NEURODIVERSITY FEATURE
Being bombarded with lots of new processes , new people and an intense mental health ward environment was a steep learning curve . I thought I would give myself an extra challenge and join a rotation ; for a dyslexic with a very slow processing speed , these routine changes in my environment were going to add to the fun learning experience .
I was open with my clinical supervisor at the time about my dyslexia diagnosis , which I was proud of , as it was me accepting this label of disability that I never felt confident in owning . But I soon came to realise I was growing and flourishing as a practitioner because of dyslexia , not despite it .
My perseverance , ambition and creativity were supported and encouraged throughout my first job role , allowing my self-efficacy to thrive , which interestingly Leather et al ( 2011 ) link to higher levels of job satisfaction and therefore fewer metacognitions struggles associated with dyslexia .
I also found my team really helpful . They gave me just the right level of support and enough space to feel like I had control over my workload ; as De Beer et al ( 2014 ) suggested this sense of control can have a positive effect on a dyslexic ’ s focus , productivity and motivation .
They were there to support me when my organisation was poor and I had booked to do three things at once , or when my creativity blew up running a group .
The second part of the rotation , in a forensic male ward , at first was overwhelming . My first impressions were that this was going to be a very structured environment , where my creativity , which I had always seen as a strength of my dyslexia , would need to be dialled down as a result of the prescriptive nature of this high-risk environment .
However , I was proved wrong . Although this rotation gave me an appreciation for learning more about risk management , my creativity was nurtured , again encouraged by the whole multidisciplinary team .
For a while I was the solo occupational therapist on the ward , which was quite terrifying at first , considering my lack of organisation skills and fragile professional confidence .
The CPA report writing , the prioritising , the art of learning assertiveness with both patients and staff alike , were some of the skills I most valued having the opportunity to develop in this post . With this job I used my independence in my environment to my advantage , and this is what I later learned is a situational variable us dyslexics actually find helpful , which means the more self-regulation one has over their work , the better .
This is because structured environments can be extremely stressful for individuals with dyslexia ( De Beer et al 2014 ), which is contradictory to what I believed , as I thought I would initially benefit from a supportive structured environment because of the challenges dyslexia has given me .
Yet I feel like this independence allowed me to really come into my own . I remember a senior occupational therapist giving me some advice on this rotation , sharing with me to ‘ learn , soak up all the knowledge you can and get the most out of it ’, which is exactly what I did .
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Dyslexia has enhanced the skills I need to be an occupational therapist . I see it as a strength , a unique selling point , so in a stereotypical dyslexic way , I actually enjoy the ‘ organised chaos ‘ and feel this aptly fits with working within mental health services .
I think I learnt a lot about myself in this post , allowing me to use all the skills my dyslexia and my profession gave me simultaneously , to motivate and engage 20 chronically ill men in meaningful activities , which was certainly a marathon effort . By the end of this rotation I became more aware of my professional capabilities , and that my ‘ phonological deficits ’ or my ‘ working memory difficulties ’ or my ‘ trouble with literacy ’, as suggested by Leather et al ( 2011 ), would not negatively affect me developing into a confident and competent occupational therapist . The third and final part of my rotation was in an older adult ’ s inpatient ward , where again I was met with this inspiring sense from my team to nurture my professional independence and confidence . Everyone else knew I could do it , and I knew that I could do it ; however , there were still niggles in the back of my mind . I felt comfortable here , the older adult clinical presentation was helpful in some respects for the slow processing speeds of my dyslexia , allowing me to observe , learn and consolidate old and new skills , which I knew I would need for future band six posts . Despite Dyslexia being a constant challenge to my development as an occupational therapist , paradoxically is has also been a gift . Dyslexia has given me a greater sense of empathy and compassion , which is essential when working with patients with chronic mental health conditions .
Dyslexia has helped me develop my prioritising skills , helping me stay calm when managing my demanding forensic caseload . Dyslexia has shaped my determination and persistence , helping me be ambitious , be driven and be successful in my career .
Dyslexia has enhanced the skills I need to be an occupational therapist . I see it as a strength , a unique selling point , so in a stereotypical dyslexic way , I actually enjoy the ‘ organised chaos ‘ and feel this aptly fits with working within mental health services .
References
De Beer J et al ( 2014 ) Factors influencing work participation of adults with developmental dyslexia : a systematic review , BMC Public Health , 14 ( 77 ): 1-22
Leather C et al ( 2011 ) Cognitive functioning and work success in adults with dyslexia , Dyslexia , 17 ( 4 ): 327-338
Tori Broom , band five occupational therapist at Oxford Health Trust , email : Victoria . Broom @ oxfordhealth . nhs . uk
OTnews November 2021 21