We've talked a lot about neurodiversity in swimming over the last few weeks, but we haven't explored neurodiversity in business. Swimtime is a franchise business and neurodiverse individuals are presented with a host of other challenges to overcome when running a business.
Ewan Smith, franchisee for Swimtime Perthshire, has dyslexia and he has shared some insight into neurodiversity in life and business, as well as swimming.
When were you diagnosed with dyslexia?
I was diagnosed with dyslexia when I was 12 years old.
What were the challenges you faced growing up with dyslexia, pre diagnosis?
When I was five years old going into Primary 1, I was very shy, couldn't string a sentence together and reading was extremely difficult. I was an easy target for the bullies in school to pick on.
At age six I was supported by a speech and language teacher to help me pronounce words. She helped me a lot through school but this was just more ammunition for the bullies who were waiting for me. They would taunt me in to spelling games; for every answer I got wrong I got a punch or kick.
High school was a challenge in so many subjects, with more things to learn and home work. The bullies had moved on and found other people to prey on but I was now faced with new problems; anger, frustration and depression with myself.
Growing up I had amazing childhood, spoiled I guess for being an only child but never to far away from my mates in the street, who were like family to me. I was a very active child, always outside playing or joining the local gymnastics club, beavers, cubs and scouts. Looking back I think my parents knew that my intellectual wires were slow but I was a physically fit happy lad.
College years was prime of my life. I achieved N.C sports, HNC Sports Coaching and Physiology and HND Sports Coaching. Sports was my escape from the outside world. Especially swimming.
In spite of the challenges I know it made me a stronger, more determined young person to meet my goals in life.
What made you go for assessment for dyslexia?
The High School noticed I was having great difficulty in spelling or constructing sentences. I remember the school support staff asked me to fill out a questionnaire and after they marked it, they asked me and my parents to join a meeting. It was then that I was diagnosed with Dyslexia.
I always remember how the optician described it.
"Think of your eyes as a radio mast and the space around you (brain waves) is the information ie. the words from a book that you're reading, for example. All this information is scrambling, floating around, upside down, spinning and on top of each other, from this piece of paper.
The eyes can see perfectly but during the journey from the eyes to the brain the information gets all scattered around with letters, numbers etc. That ends up delaying response when speaking, difficulty interpreting the information, development etc."
What difference did it make to have a diagnosis?
Having the Dyslexia diagnosis was the answer to all my questions; Why I was struggling to speak, spell or read properly. Why was I seeing words jumbled up, upside down or over lapping.
What tools, techniques, resources and/or support do you have in place to help you?
Preparation may take longer but it doesn’t stop you from doing things.
I start my day with emails, voice messages, something easy on the eyes.
The white glare off a computer screen can cause havoc with my brain waves, it makes the letters from words blur out. So I'll take 10 minutes from the screen and then I'll dull the screen brightness.
Concentration is key, I set myself up with a note pad and write things down before I submit my work.
Reading things back is the best form of practice because it may look perfect too your eyes but not for the reader. Sometimes I'll ask my wife to go over work to proof read things and spell check.
I often use a program on my computer to read out what I have written for the times when I'm alone and I need to double check.
What advice would you give to somebody with dyslexia wanting to start their own business?
My advice to them is don’t let your dyslexia put you down or stop you from achieving your ambitions. Learn to adapt, use tools or strategies that best suit you. Your business would flow and the tides may change but the most important person is you.
So stand up tall and look at the world through your eyes.
“”The eyes can see perfectly but during the journey from the eyes to the brain the information gets all scattered around with letters, numbers etc. That ends up delaying response when speaking, difficulty interpreting the information, development etc.
