mBirk.dk

Being Dyslexic in the Modern World

2024-08-06

Spotted a Typo?

In this small blog post, I will write a little about the tools and practices I use to help with my dyslexia. However, if you happen to spot a typo, please let me know! You can add a pull request on GitHub.

I am writing this post for two reasons. The first reason is that I think it might be interesting for others to read and could even help someone who has similar problems. Perhaps someone might even propose a new tool or practice that I can use.

The second reason is to provide transparency about my dyslexia, especially since I am working collaboratively with text and code. To some up my dyslexia, for context, I read like slightly slower than average, and my spelling is mostly understandable.

Tools

languageTool

My primary spell checker is languageTool, which is a free and open-source grammar and spell checker. I have found that it checks all the languages I need and is supported in most of the places I use it. When texting with me from a browser-supported platform, this will catch most of my mistakes. (Sorry to the people on Discord and Matrix...)

Vim Spell Checker

When I write texts, my most comfortable environment is Vim in my terminal. The day I discovered the built-in spell checker was a great day. The tool is old, a little clunky, but it catches more mistakes than I do, so it's a win. Combined with the languageTool editor, ChatGPT, and DeepL, where the text usually goes before publishing, most mistakes should be caught.

Rider

When I develop .NET applications, I use JetBrains Rider. It has a built-in spell checker that is syntax-aware, unlike the one in Vim. When I discovered this, I was quite thrilled since I had never had a syntax-aware spell checker before. People who have reviewed my code, probably also thanked JetBrains for this!

ChatGPT and DeepL

ChatGPT is often given the prompt "check my text for spelling and grammar mistakes," and DeepL is used to translate between my two main languages to ensure the meaning is correct. Since I can spell the wrong word correctly and not see the mistake, these services are invaluable. However, they have their limits. If I am working on something that I do not own or is not for a public audience, I can't be sure the prompts will not be stored. So, in those cases, I rely on languageTool, Rider, Vim, and my peers.

Text-to-Speech

Text-to-speech is probably the most traditional tool for dyslexics. I do not use it that much, but for correcting mistakes in longer texts, it often helps me discover errors that I would not have seen otherwise.

I also use it to read technical and/or long texts when my energy is lower.

Practices

Peer Review

The most important practice in my toolbox is my peers, but it is also the one I am most hesitant to rely on. It can be hard to depend on others for a task that seems so simple, while I solve complex problems every day. It can feel like I am a burden, even though I know it's a small task for a peer who has been introduced to this aspect of me.

My First Website!

This post marks the first iteration of my first website! Really exciting stuff.
Not that the technology I have used is very interesting, as the front page states.
The website is a single HTML file with a little CSS, which I did not write.
But I'm excited that I now have a place to share the things I create and achieve!
The journey started with a Udemy Course, where I completed the HTML part. Then, half a year later, a random Hacker News post1 I sadly can't find the Hacker News post anymore… Finally paved the way for getting content on my domain, which had been sitting idle since probably 2017!

Again, thanks to John Doe's website for providing the framework for this site.

Resume

Working Experience

2021 - 2024: Student Assistant at ORBIT, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Aarhus University

I was responsible for managing tasks such as event execution, media production, and storage management, as well as serving as a teaching assistant.

2021: Software Engineering Intern at CERN, BE-ICS-CE

Various maintenance and refactoring tasks within the wccadm python library and command line tool used to execute critical updates to the large SCADA system at CERN. This included adding support for WinCC OA 3.19, updating the packages-structure and test-suite.

2017 - 2019: Event and Project Coordinator at Innovation Department, Viden Djurs

Defined and led a new part of the innovation department, with the responsibility of creating workshops in game development for 7th to 9th graders, as an experience market concept. I lead and coordinated event projects that ranged from 1 staff, 5 participants to 45 staff and 1,100 participants.

2019 - 2020: Ski Instructor, Tourist Guide, and Golf Marshal at Sun Peaks Mountain Resort, Canada

Spent one year in the Canadian tourist industry, in various roles. Always with a focus on the guest experience, leadership and safety.

Education

2021 - 2024: Software Technology Diploma Engineer at Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Aarhus University

The graduation project consisted of the development of an Android application as part of an enteral food delivery system. The application used Bluetooth to configure the embedded device that delivered the food and was developed fully with F#. The project also included detailed requirement specifications and a project management process that greatly boosted the outcome of the project.

2019 - 2020: Level 2 CASI Ski Instructor and AST Level 1

In the ski season 2019-2020, I trained as a ski instructor and achieved level 2 in the Canadian Ski Instructor Alliance. Additionally, I pursued further training in mountain safety with a 20-day back-country navigation course, resulting in achieving the first level of the Avalanche Canada safety course.

2018 - 2019: Vocational Training as an Event Coordinator

As part of my work for Viden Djurs, I trained as an event coordinator at IBC Kolding. I completed the two-year program in one year.

2013 - 2016: Technical High School

I attended high school at Game College, Viden Djurs. Game College is a boarding school that, in addition to the technical high school curriculum, teaches game development. In various teams, I was involved in completing five projects that lasted between one and a half to three months. I primarily worked as a game designer, artist and project manger.

Involvement and Volunteering

Aarhus University - Representative for My Year

Since my first semester at AU, I have been the representative for my year on the Education Committee. The Education Committee is responsible for ensuring that the education is as good as possible. I provided direct feedback from the student perspective and offered fresh ideas on how to improve our education.

Pioneer at Spejdernes lejer 2022

I spent two weeks building the entrance protals for the 2022 scout camp.

Sun Peaks Resort: Guide, Host, and Leader for Starlight Descent and Fondue

I volunteered as a guide and host for the Starlight Descent and Fondue at Sun Peaks Resort. Later, I was promoted to paid staff and coordinator, presenting the event to the guests.

Game College, Viden Djurs

As a student, I cared deeply about my school, which led me to become involved in many aspects of the school.

Tutor and Coordinator of Tutors
From my first semester, I volunteered as a tutor, guiding primary school students visiting our school. Starting in my third semester, I became the primary student coordinator, responsible for organizing tutors, shifts, and activities.

Volunteer for Marketing
From my second semester, I participated in 1 to 4 education exhibitions per semester as part of the marketing team. This eventually led to my job as an event coordinator after I graduated.

Student Board
I was my class representative on the student board.