Mikaÿla Perrier has built a career helping others, notably adults with dyslexia, through support and her ebook A Guide for Adult Dyslexics. She now works as a psychometrician specializing in psychological tests for the rehabilitation of Canadian war veterans. However, her own journey with dyslexia began early. Diagnosed in grade 2 and again later in university, Mikaÿla’s path has been shaped by both the challenges of dyslexia and her determination to overcome them.
Reflecting on her school years in Ontario, Mikaÿla recalls how difficult it was to balance her intellectual curiosity with the academic expectations placed on her. “I had a vast vocabulary when I spoke and was interested in understanding the details of many things,” she remembers. “But when it came to applying that knowledge and demonstrating it academically, which often involved reading and writing, there was a mismatch.”
This disconnect between her verbal intelligence and her academic performance left Mikaÿla feeling increasingly isolated. “I didn’t want to be different. I wanted to be like everybody else. I didn’t fully understand what all of this meant, and neither did my mom,” she explains. The frustration grew as she watched her peers excel in ways she couldn’t, despite knowing she had a deep understanding of the material.
She received support throughout her schooling from teachers, tutors, and her mother, who spent countless hours helping her develop her reading and writing skills. Mikaÿla has found ways to manage her dyslexia, notably with the help of technology. “You know, it never goes away, but we learn tricks and methods to circumvent certain challenges. For example, I use Siri to read books to me. I like seeing the words on the screen as it reads, especially for academic or research-based papers, so I can highlight while it’s speaking to me,” she explains.
In her mid-20s, after working for a school board where she helped incorporate technology into classrooms to support students, Mikaÿla’s journey took a new direction. She decided to return to school and, in 2023, graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science with honours in Cognition and Psychology from Carleton University.
The workforce has presented a new set of challenges, particularly the question of whether to disclose her dyslexia. “It’s still difficult today to open up about it, even just coming on here. Sometimes it’s not easy because once other people know, it might have repercussions later—or at least we tell ourselves stories in those moments.”
Since graduating, Mikaÿla has worked in a neuro-ophthalmology lab for a McGill researcher at Montreal’s General Hospital, and she’s now focused on her work as a psychometrician, helping war veterans. Her commitment to research remains strong: she recently presented at the Canadian Psychological Association’s conference on her research involving working memory and reading abilities in children at risk of reading disabilities. Looking ahead, Mikaÿla hopes to continue her academic journey in graduate school.
Her confidence has grown over the years, and she now feels secure in the value she brings to her work. “Now that I know my worth, it’s easier to be confident in displaying it and putting myself in positions where I know the value I bring will be worthwhile,” she says.
Despite choosing a career path that revolves around reading and writing, Mikaÿla embraces the challenge. “I spend my days reading and writing, whether it’s going through emails or reading reports. My dyslexia is involved all day, every day, from the moment I start to the moment I close my laptop at night. I’ve strangely chosen a life path that requires me to read and write on a daily basis.”
Mikaÿla also believes that early intervention can help children with dyslexia, though she insists that learning is a lifelong process. “As the brain grows, if you get the right tools, techniques, and skills when you’re younger, it does make life easier. However, I don’t believe there’s a cut-off age for that.”
Her message for others navigating similar challenges is simple but powerful: “Don’t give up. Don’t give up and believe in yourself.”
To listen to Mikaÿla Perrier’s story, tune in to Dyslexia Canada’s Spotlight: Mark it Read series, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you typically access your podcasts.