More than just jumbling letters : the stories of young adults with a profile of dyslexia : a qualitative study

Abstract

The aim of this qualitative research study was to gain insight of the narratives of young adults with dyslexia and what growing up with a learning disability (LD) was like for them at school, at home and in the community. The aim of the research was to explore how this learning disability has affected them and how they coped with it as well. Five young adults aged between 19 and 25 years and with a profile of dyslexia were interviewed according to the Biographic Narrative Interpretive Method (BNIM). The data was then analysed using thematic analysis. From the analysis six themes emerged: (1) Naming the Problem; (2) Surviving School; (3) Support; (4) Coping with the Learning Disability; (5) Informing Others about the Learning Disability; and (6) Being a Young Adult with Dyslexia. The participants' stories indicated that growing up with dyslexia meant that school was not a pleasant experience for them, and that there needs to be more education and awareness. That being said although things were not easy when they were at school, the participants explained that things dis improve with age. From this study I hope that people may understand what needs to be improved to help both people with a LD as well as to better the education system.