Benoît Jurado has suffered from “dys” disorders, which are specific to language and learning, since childhood. He tells us how he went through his schooling and managed to become an “accomplished professional”, despite his invisible handicap.
- In France, 6 to 8% of people suffer from dys disorders.
- 4 to 5% of pupils in an age group are dyslexic, 3% are dyspraxic, and 2% are dysphasic.
“I am dyslexic, dysorthographic, dysgraphic and dyscalculic”, lists Benoît Jurado. These written language disorders correspond to learning difficulties. “I have problems with reading, more precisely I reverse the ‘b’ and the ‘d’. I also have trouble writing and I make a lot of spelling mistakes. When I have to perform mental calculations, my brain uses the wrong shortcuts. Result: it is difficult for me to solve mathematical problems”, explains the 28-year-old patient.
Dyslexia: “the diagnosis has been made” at CP
The Toulousain discovered quite young that he suffered from “dys” disorders. “In first grade, I was faced with academic difficulties. The teachers advised my parents to go to a speech therapist to be able to do an assessment. During the consultation, the diagnosis was made quickly”, remembers the software architect. In his case, the hereditary origin of the disorder has not been proven. “One of my cousins is dyslexic, but my parents and my sister are not.”
After this announcement, his father and mother fought so that he could benefit from full support during his schooling. “They wanted all the arrangements to be put in place. For example, I was able to obtain the third time during the exams and I had the right to have photocopies of the courses. During official tests, such as the patent or At the baccalaureate, I was accompanied by a writing secretary. I dictated to him what he had to write. In college, I had a computer, only for word processing, in order to be more autonomous”, explains Benoît Jurado.
“I was teased because the children saw that I was different”
These various aids and arrangements enabled him to quickly become independent. But they also had an impact on his bonds with his classmates. “In primary school, I was the victim of teasing, because the children saw that I was different. In college, some thought that there was favoritism. During this period, I suffered from the gap with other college students , for example the fact that I had less abilities”, says the freelancer.
For seven years, the young patient was followed by several speech therapists, which enabled him to “to correct” his dyslexia. “I consulted a psychomotrician for a short time. I stopped because she could not act on the dysgraphia and the sessions were not reimbursed.” He deplores the fact that consultations with the occupational therapist, the psychologist or the neuropsychologist are not covered. “It is important to surround yourself well when you suffer from dys disorders, but this has a cost”, says the twenty-something.
Dyslexia: “some of our friends think we don’t make an effort”
After completing a master’s degree in computer science at a private school, Benoît Jurado took his first steps into the world of work. “When I applied, I didn’t lie. I never hid my dyslexia. During the interviews, I explained that I had to be proofread and corrected. In general, companies are understanding, because they are interested in having quotas, and they are trying to put in place arrangements”, says the Toulousain, who has obtained recognition of his disability from the Departmental House for Disabled People (MDPH).
Before setting up on his own account, you could make him comments on his spelling mistakes. “Once we have explained to our colleagues that we have a disability, they understand. We also sometimes have to justify ourselves to those around us. Some of our friends think that we are not making an effort, because in France, spelling is important from a social point of view”, emphasizes the software architect.
Despite his disability, he is proud to have become a “accomplished professional” and to have created his company. “Few people thought I was going to succeed. Throughout my life, I have taken every opportunity that presented itself. People with dys disorders should remember that academic performance does not determine what the we are in life. We must not give up and fight to do what we want.”