Jordan - From Dyspraxia To Doctorate: Rethinking Failure And Inclusion

Ever looked at someone’s glittering CV and wondered what’s buried underneath? We sit down with Jordan, a PhD researcher and student union staffer with dyspraxia, to map the real academic journey—the wins above the waterline and the quiet stack of rejections below. Jordan’s take is refreshingly frank: persistence matters, but reflection matters more, and the path that looks straight in hindsight is usually anything but.We dig into what dyspraxia is—differences in coordination, balance and fine motor skills—and how those challenges ripple into school feedback, confidence and communication. A diagnosis gave Jordan language and leverage, not a shortcut: tools like a laptop and alternative presentation formats didn’t lower the bar, they let his ideas show. He shares how he built an “organised chaos” workflow that fits his mind, using compartmentalised projects, strong memory and strategic workarounds to keep momentum without burning out.From the classroom, Jordan offers tight, practical strategies that keep rigour while changing the frame. Instead of watering tasks down, he reframes group work for students who need structure: defined roles, clear written updates, predictable loops. The goal is autonomy—teachers as facilitators, not gatekeepers—so power shifts from us to the learner over time. We also challenge a stubborn myth: there isn’t a SEND problem caused by “too many diagnoses.” There’s an inclusion problem caused by systems that still expect neat, linear performance. Naming strengths matters, but training them matters more than calling them superpowers.If you’ve ever felt out of place in education or research, this conversation makes space for your route. Find your niche, bring your whole way of thinking, and let the work reflect the person—not the template. Listen, share it with someone who needs the nudge, and if it resonates, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find these stories.