Will Ospreay recently stated his need for assistance to read his AEW contract due to his struggles with dyslexia sheds light on both his personal challenges and his professional journey. Ospreay, who has been very open about his conditions, including ADHD and autism, emphasizes that these aspects are integral to who he is and serve as a source of inspiration for others facing similar difficulties.

His disclosure came during a period of significant career moves. After a successful tenure with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), Ospreay signed a multi-year contract with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). This transition was supported by both organizations, reflecting the positive relations between AEW and NJPW, and allowing Ospreay to work select dates for NJPW even while under contract with AEW. His move to AEW was seen as a major acquisition for the promotion, indicative of their optimism about his impact on their roster.

Ospreay’s commitment to transparency about his learning difficulties and the logistical considerations of his contract negotiations highlights the broader themes of accessibility and inclusion within professional environments. His story is not just about athletic prowess but also about overcoming personal barriers and making significant adaptations in his professional life.

Dyslexia, a learning disorder characterized by difficulties in reading, is rooted in neurobiological differences in the brain. People with dyslexia often experience challenges with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically stem from a deficit in the phonological component of language processing.

Neurobiologically, dyslexia involves the way the brain processes graphic symbols and sounds. It is often linked to the functioning of the left hemisphere of the brain: language and processing centers are located here. Dyslexic individuals may have less activity in regions responsible for processing the sequence and order of sounds. They might also have less connectivity in the neural pathways that link different parts of the brain involved in reading.

This inefficient neural processing means that translating written words into their spoken equivalents is more laborious and less automatic for someone with dyslexia. The brain may struggle to match letters to sounds and to sequence these into recognizable words. This affects reading speed, comprehension, and retention.

Because of these challenges, tasks like reading contracts can be particularly daunting for individuals with dyslexia. They require a high level of reading comprehension and attention to detail. Accessibility and accommodations are of utmost importance for thriving neurodiverse space.