Sam Barclay

Sam Barclay is dyslexic. Although he received the support and aid he needed in order to address his reading difficulties as a student, he still felt as if there was more that could be done in order to address the topic of dyslexia itself. In this video, he explains that the help he received “was always aimed at making me read better. Very little effort was made to help the people around me understand what if feels like to struggle with reading.” He wanted there to be more understanding of what kind of difficulties he, as a dyslexic, faced when reading.

Now a graduate of the University of Portsmouth with a degree in graphic design, Barclay has combined his experiences with dyslexia and his interest in typographic design into I Wonder What It’s Like to be Dyslexic, a book which describes and visually depicts his experience of what it’s like to read. Barclay, using his own experience with dyslexia, manipulates and modifies text on the pages of his book to create a difficult reading journey for its readers. This book is Barclay’s attempt to provide what was missing in all those years of receiving help because of his dyslexia—a view from the other side. Barclay wants people who aren’t dyslexic to have a chance to experience what being dyslexic is like. His hope is that by providing an example of the personal challenges he, as a dyslexic, faced with reading, there will be a better understanding of the challenges dyslexics have with text.

With both a decorated college degree and a highly-praised publication under his belt, Barclay and his success continue to develop. He remains a freelance graphic designer, and is creating a second edition of I Wonder What It’s Like to be Dyslexic. His career would not have been possible if he hadn’t of found an interest in his dyslexia, and had the drive to contribute to the public’s knowledge and understanding of his, and many others’, learning disability.