In this blog, Megan Rowlands reflects on how being neurodivergent has affected her studies to become a veterinary nurse, her first year of being qualified and how the workplace treats those who are neurodivergent.
I was confirmed as being dyslexic while studying in my first year of training to be a nurse. Once this was discovered, allowances were then put into place to help me with my lectures and exams. After being qualified I was lucky enough to work at a practice who supported me and made adjustments to help me in the workplace. But not everyone is so lucky and even though it’s becoming more widely understood, there are still lots of people who have little to no understanding of what neurodivergence is and how to help those who are.
What is neurodivergence?
Neurodivergence is an umbrella term that covers a range of disorders and learning disabilities, from autism and ADHD to dyslexia and dyscalculia. It can also include epileptic people and people with mental health illnesses. People with more than one of these can be described as multiply neurodivergent.
Being neurodivergent, means you have a mind that functions in ways which diverge significantly from the dominant societal standards of “normal.” [1] Simply put, our brains work in a different way to most people. This may be differences in social preferences, ways of learning, ways of communicating and/or ways of perceiving the environment. Because of this, a neurodivergent person has different struggles and unique strengths [2].
Neurodivergent isn’t a medical term. Instead, it’s a way to describe people using words other than “normal” and “abnormal.” That’s important because there’s no single definition of “normal” for how the human brain works. The word for people who aren’t neurodivergent is “neurotypical.” [2].
Neurodivergence can be a result of genetics, or it can be produced by a brain-altering experience, or sometimes a combination of the two [1]. Dyslexia is an example of a genetic form of neurodivergence. And when I look at my family it’s no surprise that I am dyslexic as my father is dyslexic as well as one of my sisters and my brother.
Discovering being neurodivergent
Even though I knew there was dyslexia in the family, I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 28 years old. Some teachers at school had some suspicions that I might be, but I wasn’t put forward for a test until I was in 6th form. Even then this was an internal one, with a very limited test, done by a staff member who had no training in this field. They said I was borderline dyslexic, so I wouldn’t be able to get any help. So, I decided not to pursue it further.
It was only many years later when I decided to change careers and decided to train to be a veterinary nurse that it would come up again. When I was in my first year of training at college, I found I was struggling with the academic side of the course, particularly keeping up with the lectures, trying to take notes, or reading articles given to us. I was so slow at taking notes, that the lecturer would be onto the next slide before I had finished, or I was too busy trying to write everything down that I’d miss what the they were saying. When it came to reading articles in class, I was so far behind everyone else that I’d have to give up so not to hold the class up and read it once I got home. I was getting so stressed-out and started thinking that maybe this was just too much for me and not what I was meant to do.
But after talking to my family, I decided to approach one of my lecturers and said how I was struggling and asked if I could be put forward to be tested for dyslexia. They put me in for a test with a professional external company, with a very thorough and in-depth test. When the results came back, it said that I was severely dyslexic.
It was such a relief to have a confirmed diagnosis. To know there was a reason why I was struggling and that now I had a diagnosis, I would be getting help going forward.
Finding ways to cope
College really helped me find ways to cope. Some examples of things they put into place for me included giving me the lecturers copy of the presentations, so I didn’t have to worry about making notes, I could just sit and listen and take everything in. I was also given extra time for my exams, so I didn’t have to worry about being so slow at reading the questions that I’d run out of time or must rush what I was reading and misread a question. This made me feel a lot happier and more confident that I could complete the course. Not only did I manage to complete the course, but I came out with a distinction.
After finishing my college course, with just my OSCE’s to go before qualifying, I started working at a new practice. My new (and current) practice was very supportive, particularly my head nurse. She took the time to get to know me and how I worked. It was easy to open up to her and tell her about my neurodiversity, without fear of being judged. She would work with me, putting things into place like having more visual aids around the practice to help me, as I am a visual and practical learner. She also has regular check-ins with me and my colleagues, to make sure we are all working well together and to help us understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, so we can support each other.
Neurodiversity at work
I’m very lucky and appreciative to be in such a caring and understanding team but I am aware that not all neurodivergent people are. Even across the branches of the company I work at, I can see that there is definitely room for improvement. I think a lot of problems come from a lack of knowledge and understanding, so I believe the best way to start is education. Explaining to people what neurodiversity is. The different types, the common ways these affect people; their behavior, the way they think, act, process information and social situations.
A lack of understanding can cause conflict, ‘Why did they do that?’, ‘Why did they say that?’. Not being able to communicate effectively can cause misunderstanding within a team. Taking the time to get to know someone and ask if they can explain why they did or said something can really help. This means going forward, you understand how that person works or why they said or did something in a particular way. It might not be the way you would do or say something, but it doesn’t mean it’s the wrong way, it’s just a different way. Sometimes this different way of thinking can be great for problem solving. These people need to be listened to more, rather than judging or dismissing them, their ideas or the way they do something.
In my case dyslexia is thought of as a learning disorder, most commonly that people with it can’t spell and struggle with reading, but it’s not just about that, it’s how I process all information, how I react to situations and how I work out problems. I see the world in a different way, which can turn out in positive and negative ways. People with dyslexia usually have brains that are better at processing or mentally picturing 3D objects. An example of this for me at work is that I am often asked to help take dental x-rays, as I can see the right angles it needs to be in to get the best image, which others struggle with. But on the other end, because of how my brain works, I can struggle with communication. For example, at work if a vet verbally reels off a list of things and medications, they want me to do and give to a patient, I can become overwhelmed and struggle to process everything they’ve said. Thats why nonverbal communication can work a lot better for me, and so I have time to process everything. This can be writing it down on the anesthetic or hospital chart, as well as using texts and emails for other work information.
I understand it can be frustrating at times for people on both sides of it. The neurodivergent and the neurotypical, not understanding the other person, or not having the time or patients to deal with that person or situation. Especially working within the veterinary industry, where we are often put into stressful high-pressure situations and can suffer from burn out and emotional fatigue. But it is also an industry that attracts people of a caring nature. So, I have hope that even though we all have our differences, we will be there to support our colleagues, no matter how their brain works.
The Cleveland Clinic [2] have some useful points on how to help those who neurodivergent:
- Listen. People who are neurodivergent may feel misunderstood or left out. Be willing to listen to them. Let them know you hear them and respect them and their choices.
- Communicate in ways that help them. Sometimes, people who are neurodivergent prefer written communication such as instant messaging, texting or emails over a phone call or face-to-face conversation. Give them the time and tools they need to communicate.
- Avoid value-based labels. Experts recommend against using the terms “high-functioning” and “low-functioning” to describe conditions like autism. They often assume a person’s level of function based on how much they behave like someone who’s neurotypical.
- No two neurodivergent people are the same. The personalities and preferences of neurodivergent people can be widely different, even when they have the same underlying condition.
- Don’t assume that anyone is incapable or unintelligent. People who are neurodivergent often have conditions or preferences that make them stand out or appear different.
- Treat everyone with respect. You can “normalise” and provide others with accommodations in a way that honors their human dignity [2].
Overall, I believe the best way people can help those who are neurodivergent is just to be kind and patient. Even if you don’t fully understand what a person’s neurodivergence is, just knowing that their brain works differently from yours will help.
References:
- StimPunks. Available online: https://stimpunks.org/glossary/neurodivergent/ (27/09/2024)
- Cleveland Clinic. Available online: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23154-neurodivergent (8/10/2024)
- Image from Polain, M (n.d.) What is neurodiversity? Available online: https://therapyfocus.org.au/on-the-blog/understanding-neurodiversity/