Unmasking Day

In true me style, I’m late to the party! Basically, I couldn’t work out what I wanted to say, totally over thought it, and chickened out. So here I am today, better late than never!

UNMASKING DAY is a day where people with neurodiverse needs were encouraged to take off the virtual mask that they use to cover up and hide their difficulties, sharing some of the challenges they face within their workplace, school or even in their home their family. I wore a virtual mask for 34 years, unintentionally, because it wasn’t until I got my diagnosis that I realised many of the things that I was struggling with and the challenges I faced daily, sometimes hourly, were related to dyslexia.

I and lost count of the amount of times in school I panicked and didn’t understand, but believed that it was my fault because I hadn’t listened hard enough. I was ashamed to ask for help. I have no idea how many times I have become overwhelmed with paperwork. You know, bank statements, emails, I haven’t understood them correctly, and have not known where to start. This has made me feel incapable as a human being. Then there were all the times in my workplace when I have used the wrong word or slightly misinterpreted an instruction. This has led to me being embarrassed by my actions. As a result I worked really hard to keep myself invisible and hidden from view.

Dyslexia has affected my confidence and self-esteem and my mental health. Receiving my dyslexic diagnosis was for sure a turning point for me because at that point, I began to understand my identity and why I’d struggled with the things that I did. The next step was leaving the education system and setting up my own business. This allowed me to play to my strengths, embrace my unique skills, talents and passions. I can work in a way that is suitable to my learning style. Sharing my story both through my book and then slowly but surely being confident and brave enough to share on social media, has also been a cathartic process. The snippets of the of the funny things that happen and the reality of being dyslexic, whilst often it’s quite light hearted, I’d be lying if I said, it is not scary to share those things because it does make me vulnerable. There are still times when I do feel really shameful about it. BUT the brilliant outcome of unmasking has been that I can now support other people in understanding their neurodiverse needs.

Yesterday’s unmasking day was about learning to accept who we are as neurodiverse people and being to make others aware so they can help us. The more we talk about it, the more people will understand it, the more people will be able to help and support and recognise it. So if you are dyslexic yourself, tell a family member, tell somebody you work with.

Maybe it’s just a case of sharing in your workplace that you are dyslexic and asking people to just be patient and kind. It could be as simple just having a conversation about neurodiversity.

Awareness is everything because once we are aware change can happen!