![Dyslexia at Work: Dyslexia-Friendly Hiring? [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Dyslexia-at-Work-Dyslexia-Friendly-Hiring-Premium-1-400x250.jpg.webp)
Research suggests that work teams that have at least one neurodiverse member are likely to be 30% more productive, but many companies have hiring practices that may exclude neurodiverse candidates before they are able to demonstrate their strengths.
![The Expansive Life of IBM’s Thomas Watson, Jr [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Expansive-LIfe-of-Tom-Watson-400x250.jpg.webp)
“Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure.” — Thomas Watson, Jr. Recently, I had the chance to interview Tom Watson Jr’s grandson, Ralph Watson McElvenny and his co-author Marc Wortman. Tom Watson Jr. was one of those people who seemed to live larger than life. He struggled mightily as a child – and was sort of a black sheep of a talented family for years, but he found his niche – and later expanded that into multiple niches, There’s a lot to be gained from learning more about his life. From the book’s press release: “Nearly fifty years into IBM’s existence, Thomas Watson Jr. undertook the biggest gamble in business […]
Nick Koshnick is a Stanford PhD and seasoned entrepreneur who raised money from companies like Google and Andreessen, and then sold the company.. He’s also dyslexic. Now, he’s co-founded StoriedWork.com with business partner Frank Corrigan. Storied has been nicknamed an “AI Co-Pilot for Non-Linear Thinkers.” Pretty quickly, Nick realized the potential of the app to empower fellow dyslexics.
NON-LINEAR THINKER? NO PROBLEM! For many dyslexic writers, one of the greatest challenges using speech to text is getting the explosion of ideas in your head into a straightforward linear text . The Storied app helps with that – you’re allowed to ramble – and in fact the app expects you to ramble. Talk about your ideas and let the app do its thing. It […]
Many dyslexic kids and adults are great at games – all sorts of games. Not surprisingly, some decide to make games themselves and then some choose careers in some aspect of the game industry. There may be an ability to see game play from multiple perspectives including different points of view, while those who win these games are often good at strategy, role play, and pattern recognition. Among game creators, strengths in humor, and divergent and playful thinking are very well-suited to inventing new games. Some years ago, legendary toy inventor Howard Wexler gave our community a webinar about his life inventing toys. As a kid, he played with Tinkertoys and enjoyed taking things apart. His toys and games were very different from each […]
“…Can I just start off by making a blanket statement that I think dyslexia can be such a gift?” — Brett Kopf Brett Kopf is co-founder of Remind and Omella, two companies that grew out of his interest in solving problems that mission-driven organizations and schools face. Brett’s path from struggling in school and spending almost every day in the principal’s office, to difficulty deciding on a career path in college (agriculture?) seem disconnected to his remarkable success as a business co-founder, but there were signs of his talents even as a child. Brett remember enjoying talking to his principal, and in his job today he likes talking to customers and figuring out what they need and then brainstorming about how what he could […]
Social entrepreneur Kate Griggs from the UK has a new book called "This is Dyslexia." Recently, Fernette had the chance to catch up with Kate Griggs, founder of the global charity Made by Dyslexia. It's mission is to "help the world to understand, value and...
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“I was dyslexic – I couldn’t read. My father was an engineer, so I grew up thinking I was like him, but I was actually intellectually more like my mother. They were both smart people.” — Jim Keller, past VP Engineering at Apple and Tesla, Senior VP at Intel, and CTO and President of Tensetorrent When it comes to talking about dyslexic talent, strengths in problem solving and team building often get mentioned. If such things get mentioned in school age children or even college students, it doesn’t truly capture what these strengths might involve when at their full powers in people at the top of their professions. Jim Keller is not a household name like Steve Jobs or Elon Musk, but in […]
Congratulations to Steven Erickson and his brother Mark who won a coveted spot on the second season of Lego Masters to compete for $100,000. Steven and his brother Mark have long been known to the LEGO community. You can find Steven HERE. I have...
"I like to tell people I started the company in fifth grade. That's a lie. But, I was diagnosed with a bunch of learning disabilities as a kid and I really struggled in school. I had this teacher that totally changed my life, named Miss Whitefield. My parents were...
Across the pond, there's an entrepreneur who has a lot of grit and resilience. It might be because he was faced with adversity from day 1, because he was also born with cystic fibrosis and never expected to have a full life span. He is dyslexic, and also faced shaming...
"Take chances. Take risks. Don't be afraid of what's around the corner. Embrace it." - Glenn Stearns New on Discovery Channel is an 8-part series based on a real-life wager. Glenn Stearns is a super successful billionaire who overcame life hurdles like growing up in...
![Welcome to the Real World: Landing Your First Job [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shutterstock_566715898-Landing-Your-First-Job-400x250.jpg)
For entrepreneurs, their first jobs may have been of their own making in elementary school, but for the rest, the first real jobs are when school is finally over. Compared to the volumes of resources available for school children, the advice and resources for the newly employed or newly job hunting, information is scarce. FOR JOB HUNTERS: 1. CONSIDER YOUR STRENGTHS AND LOOK FOR A GOOD JOB MATCH Ask for others’ opinions if you’re too self-critical. Don’t be afraid of aiming high. Jobs where you will be valued and where you can use your creativity and problem solving on a daily basis will not only be more enjoyable, but also be suited to your strengths. 2. LEARN YOUR TECHNOLOGY Now’s the time to get up […]
