Ep. 20 | Being Black, Brilliant and Dyslexic with Marcia Brissett-Bailey
June 7, 2023
Join hosts Winifred A. Winston and LeDerick Horne, alongside the remarkable Marcia Brissett-Bailey, as they dive into an enlightening conversation about the challenges of growing up with dyslexia in the UK. In this episode, Marcia shares her personal journey of navigating a system where dyslexia was poorly understood, compounded by the absence of representation for Black individuals. Marcia opens up about the struggles she faced in grasping the concept of dyslexia and the isolation she felt, believing she was the only Black person dealing with dyslexia. The lack of diverse representation further exacerbated her feelings of being alone on her journey. Marcia delves into the difficulties she encountered when entering the workforce. Despite years of studying and preparing for her chosen career path, she found herself at a disadvantage due to a lack of self-advocacy skills in the workplace.
Join hosts Winifred A. Winston and LeDerick Horne, alongside the remarkable Marcia Brissett-Bailey, as they dive into an enlightening conversation about the challenges of growing up with dyslexia in the UK. In this episode, Marcia shares her personal journey of navigating a system where dyslexia was poorly understood, compounded by the absence of representation for Black individuals. Marcia opens up about the struggles she faced in grasping the concept of dyslexia and the isolation she felt, believing she was the only Black person dealing with dyslexia. The lack of diverse representation further exacerbated her feelings of being alone on her journey. Marcia delves into the difficulties she encountered when entering the workforce. Despite years of studying and preparing for her chosen career path, she found herself at a disadvantage due to a lack of self-advocacy skills in the workplace.
Here’s a breakdown of what to expect in this episode:
- The US and UK face similar challenges when it comes to dyslexia.
- Struggles children face when they don’t know they have dyslexia.
- Why it’s important to talk about learning differences in the Black community.
- The trauma faced at home, school, and work when you learn differently.
- Representation matters: Why celebrating being black, brilliant, and dyslexic is
necessary.
- How to access accommodations in the workplace and why it’s important.
- And so much more!
About Marcia Brisset-Bailey:
Marcia Brissett-Bailey is dyslexic by design, a neurodiversity narrative changer, an
influencer, informationist, Forbes featured, dyslexia advocate and champion,
international speaker. She has spoken at Deloitte, Crown Prosecutions Service (CPS),
(Equality Diversity & Inclusion) Sparta Global, countries include Neverlands, U.S. ,
Nigeria and Belgium to name a few. Marcia is passionate about talking about dyslexia in
the education system, workplace and intersectionality. She was named among the Top
50 Influential Neurodivergent Women in 2022. Marcia has been nominated for
Stereotype Buster Celebrating the Neurodiversity Awards 2021 and 2022. Has been a
guest editor for the British dyslexia Association for their October issue 2021. A
Co-founder BDA Cultural Perspective Committee, WFDA trustee, Advisory Board
Member of Centre for Neurodiversity at Work and Neurodiversity in Business
Co-production Board Member. She is a co-author in an anthology of nine dynamic
female entrepreneurs, which is a best-selling book ‘Pioneering Women Speak’ her
chapter is called Neurodiversity in Business. In addition, Marica recently launched her
book, “Black, Brilliant and Dyslexic”. She has 3-degree BSc (Hons) Information Science,
post graduate in careers guidance and MA in Special Educational Needs and
Disabilities.
~
You can find Marcia Brissett-Bailey on . . .
Website: theblackdyslexic.com
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcia-brissett-bailey-bsc-pg-dip-qcg-ma-ipsea-63
15a2b8/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblackdyslexic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BaileyBrissett
~
Connect with Winifred!
Website: https://www.soallcanread.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soallcanread
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackanddyslexic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soallcanread
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soallcanread/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/soallcanread
Connect with LeDerick!
Website: https://lederick.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lederickh/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lederickhorne/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lederickhorne
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lederick?lang=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lederickhorne
Resources from this Episode:
Book, “Black, Brilliant, and Dyslexic” - Edited by Marcia Brissett-Bailey
British Dyslexia Association - https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/
Genius Within - https://geniuswithin.org/
Dyslexia Scotland - https://dyslexiascotland.org.uk/
Access to Work - https://diversityandability.com/access-to-work/
Microsoft - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/diversity/inside-microsoft/cross-disability/neurodiversityhiring
Google - https://careers.google.com/programs/people-with-disabilities/
Ernest & Young - https://www.ey.com/en_us/innovation/neurodiversity-powered-transformation
Fidelity Diversity & Inclusion Report -
https://www.fidelity.com/bin-public/060_www_fidelity_com/documents/about-fidelity/2022-Fidelity
-Investments-Diversity-and-Inclusion-Report.pdf
The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock Eide,
MD, MA and Fernette Eide, MD
Interested in being a guest on the show or know someone who has a story that needs to be
shared? Go to www.guest.blackanddyslexic.org
Would you like us to host a live in person episode of the Black and Dyslexic Podcast at your
event? Contact us today! wwinston@soallcanread.org with the subject: BAD Live Event - city,
state (i.e., BAD Live Event - Baltimore, MD)
Here’s a breakdown of what to expect in this episode:
- The US and UK face similar challenges when it comes to dyslexia.
- Struggles children face when they don’t know they have dyslexia.
- Why it’s important to talk about learning differences in the Black community.
- The trauma faced at home, school, and work when you learn differently.
- Representation matters: Why celebrating being black, brilliant, and dyslexic is
necessary.
- How to access accommodations in the workplace and why it’s important.
- And so much more!
About Marcia Brisset-Bailey:
Marcia Brissett-Bailey is dyslexic by design, a neurodiversity narrative changer, an
influencer, informationist, Forbes featured, dyslexia advocate and champion,
international speaker. She has spoken at Deloitte, Crown Prosecutions Service (CPS),
(Equality Diversity & Inclusion) Sparta Global, countries include Neverlands, U.S. ,
Nigeria and Belgium to name a few. Marcia is passionate about talking about dyslexia in
the education system, workplace and intersectionality. She was named among the Top
50 Influential Neurodivergent Women in 2022. Marcia has been nominated for
Stereotype Buster Celebrating the Neurodiversity Awards 2021 and 2022. Has been a
guest editor for the British dyslexia Association for their October issue 2021. A
Co-founder BDA Cultural Perspective Committee, WFDA trustee, Advisory Board
Member of Centre for Neurodiversity at Work and Neurodiversity in Business
Co-production Board Member. She is a co-author in an anthology of nine dynamic
female entrepreneurs, which is a best-selling book ‘Pioneering Women Speak’ her
chapter is called Neurodiversity in Business. In addition, Marica recently launched her
book, “Black, Brilliant and Dyslexic”. She has 3-degree BSc (Hons) Information Science,
post graduate in careers guidance and MA in Special Educational Needs and
Disabilities.
~
You can find Marcia Brissett-Bailey on . . .
Website: theblackdyslexic.com
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcia-brissett-bailey-bsc-pg-dip-qcg-ma-ipsea-63
15a2b8/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblackdyslexic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BaileyBrissett
~
Connect with Winifred!
Website: https://www.soallcanread.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soallcanread
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackanddyslexic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soallcanread
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soallcanread/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/soallcanread
Connect with LeDerick!
Website: https://lederick.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lederickh/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lederickhorne/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lederickhorne
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lederick?lang=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lederickhorne
Resources from this Episode:
Book, “Black, Brilliant, and Dyslexic” - Edited by Marcia Brissett-Bailey
British Dyslexia Association - https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/
Genius Within - https://geniuswithin.org/
Dyslexia Scotland - https://dyslexiascotland.org.uk/
Access to Work - https://diversityandability.com/access-to-work/
Microsoft - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/diversity/inside-microsoft/cross-disability/neurodiversityhiring
Google - https://careers.google.com/programs/people-with-disabilities/
Ernest & Young - https://www.ey.com/en_us/innovation/neurodiversity-powered-transformation
Fidelity Diversity & Inclusion Report -
https://www.fidelity.com/bin-public/060_www_fidelity_com/documents/about-fidelity/2022-Fidelity
-Investments-Diversity-and-Inclusion-Report.pdf
The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock Eide,
MD, MA and Fernette Eide, MD
Interested in being a guest on the show or know someone who has a story that needs to be
shared? Go to www.guest.blackanddyslexic.org
Would you like us to host a live in person episode of the Black and Dyslexic Podcast at your
event? Contact us today! wwinston@soallcanread.org with the subject: BAD Live Event - city,
state (i.e., BAD Live Event - Baltimore, MD)