Abstract
Background
Dyslexia is a life-long condition that impairs a person’s phonological processing capability and, consequently, their ability to read and write fluently. It is known to make participation in employment difficult, with reports by adults of encountering discrimination, and facing hurdles obtaining and retaining jobs. However, some adults with dyslexia thrive in the workplace and are regarded as successful.
The prevalence of dyslexia amongst the workforce in the primary industries is believed to be higher than in the general population. The effects of dyslexia in this population has not been widely researched and no research has been published that examines how they participate successfully at work. Understanding these perspectives may identify appropriate ways of enabling this sector of the population to be successful as adults
Aim
This study sought to understand what adults with dyslexia,working in the primary industries in New Zealand, considered to constitute success in work and to identify factors that enabled them to be successful. It examined this issue from a strengths-based perspective, through the lens of those who have participated successfully at work.
Methods
A qualitative approach was used to gain understanding of the issues from the perspectives of the eight participants (five women and three men). Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and the verbatim transcripts were explored using interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Findings
Success was interpreted to be a sense of purpose. Three superordinate themes were identified: constructing and maintaining identity; connectedness to the world; and, the conundrum of time. Supporting themes were identified of the effective use of internal resources and external support.
Conclusion
Overall, the participants’ stories were of resilience and inventiveness. Within each theme they described the challenges they faced and how they overcame them. They strove towards fulfilment of their sense of purpose and measured their progress towards this. Each was determined and persevered inspite of the difficulties encountered. Their challenges were exacerbated by the hidden nature of dyslexia and their greatest fear was to be exposed as something less than the norm. Hence, they developed effective means to pass as able, even though this added to the effort required to work successfully. A sense of identity was important to them and was maintained through various strategies, including a focus on their strengths, delegating work to others, and being in control of disclosing their dyslexia.