GCHQ
headquarters in Cheltenham. Photo:
ALAMY
GCHQ employs more
than 100 dyslexic and dyspraxic spies
The British intelligence
agency uses dyslexics' ability to analyse complex information
in a 'dispassionate, logical
and analytical' in the fight against terror
By Alice Philipson
GCHQ
employs more than 100 dyslexic and dyspraxic 'neuro-diverse' spies
to
harness their analytical skills in the fight against terror.
The
British intelligence agency uses their ability to analyse complex information
in
a "dispassionate, logical and analytical" way to combat threats such
as foreign espionage.
While
many people with dyslexia struggle with reading or writing,
they
are often extremely skilled at deciphering facts from patterns or events.
IT
specialist Matt, 35, chairman of the dyslexic and dyspraxic support community
at GCHQ,
told The Sunday Times: "What people don't realise is that
people with neuro diversity
usually
have a 'spikyskills' profile, which means that certain skill areas
will
be below par and others may be well above," he said.
"My
reading might be slower than some individuals and maybe my spelling is
appalling,
and
my handwriting definitely is ... but if you look at the positive side,
my
3D spacial-perception awareness and creativity is in the top 1% of my peer
group."
(Being slightly dyslexic I simply had to highlight that line, we've probably experienced being run down for years.)
Some
120 "neuro-diverse" staff employed by the intelligence agency.
Children
are diagnosed with dyslexia for a range of reasons including those whose
difficulty
in
reading is unexpected, those who show a discrepancy between reading and
listening comprehension or pupils who do not make meaningful progress in
reading
even
when provided with high-quality support.
The
NHS estimates that 4-8 per cent of all schoolchildren in England have some sort
of dyslexia.
Dyspraxia,
which affects sufferers' co-ordination, is diagnosed in around one in 20
children.
A
GCHQ official said: "Neuro-diverse individuals can bring additional value
to the full spectrum
of
roles and jobs across the department."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/11111584/GCHQ-employs-more-than-100-dyslexic-and-dyspraxic-spies.html
p.s. When my hair is short people insist on telling me how much I resemble M aka Judy Dench
so maybe I've missed my calling - I should have been a spy.
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