arts
  • woodworking
  • carpentry
  • performing arts
  • athletics
  • music
  • scientific research
  • engineering
  • computers
  • electronics
  • mechanics
  • graphic arts
  • photography

However, I am not in any means saying that the list of careers for children with dyslexia is limited to that above. But the skills that many people with dyslexia possess lead them into industries like those I have just mentioned.

Dyslexia is not a barrier

More importantly, remember that dyslexia need not and should not be a barrier to anything your child wants to achieve in life. It just means that the path through learning needs to be adjusted accordingly. If anything, it is our perspective as parents that needs to be adjusted.

Finally, many amazing people throughout history were dyslexic and it never held them back. This list of famous people with dyslexia should inspire your child to always reach for the stars.

For more information on supporting your child with dyslexia, see my blog series which begins with how to teach your child with dyslexia to read.