Celebrating our differences: Jenny’s story

We recently caught up with our learning and development trainer, Jenny, who shared her personal journey with dyslexia in the workplace and how it’s shaped her confidence, career, and approach to work. She spoke openly about the challenges she’s faced, the strategies that help her thrive, and what it means to be part of a workplace where differences are recognised, embraced and supported.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer, creating an environment where everyone can succeed. If you’re applying for a role with us and need support with your CV or application, get in touch with our recruitment team.

Hi, I’m Jenny Pratt. I started work at Selwood Housing in September 2024 as part of the learning and development team.

Applying for a new job has always been a bit challenging for me, because I’m dyslexic. Dyslexia is something you are born with, and I’ve lived with it all my life. It’s a type of neurodivergence, it basically means you brain does not interpret words in the same way as a neurotypical person.

I was very late being diagnosed as dyslexic; throughout my primary school years my mum would approach my teachers with worries about my lack of ability in the typical reading and writing areas for my age group. She was told that I was just a bit slow and not to worry, I’d catch up eventually. Despite her perseverance, it wasn’t until I moved to secondary school that it became very apparent that something was wrong compared to my peer group. So, the school organised for me to have a dyslexia assessment.

The results came back to confirm I was dyslexic; I was around five years behind with my reading and writing abilities. Those of you who remember starting at secondary school will remember the last thing you need is to be separated from the rest of your year for special lessons, additional support and extra time with your teachers – it’s not going to put you on the ‘cool’ list! However, I had some brilliant teachers and with extra support I did eventually begin to catch up with my peers, but I would never be as skilled as them in reading and writing.

The only extra help you got in exams as a dyslexic person in those days was more time for the exam. If you are dyslexic, even if you get an extra 15 minutes, you’re not magically going to know how to spell that word no matter how long you stare at the page. In fact, I was once marked down on my exams because I had spelt the same word differently (four different ways) in my exam. My thinking was I should get at least one, right? They said it didn’t prove consistency in getting the word wrong so marked me down.

I did manage to get my GCSE’s and went on to do A levels, although I was restricted to two A level choices as my teachers did not think I would cope – they were right. I just managed to get two D’s – not what I had hoped for. But I did get into university to do Archaeology. I was there for two terms before my tutors told me they didn’t cater for dyslexic students and encouraged me to leave – uni was not for me. I returned home deflated and worried about what the working world would be like for me as a dyslexic person.

Fast forward many years and I’m applying a role at Selwood Housing. For years my mum would help check my CVs and covering letters making sure I hadn’t included spelling mistakes. Having worked in high volume recruitment, I can tell you that CVs with spelling errors don’t always get through to interview even if the experience you have is relevant. I have never disclosed my dyslexia in my CV or even at interview thinking it would deter a future employer from considering me. However, if I could get in front of an interview panel, I would usually be successful – preparation has always been key for me.

I know everyone prepares for interviews but as a dyslexic person there is always a heightened sense of worry that you will have made a mistake that you just can’t see yourself (dyslexic people are likely to spend twice as long preparing for something like an interview than a “typical” person). For example, writing the word ‘hear’ instead of ‘here’ – even spell check won’t pick that one up! That was a mistake I made on some slides I was presenting after getting the job at Selwood Housing. The embarrassment you feel as an adult in the professional world when making that sort of mistake really stays with you.

You feel undermined by your own brain and less capable than those around you, even though you know you are good at your job. This world is set up to recognise traditional intelligence such as reading and writing. If you’re not good at it, it can make things feel so much more challenging and even exhausting.

Dyslexia can have a significant impact on the way you retain information. My memory is shocking – if it’s not on my list, it won’t get done. I even have reminders in my calendar to check my list! That’s another coping mechanism I use to help me stay on track. It’s not surprising then, that many dyslexic people will avoid roles where reading and writing are perceived to be essential. Have you ever read a job description that reads ‘an excellent level of communication skills are essential to this role’ and decided it’s not for you?

Maybe that’s why I went into training because you can do all the preparation beforehand and then the key is how you deliver the content in the room. I know what it’s like to sit for hours looking at slides not being able to take things in as quickly as the people around me. I know what it’s like to be asked to read something out loud in front of others that causes blind panic and makes you want to run from the room, because you know you’ll stumble over the words when reading out loud and feel stupid or embarrassed.

Later in life, I learnt that there are multiple types of intelligence, and you can excel in other areas that a “typical” person might not. It’s not unusual for a dyslexic person to excel in areas such as art, design and engineering. Dyslexic people often possess strong visual-spatial skills, like Lewis Hamilton or ‘Freddie’ Flintoff for example. This allows them to think outside the box and approach problem-solving from different angles. Additionally, dyslexic people may excel in areas like entrepreneurship, and innovation, where creativity and unconventional thinking are highly valued. Did you know Albert Einstein was dyslexic?

Joining a company like Selwood Housing where differences are embraced and adjusted to, is new to me. In previous roles I was not encouraged to be myself and work in a way that enables me to do my best. I feel now that if I were to struggle with something or explain where my strengths are, that it would be considered and supported. It’s a great feeling for someone with dyslexia.