Dyslexia and art: Charlotte's story

I have had serve dyslexia throughout my whole life, and I wasn’t diagnosed until I was seven years old. This was done privately after many difficult encounters and situations at school at the Tonbridge Dyslexia Action Group. This was a big milestone for me as it gave me the knowledge and information that there was nothing wrong with me, I just needed a little more help than others with certain elements of life, such as reading, writing and social interactions.

At the age of 10 I was lucky enough to be statemented and this led to the opportunity of attending Frewen College. This was fantastic as it is a specialist school for young people with learning difficulties such as dyslexia. It also gave me the freedom to learn and socialize with other people my age who understood how it felt to live with dyslexia. The teachers were able to support me on a far more personable level as they were able to tailor activities to my ability to ensure I didn’t fall behind when it came to exams. This experience was monumental to me, as up until this point I had never experienced a positive school environment. It was great to be understood!

I stayed here until I was 16 making friends, and achieving far more than I had ever imagined.

It was at the age of 16 I started college. I remember being very nervous entering a new environment and not knowing if I would fit in or if people would understand me. However, it is here that I have flourished and truly become my own person. My confidence and abilities have grown hugely since I started college. I have learnt and tried many new techniques to advance my work and push my learnings. I have been fortunate enough to meet many inspirational people on my course and through course links. My teachers have inspired me to continue my work and push myself further than I could have ever imagined. I am looking forward to advancing to university next September with the support of those around me.

My long-term aspiration is to work in theatre. I would love to design theatre sets, scenery and props. Using my artist skills and interpretations to bring theatre sets to life on stage.