Dyslexia and Developers

RubyConf AU 2018

by Tom Gamon

The video titled "Dyslexia and Developers" features Tom Gamon speaking at RubyConf AU 2018. In his talk, Tom shares his personal experiences and insights as a developer with dyslexia, aiming to raise awareness about the challenges faced by dyslexic individuals in the tech industry.

Key points discussed in the presentation include:

- Understanding Dyslexia: Tom clarifies common misconceptions about dyslexia, emphasizing that it does not correlate with reduced intelligence or inability to learn. He highlights that dyslexia affects phonological reasoning, but many dyslexics find effective coping strategies.
- Diversity in Abilities: Dyslexics can have unique strengths, particularly in high-level information processing, problem-solving, and creativity, which can benefit programming and development work. Negative stereotypes often overlook these abilities.
- Challenges: Programming can present specific difficulties for dyslexics, such as issues with reading, writing, and maintaining organization in their tasks. Tom points out that these can hinder performance, especially in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment.
- Tools and Strategies: The speaker discusses various tools and strategies he uses to overcome these challenges. These include utilizing effective Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), innovative fonts like OpenDyslexic for better reading flow, organizational tools like GIT hooks, and personal note-taking methods to manage information overload.
- Navigating Work Dynamics: Tom stresses the importance of communication and understanding within teams, advocating for patience and clarity in project management to improve collaboration with dyslexic developers.
- Contributions of Dyslexic Developers: He concludes by reinforcing that dyslexia should not deter anyone from pursuing a development career. Dyslexics often excel in areas that require innovative thinking and problem-solving, contributing positively to development teams.

Tom's overall message emphasizes the need for empathy and support in fostering an inclusive and productive work environment for all developers, regardless of their cognitive differences. By focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses, teams can leverage the unique perspectives of dyslexic individuals, ultimately benefiting the technology sector as a whole.

00:00:11.099 I've got over 60 slides in about 20 minutes, so let's get cracking. Who am I? My name is Tom, and I am a developer for Disco. I lived in Australia until I was about seven, then I lived in the UK, and about a year ago, I moved back. This means I've got a good appreciation for fairy bread, but I still find it weird when my co-workers talk about their thongs. I am also dyslexic.

00:00:39.239 I think I'm facing the same issue that Laura faced earlier, but this was just a distant image of me saving some orphans from a sinking ship. So, what is dyslexia? First up, some common misconceptions: it does not mean you're dumb, and that is big news. Whilst dyslexia affects phonological reasoning, which impacts how we process information, it does not affect IQ.

00:01:07.550 It means you can't read, and that's fake news too. Dyslexia is often characterized by reading difficulties at a young age. Most adult dyslexics have adapted and found coping strategies. So, we may have challenges, but we can definitely manage. People often think of us as some sort of lazy generation looking for an excuse. That's big news: dyslexia isn't just an excuse, it's the result of a different brain structure.

00:01:34.860 This unique structure can make dyslexics stronger in processing certain types of information while clearing others. You might be thinking, surely knowing this in the 21st century in our utopia of acceptance, we are better off. I thought the same thing until I saw a post on Hacker News where someone commented on their experiences with dyslexia in development. Let me warn you, there are a couple of swears, so cover your eyes or ears.

00:02:05.520 They said, 'I believe in some ways dyslexia makes me a better programmer.' Someone responded, 'I'm sure everyone on your team feels the same when you spell things wrong and can't do 90% of the refactoring for legacy code that they do.' This deal can be hard; programming can be challenging, and that's the deal. It's not that everyone is the same, but we can all bring our unique skills to the party.

00:02:42.800 And this brings up an important point I want to address early on: the last thing I want this talk to be is an excuse. I want to raise awareness around dyslexia and how it can affect dyslexic adults, especially in development. Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities, affecting about 3% of the population. So, there are probably a few people in this room who are affected, and it's very likely you will work alongside someone with dyslexia throughout your career.

00:03:03.329 The more you understand it, the better you can utilize their strengths rather than focus on the weaknesses. I really like this quote, which is largely attributed to Einstein: 'Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid.' I told my girlfriend I really liked this quote, but she said that it's rubbish and that you can climb any tree if you're big enough.

00:03:32.405 She had a point. So I decided to reframe my perspective: don't complain about using a faulty hammer when you're trying to do woodworking. Dyslexia can be viewed as a disability if we only look at certain competencies, often focusing on early education such as basic reading, writing, and rote learning. This is the woodpile we've been trying to sort through.

00:04:02.890 Dyslexics may be weaker in these areas, but when we begin to understand our strengths, we discover we can drive nails in other ways. In fact, stock photography seems to have an obsession with images of people hammering nails into others' heads, which I was not expecting. Before I carry on, I want to add that this talk is based on my own experiences and my flavor of dyslexia. Everyone's experience is unique, and it's essential to note that ongoing research continues to explore this.

00:04:39.690 Dyslexia is characterized by difficulty with words, which is defined as a general term for disorders that involve difficulty learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols, without affecting general intelligence. I admit the title of this talk is a bit of a misnomer, as it actually discusses dyslexia more broadly, including comorbid issues.

00:05:06.650 Dyslexia can often accompany other disorders, such as attention deficit disorder or executive functioning problems like working memory and organizational skills. There may also be slow processing speeds or auditory processing issues. Dyslexia often reveals a set of common traits, such as having a high IQ, but not performing well on tests, and having difficulties concentrating, which can make reading and communication very taxing.

00:05:43.250 Interpersonal communication—trying to articulate the thoughts in our heads—can sometimes feel like running into a logjam, where we just can't quite retrieve the right word or thought. With long-term memory being relatively strong while short-term and working memory may struggle, we recognize that not everyone's experience of dyslexia is the same. Overall, it is a neurobiological condition, meaning the brain is literally structured differently.

00:06:11.740 Dyslexics often rely more on the right side of the brain to process information; we are better at understanding high-level information but may miss finer details. It's excellent for recognizing relationships and engaging in ad-hoc problem-solving. In some scenarios, the brain's structure works oppositely to other conditions like autism, where individuals might lose the forest for the trees.

00:06:43.820 Dyslexics, conversely, might lose the trees within the woods. This condition is often hereditary; if your parents have it, you are likely to have it too, and subsequently, your children may have it as well. Accessible dyslexia makes it more probable you may experience problems with reading, writing, and processing information—all of which we developers do on a daily basis.

00:07:03.340 You might wonder if this makes for a terrible career choice in development. However, what I'll argue today is that with the plethora of modern tools we have available, many of the weaknesses associated with dyslexia can be mitigated, allowing dyslexics to showcase their strengths.

00:07:37.750 There was a study in 2004 which found that programming might be an arena where dyslexics can exploit their strengths while circumventing their weaknesses. It should also be noted that it's illegal to discriminate against someone based on having dyslexia.

00:07:58.750 Next, I want to talk about overcoming weaknesses. The remaining slides will discuss specific weaknesses and how I personally have learned to overcome them.

00:08:06.750 First up, a good Integrated Development Environment (IDE). I use RubyMine, while I can see people in the room advocating for Vim as it can be less expensive or efficient, I find RubyMine extremely beneficial for several reasons.

00:08:25.570 Firstly, it provides great context as I can easily navigate my files and directories, seeing definitions of methods and variables. It gives me the context I need to understand coding effectively. Syntax highlighting makes it much easier for me to decode what’s on the screen. Having everything in one place means less context switching and reduced distractions.

00:09:03.900 Moreover, RubyMine has excellent font support. There's a font called OpenDyslexic, developed to help address some problems dyslexics face while scanning lines of text. The font has a unique, heavy bottom that aids the movement across the lines.

00:09:36.330 It helps in maintaining reading flow, which is essential. Additionally, yes, there is a monospaced version available! I find that it often takes me longer to learn things.

00:09:56.919 To work around this, I utilize Dash, which is a really simple way to check documentation offline. I've got this stored globally, meaning anywhere on my computer, I can quickly whip up and find what I'm looking for. I store frequently used snippets as well, which reduces the time it would normally take to look things up.

00:10:32.249 If that sounds familiar, you might be one of the six people to read the blog I wrote about this. Another significant challenge for me is organizing my memory. GIT hooks provide a way of configuring git actions that run commands, meaning if something isn't aligned with the style guide, the commit won’t go through.

00:11:06.060 Initially, it can be quite painful, but once set up, it's very effective. It prevents me from making mistakes by forgetting to handle something. For instance, we also run our test suite before pushing up to Git.

00:11:39.580 Another effective solution is using tools like OneNote for non-linear note-taking, where you can click anywhere to start writing. I find something as simple as post-it notes useful. One specific thing I often rely on is my 96-page millimeter ruled notepad for to-do lists.

00:11:59.300 The emphasis is on the speed at which I can dump information from my working memory. If someone mentions a task, I have to jot it down quickly, or I will forget.

00:12:27.940 Project management is another area where I tend to struggle, especially with verbal briefings. If I'm given a lot of information, I can’t keep most of it in my working memory, so it gets lost. It's essential for me to provide written documentation for tasks so I have something to refer back to.

00:12:51.570 This approach allows me to build the context I need, rather than trying to remember individual tasks. Additionally, I struggle to articulate my thoughts through speech. There are times when I can clearly picture what I want to express yet can't retrieve the words.

00:13:18.470 Having a whiteboard is an excellent method for visual thinkers like myself; being able to sketch out ideas really helps clarify communication. I find that I can point to specific items, which simplifies discussion.

00:13:46.240 Many dyslexics are visual thinkers. If I'm in a bind, my trusty 96-page pocket notepad comes in handy. I often get distracted by background noise, which is related to the extended hearing issue I mentioned earlier. The best solution is silence.

00:14:13.170 If I work in shared spaces, I use noise-canceling headphones. If the office is playing distracting music, I can play white noise or classical music to help me concentrate.

00:14:39.540 It’s essential to recognize that it may take me longer to grasp certain concepts. However, with time and patience, we can navigate and manage this. It’s crucial to maintain understanding during meetings because it’s not that I am ignoring you if I can't respond right away—it takes more time for me to process.

00:15:07.430 Dyslexics often feel overwhelmed easily, leading to panic. Proactive project management can greatly help by providing clear roles, deadlines, and items to refer back to which diminishes the feeling of chaos.

00:15:32.000 Emotions also play a role; dyslexics often experience lower self-esteem. This usually stems from struggling in school and feeling frustrated when we face tasks that others find simple.

00:15:55.080 Receiving regular feedback can help alleviate some of these issues, as we won't spend all our time second-guessing ourselves. So, what do you get from your investment?

00:16:14.250 Some might question if this investment will buy a little extra time or resources. However, many dyslexics have remarkable strengths that can benefit development teams.

00:16:48.620 Dyslexics often excel at processing information amidst the noise, getting to the core of problems effectively. They can be incredibly adept at debugging, spotting patterns, and identifying when aspects are out of place.

00:17:15.029 In addition, they are frequently good at communicating needs and are often creative problem-solvers. The nature of programming is all about problem-solving, and since dyslexics approach situations differently, they might discover solutions that others overlook.

00:17:34.490 This differing cognitive process can lead to unique, out-of-the-box insights.

00:17:49.730 In summary, having dyslexia shouldn't hold you back from a career in programming. A lot of low-level challenges can be mitigated, allowing dyslexics to showcase their true talents. As was emphasized in other talks, being a developer requires kindness and empathy.

00:18:14.640 So, be patient, work with dyslexics to help them reach their potential, and remember: don't complain about using a faulty hammer if you're trying to build something.

RubyConf AU 2018