PW_2_2021

Professional Development

A Dyslexic Copper D. Osborn Hughes (Doz) , Leicestershire Branch & Writers SIG I am Dyslexic: Throughout my life, it became evident that for any disadvantage dyslexia brought me; it also gave me an equal and opposite strength. M any misconceptions still exist , but people with dyslexia possess many strengths, thanks to the unique way in which our brains process information. A dyslexic’s cognitive processing often with a dictionary at my side. I may not have known how to pronounce words like; gaudy, spewing and phosphorescence, but I learned what they meant, and I started to use them. I came away from the experience with a thrill for the English language.

hinders reading, writing and rithmatic, but it also brings many advantages. There are various definitions ascribed to Dyslexia, but all include the words, “learning difficulty,” which still does not sit comfortably with me. Maybe, as I continue, you will understand why. Dyslexics can be extremely creative, excelling in music and the arts. They are often highly conscious of their environment, with good spatial awareness, sharper peripheral vision, and a capacity to take in the whole scene. Dyslexics tend to be more curious than average, thinking mainly in pictures; highly intuitive, they can often think and perceive using all the senses. A dyslexic brain can be skilled in visual processing, and considers objects from a greater number of directions. They can also experience thoughts as reality, having vivid imaginations. Dyslexics have an immense capacity for reasoning and not only think outside the box, but often, in their minds, live outside the box. Dyslexics can be skilled problem solvers, with an ability to see the bigger picture, developing strengths like seeing when things are out of place. Famous dyslexics include John Lennon, Cher, Keira Knightley, Tom Cruise, Picasso, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, JFK, Richard Branson, Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci. Some of the greatest minds and talents in history were dyslexics, advancing humankind regardless of their spelling ability. As a child, I would not have understood what being dyslexic meant and I doubt many of my teachers did either. I could not read, or memorise my schoolwork, but I seemed able to articulate great intelligence and understanding for my age. I dreaded the thought of reading publicly and would not read even the simplest of books. The first book I voluntarily read cover to cover, was Jaws (I was fourteen and had a love of sharks). Because that one part of my academic ability was slow, I assumed that I was “thick.” But other abilities made me stand out from the crowd; I could paint and draw, I was musical and mechanically minded; I could see how things worked. I could not learn simple schoolwork, but I could memorise poetry, quotations and scripture, without much thought. To paraphrase Neil Armstrong, reading Jaws was “one small step for mankind, but a giant leap for my dyslexic mind,”

I was always good at metalwork, woodwork, art, and anything that involved the use of my hands, but my two passions from then on were Art and English. English was one of my worst subjects and I struggled tremendously, but English became one of my favourite lessons and the English teacher, Miss Owen, knew it. We meet many people on the path of life, and often do not realise their significance, until years later. Looking back on those who had most influence on my dyslexic mind, there is one person I consider changed my destiny, Amanda Morgan. Amanda was a classmate who was friendly towards me. In one English lesson she was asked to read a poem, The Lady of Shalott. I remember her voice and the rhythm with which she read. The mixture of Amanda’s voice and Tennyson’s evocative words, somehow climbed inside my mind. The experience overwhelmed me. Never had any words, including Jaws, hit me with such resonance and at the end of the poem, my dyslexic mind was in utter grief over the death of the Lady of Shalott. Tennyson’s poem was a catalyst that set my mind ablaze and I began to write, poetry mainly. I would only share my poems with Amanda; they were precious to me, secret somehow. Something I did not share with anyone but her. She took the time to help me write neatly, even showing me how to hold the pen and place the paper. Each week it was Amanda who tested me on our list of spellings. But she betrayed me, stealing one of my poems and handing it to Miss Owen, which made the difference between a pass and a fail in English. Amanda died at the age of 19, when her then boyfriend ran out of road and hit a tree. I now appreciate the time Amanda spent with me, along with others; Miss Owen included, but I am constantly haunted by the memory of Amanda Morgan. After making a plethora of misguided choices in my life, I found myself in a dead-end job. As far back as I can remember I had considered becoming a police officer, so I applied to join the police. The entrance exam was a nightmare for my dyslexic mind. I spent a year learning spelling, punctuation and simple maths. My hard work paid off and I scraped enough marks to pass the exam.

although I did not realise it at the time. It took me several weeks of being a recluse to finish the book, which I read

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POLICE WORLD Vol 66 No.2, 2021