A dyslexic without Microsoft Word
It’s a team-building day. There’s a flip chart in front of all the groups. Someone is about to be nominated as the scribe. I’m sweating. I hope it’s not me. I sit still, silent, holding my breath.
Thank God! It’s someone else. I exhale deeply and prepare to crack a joke.
In moments like these, I can’t describe the sheer fear that washes over me. Spelling words like conscious or relevant? Forget it. Is that an "a" sound at the end of ant, or is it an "e" sound? I still don’t f@*king know. The difference between certain sounds completely escapes me.
I know tricks like "big elephants always understand small elephants" for because. I know calendar because the icon sits on my screen. I remember register because I write it every day on the whiteboard. But what about the other 171,476 words in the 2024 2nd edition of the Oxford English Dictionary?
How Microsoft has helped me…thanks Bill.
If I can’t spell a word, I avoid it. My mind instinctively jumps to an easier alternative. But using tools like Microsoft Word has encouraged me to take risks with more complex words. The immediate feedback I get from the program gives me the confidence to expand my vocabulary—words I know I have but find excruciating to write down.
When I was 12 years old, I started learning to touch type. I remember those sessions vividly. The teacher played some hypnotic cassette tape while we followed along and practiced. About two years later, when MSN Messenger became a thing, I got fast at typing. Now, it’s second nature.
Typing hasn’t improved my spelling, but at least no one has to see my handwriting.
Handwriting
As a teacher, I firmly believe handwriting practice should be a must—but it should NOT be part of a grading system, as it so often is.
Even now, my handwriting is dreadful. I’m in awe of people who can produce beautiful calligraphy. My own handwriting caused me physical pain growing up. The pressure and concentration I’d put into my pen just to make something legible were exhausting. Meanwhile, the person next to me would write twice as much, and it would look perfect.
If you’re dyslexic, I think learning how to graffiti with spray paint should be an option. Imagine a class where kids aged 8 to 10 learn to measure a wall, prepare it, and master spraying techniques. I would’ve loved that.
My adult life
Sometimes, I wonder—though not often—where I’d be without Microsoft Word. It has helped me write my CV, prepare projects, dissertations, lessons, and letters. It opened a world to me that I might have avoided otherwise.
Some of my family members struggle with reading and writing. They’ve chosen careers and projects that don’t require sentence structure or punctuation. My uncle, for example, is incredible. Give him a job with his hands, and he’ll excel. Ask him to organize finances, and he’s on it. Need someone to solve a land dispute? He’s your guy. The skills he’s taught himself—and learned from others—are inspiring. But in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, dyslexia wasn’t widely recognized, and he dropped out of school at 14.
Now, he sends me voice notes to check in. That small change in how we communicate makes all the difference.
ChatGPT and Whatsapp messenger.
If Word helped my past, what will shape my future?
Communication has evolved over the years. Letters, SMS, emails (so old-school!) have given way to instant messaging, GIFs, emojis, voice notes, and videos—all practically free. A five-second or five-minute voice note now bypasses any worries about phonetics or spelling.
ChatGPT feels like the next big leap. If Word opened up my ability to write, ChatGPT can take it even further.
Think about all the thoughts and ideas people keep hidden because they fear not making sense. ChatGPT can help organize those ideas, provide clarity, and even offer feedback. For example, here’s some feedback from ChatGPT on this very post—it highlighted issues I hadn’t even noticed.
The Future Is Bright
Microsoft Word has been transformative for me. Looking ahead, I believe AI tools and future programs will help even more people get what’s in their heads down on paper—or a screen.
If this post resonated with you, please share your thoughts in the comments below. And if you have a story about how technology has helped you, I’d love to hear it!
Where to find me?
I have a tutoring service for any one who has children in Primary school. I love helping all children, but espcially the ones that, like me, struggled in the classroom.
https://www.dompaynetutoring.com/
