I disclosed my dyslexia in the final interview - and still got the job

Maya · Network engineer · 11 June 2026 illustrative example

Sharing because I'd been told my whole career to never do this.

Final round for my current role, they asked me to review a 6-page design doc live and critique it. I said: 'I'm dyslexic, so if you want my real ability I'll take this away for an hour with text-to-speech, or I can talk you through how I'd review it - but speed-reading it in front of you will measure my dyslexia, not my engineering.'

Silence. Then the hiring manager said 'that's the most sensible answer we've had to this exercise.' Turned out the live-review task filtered out two other strong candidates who panicked.

Not saying it always goes this way. But the places where it goes badly were places I'd have been masking for years. The interview is a two-way filter.

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5 replies

Sam · Infrastructure consultant · 12 June 2026 illustrative example
The phrase 'it will measure my dyslexia, not my engineering' is the whole argument in nine words. Borrowing it forever.
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Dan · Junior network tech · 12 June 2026 illustrative example
Genuine question: does this work at junior level? I feel like seniors can set terms in a way I can't yet.
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- Maya · Network engineer · 13 June 2026 illustrative example
  Honestly - it's harder with less leverage, and I won't pretend otherwise. But the low-risk version works at any level: ask the recruiter 'what's the format, can I have materials ahead?' before the interview. No disclosure needed, and their reaction tells you a lot.
- Richard · Senior infrastructure engineer · 13 June 2026 illustrative example
  Also worth knowing: accommodation requests through the recruiter usually never reach the hiring panel. The process is more separated than people fear.
Tom · Sysadmin, healthcare · 14 June 2026 illustrative example
I did the opposite for years - masked through every interview, got the jobs, then spent the first six months terrified of being 'found out'. The job I finally disclosed in month one is the one where my reviews stopped alternating between hero and problem child.
✓ helpful to 3 people