Despite being born and starting school in Germany, it wasn’t until 1993 during my senior year of high school in Greece that I unexpectedly discovered my dyslexia. The news was a disappointment, as it meant I could have taken all my exams orally since middle school. Despite the setback, I successfully navigated the process to take my nationwide exams orally, just six months before the exam! Receiving exceptional cooperation from the Ministry of Education and other authorities. In fact, I achieved an impressive score on an essay – a task traditionally weakened by my spelling errors.
Interestingly, the professionals who diagnosed my dyslexia had studied in Germany and assured me that, had I continued my education in Germany, my dyslexia would’ve been identified much earlier.
Years later, while living back in Germany, I noticed my eldest daughter displaying the same dyslexic symptoms I had as a student: nice handwriting but struggles with reading and frequent spelling mistakes. Despite explaining this to her teacher, there was a noticeable lack of understanding about dyslexia. My daughter, in the third grade, was in need of special education pending official dyslexia confirmation. After applying to the relevant public service, I received no response for two years. In the absence of an official confirmation, her teacher warned that she would have to repeat the grade. Determined, I sought out and paid a private doctor to officially confirm her dyslexia, ensuring her advancement to the next grade.
Reflecting on my own experiences, the promises of a smooth German detection process for dyslexia, as told to me in 1993, did not align with reality 30 years later. Without my personal experience with dyslexia, my daughter could have been unfairly labeled as lazy or talentless. This was a clear reminder that even Germany isn’t immune to imperfections—a myth well and truly busted!