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Dyslexia is often seen as a kind of "difficulty reading," but it is much more than that - a specific learning difference that affects many cognitive processes, including reading, writing, and organization. In industries like maritime, where you can’t just slide by but have to prove your mettle through exams and certifications, individuals with dyslexia can find themselves at a disadvantage. But this week, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued a Marine Information Note (MIN) to highlight the pathway of support that they have opened for diverse thinkers.
To explore this further, we spoke with Rachel Coyle, a trained dyslexia assessor, and John Wyborn, co-founder and training director at Bluewater, to discuss dyslexia and its implications in the maritime world.
Dyslexia is part of a broader category of "specific learning difficulties" (SpLDs). These include challenges with:
"It’s not about intelligence," emphasises Rachel. "It’s how these processes impact the learning of these basic skills. Dyslexia doesn’t happen because someone’s dumb, and it doesn’t happen because someone’s smart either. And it can happen with varying degrees of severity. I could define it with a lot more terminology, but basically, that’s what it is."
Dyslexia does not mean a lack of smarts. And the belief that it does - especially to vocational industries, is a major barrier in the brain’s pathways toward those industries.
In schools and universities, there have been huge gains in recognising accommodations needed for smart yet dyslexic individuals to succeed. But in vocational sectors, like the maritime industry, we are still making up ground.
Rachel offers an initial screener, which can be completed online, for professionals who are uncertain about having dyslexia.
1. Initial Screening
• Background questionnaire is completed
• Quickly screening for 40 minutes
• A thorough account is produced, highlighting any signs of dyslexia
2. Full Assessment
• If flagged, a thorough evaluation takes place. This consists of remote, via video call, cognitive and psychometric tests.
• The evaluation lasts 1 to 2 hours and tests several critical domains, such as short-term memory, speech sound awareness, and the big ideas of reading and math.
For individuals diagnosed as adults, the certification is in effect for a lifetime
A diagnosis that can be unlocked can afford critical accommodations during examinations, such as these:
• Extended time: Generally, 25% additional time per hour.
• Assistance with Technology: Instruments like reading pens, software that converts text to speech, or utilising a laptop in place of handwritten responses.
• Flexible Approaches: Modifications to suit unique requirements.
John Wyborn highlights far too frequently that individuals dismiss themselves as ’not academic’ when they have undiagnosed dyslexia. A proper diagnosis can significantly change the narrative, especially when the stakes are as high as they are in the maritime exams.
