16 Feb Difference – Guest Blog
My research has highlighted being identified and labelled as different as a barrier within third level education. Unfortunately, in our societies, those we perceive as being different or not our equals are often picked on and ridiculed for their differences. The research has also argued that having dyslexia in third level education can be somewhat like having a taboo, something you fear talking about and/or telling anyone about. This has been found to be because of fear, ignorance, prejudice and/or lack of understanding of the disability, its effects and how it affects and impacts your learning experiences. A student’s view on their dyslexia, the label itself, and how they identify with their dyslexia can affect the ‘self’ and self-esteem. The term, ‘self‐esteem’ can be used when referring to an individual’s cognitions and feelings about the self. Notable around confidence in one’s self-worth or abilities and self-respect and student’s with dyslexia often use this persona of their ‘self‐esteem’ for evaluative judgements of their self and self-worth.
Your personal idea of the ‘self’ is an essential part of your nature which makes you see yourself as different from others and other things and gives you a distinct, individual identity. It is your sense of who you really are deep down, the real you and when you let someone else know you well, you reveal your true self to them. Embrace your difference and your dyslexia, be proud of who and how you are, and above all, embrace everyone else being different too.
Stay tuned for more snippets on visual perception and dyslexia, impact of disclosure in education, discourse on dyslexia, defending it even exists and ‘Dyslexia is my Kryptonite? NAHHH!!!, to name just some.
Guest Blog post by Keith Murphy, PhD researcher in Maynooth University.
