Testimony: Thriving with Dysorthographia, Thomas’s Journey
Thomas is 26. Diagnosed with dysorthographia at the age of 9, he went through a difficult schooling before finding his path in software engineering. He shares his journey with honesty and generosity for the children and families who are living today what he lived through.
“Dictations were my nightmare”
My earliest memories of school are the shame of dictations. I watched the other children write without any effort, and no matter how hard I concentrated, my words always came out riddled with mistakes. The teacher returned my copies covered in red ink. I felt as though I was stupid, even though I understood everything, could answer every question orally, and loved maths. But spelling was like a wall.
My diagnosis came in Year 5, during a speech and language therapy assessment. My mother had insisted with the doctor despite his initial reluctance. When the speech therapist explained what dysorthographia was, I felt something strange: relief. At last, an explanation. I wasn’t stupid – my brain simply worked differently.
Speech and language therapy: three years of regular work
I followed speech and language therapy for three years, one session a week. The exercises were regular and sometimes tedious, but the speech therapist knew how to make them bearable. What helped me most was that she always explained the reasoning behind the rules, not just the bare rule. Understanding the logic behind French spelling allowed me to memorise far more effectively.
Progress was slow but real. Between Year 5 and Year 9, my mistakes decreased significantly. They did not disappear – they never will entirely – but they became manageable.
Secondary school and sixth form: the tools that changed everything
At secondary school, I discovered Antidote, an advanced spell-checker. It really changed everything for me. I could finally produce quality texts without spending hours on spelling. Teachers saw my ideas rather than my mistakes. My steering towards scientific streams – where spelling carries less weight in grades – was also a good strategic decision.
Today: software engineer and proud of it
Today I am a software development engineer. Dysorthographia does not stop me from working – automatic correctors are part of my daily workflow, as is the case for many of my colleagues. I still make mistakes in my emails – I always proofread them twice – but that does not stop me from doing my job with skill and pride.
His message to dysorthographic children and their parents
What I want to say to all the children who are going through what I went through: you are not stupid. Your brain works differently – and in many areas, it works better. Find your strengths and nurture them. And to parents: take the diagnosis seriously, start the speech and language therapy promptly, and never let your child believe that their spelling mistakes say anything about their worth. For resources and support for DYS families, lesdys.fr offers a community and practical guides.
