Let me tell you what National Dyslexia Awareness Month means to me. Nothing. I didn't even know it existed. Perhaps that's because every day of my life is part of my own private International Dyslexic Festival.

Nevertheless I am thrilled to find it exists. So happy National Dyslexia Awareness Month to you all!

I am dyslexic. One and perhaps two of my sons are dyslexic. A bunch of my friends, families, heroes and idols are dyslexic. I love being dyslexic. As I wrote here in When Life Gives You Melons You're Dyslexic (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-25/when-life-gives-you-melons-youre-dyslexic/7867648) I was identified as dyslexic when my then nine-year-old son Dom was identified. I was 38 years old. When the psychologist asked in the assessment 'Does anyone in your family have any learning difficulties?' I responded 'If Dom has something I have it too. I totally understand how he can read the word 'was' correctly on one page, read it as 'saw' the page before and be unable to read it on the next page.'

Finding out I was dyslexic was a liberating and a revelation. It was a lovely gift for that 8 year old girl who was told she was not trying hard enough, not concentrating and needed to work harder when she knew she was giving it her all.

Every day of my life is part of my own private International Dyslexic Festival. I am in the uncommon (but not as rare as you'd think) situation of being dyslexic and a professional writer and comedian of 25 years. The fact I have successfully financially supported myself and my family for that time with my writing makes being very open about my dyslexia a celebration. My successful career and happy life is solid proof dyslexia is no hurdle but indeed a benefit to whatever success you'd like to achieve and whatever life you'd like to live.

I’m aware of the privilege I have of being my own boss with a successful career in the area most assume dyslexics are least likely to excel in. Most are very surprised to discover dyslexics are over represented in the arts, politics, engineering, science, sport, entrepreneurship, innovation and design. When I say most, what I mean is most people who don’t realise they are surrounded by dyslexics. People who understand what dyslexia is are not surprised in the slightest. Which is precisely why I attempt to speak publically about my dyslexia at every opportunity. My hope is it may embolden others a little more reticent about ‘coming out’ as dyslexic to be as proud and vocal as I am to be a member of the D Squad. My hope is for employers to be educated and aware about dyslexia and embrace the opportunity to have dyslexics in their team and for parents to be excited when they discover their child (and perhaps themselves) are dyslexic.