Reading Signs Differently

LET ME TELL YOU — if you had told my 18-year-old self I’d spend decades working with letters, I would’ve laughed at you. Nervously at first before crying on the inside just a little.

I have dyslexia. At that age, just the thought of making letters line up to form words — and then making those words look good on a sign — felt impossible. School always felt too overwhelming, even taking the easiest courses just to get me through. Words and I were not on good terms. A career in anything worth anything seemed out of reach.

So of course, I ended up in the sign industry. (Yes, the universe has jokes.)

What I didn’t know then is that dyslexia wasn’t going to block my path — it was going to shape it. I stopped reading signs the way other people did. Instead, I began to see them. Really see them. I’d notice spacing before I noticed spelling. I could feel whether a layout made sense, whether the message landed — all before I even processed the text.

Turns out, that’s exactly what good signage requires.

We work in a visual industry. And while the world told me dyslexia made me less capable, this industry helped me realize it just made me different. In the best way.

Now, don’t get me wrong — dyslexia still brings its challenges. I’ve sent many emails with a typo that haunts me. I’ve questioned my credibility more than once. But I’ve also learned to lean into my strengths: spatial awareness, intuitive layout, and a kind of visual empathy that helps me communicate messages simply and effectively.

If you’re reading this and you’re dyslexic — or you’re mentoring someone who is — here’s what I want you to know:

You belong here.

You’re not broken.

And you might just have the exact kind of brain this industry needs.

Dyslexia forces you to think in pictures. And in signage, that’s gold. We’re not just making signs — we’re designing how people move, feel and understand the world around them. A dyslexic mind might struggle with letter-by-letter reading, but it excels in the kind of big-picture thinking our field thrives on.

I’ve had mentors who didn’t just accept my differences — they valued them. They gave me space to grow into my own way of seeing. That gift — of patience, of belief — is something I try to pass on every chance I get. Don’t get me wrong — I still showed up, every day, ready to work. Not sitting pretty hoping someone was going to do it for me. You should, too.

So if you’re managing someone with dyslexia, don’t just correct their spelling. Celebrate their instincts. Trust their eye. And if you are that person with the different brain: keep going. Your path might not be straight, but it might just lead you somewhere beautiful.

Like mine did.

5 Ways to Support a Dyslexic Team Member in the Sign Industry

1. Focus on strengths first.
   Dyslexic team members often have sharp spatial awareness, creative problem-solving skills and intuitive visual thinking. Highlight these assets early and often.
2. Be flexible with communication.
   Written instructions can be challenging. Use visual aids, diagrams or verbal walk-throughs when possible — especially during training.
3. Provide spellcheck support without shame.
   Avoid nitpicking typos in front of others. Offer tools like Grammarly or AI writing assistance to help with emails or proposals, and give corrections with kindness.
4. Ask how they learn best.
   Some people thrive with hands-on learning. Others might need extra time to process. Just ask — and listen.
5. Be a mentor, not a monitor.
   Encouragement and trust go a long way. If you see potential in someone, say so. That little bit of belief might be the reason they stick around — and flourish.