Monday, 6 October 2025

New ideas and new way forward for the dyslexic community:

 

Wind Scupture fron one of our creative workshops

Hello to you all

New ideas and new way forward for the dyslexic community:


"Almost all new ideas are generated by individuals but they are given life by and nurtured by communities and the cultures they can create". Brian Eno quote I agree with

If we are ever going to move away from a negative medical model of dyslexia that has nothing positive to say to dyslexics or about dyslexia. We, as dyslexics, need to come together and create a coherent global dyslexic community. A community that has a single message. This being that dyslexia is a difference that reflects diversity. 

A global dyslexic community that has a more positive social model of dyslexia vision of dyslexia. A vision which nurtures, celebrates and values dyslexic diversity and difference and recognises all that we have achieved and are still to achieve in the future.

We need to consign the medical model of dyslexia to history where it belongs because it has failed us as dyslexics. The medical model of dyslexia is one that has been imposed on us and does nothing but shackle us to a negative stereotype of dyslexia.

The social model of dyslexia defines us by what we can do and achieve, it empowers us and it frees us from the negative medical model stereotype that tells us being dyslexic means we are disabled is some way.

The social model of dyslexia was developed by dyslexics for dyslexics. It is our own model.

That's why I believe that dyslexia is a difference that reflects diversity and that neuro diversity is as important as biodiversity.

My organisation Dyslexia Pathways CIC was the first dyslexia focussed social enterprise in the world and we have embraced and promoted the social model of dyslexia.

Why not join us and let's create the global community and culture we are dyslexics need to move forward and enable our dyslexic kids to thrive and succeed.


And Finally:

A little something for every dyslexic in the world. May your journey as a dyslexic in a non dyslexic world be a fab one. Every single one of you dyslexics out there are fabtastic. A huge heap of thanks to all those who love and support us.

Well thats all for now follks; #Peace\loceGrooveyness from me Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

Thursday, 2 October 2025

New ideas and a new way forward for the dyslexic community

Participants from our Unique Dyslexic Get Creative Fused Glass Workshop

Good day every one, hope all is well with you all,

New ideas and new way forward for the dyslexic community:

Almost all new ideas are generated by individuals but they are given life by and nurtured by communities and the cultures they can create.

If we are ever going to move away from a negative medical model of dyslexia that has nothing positive to say to dyslexics or about dyslexia. We, as dyslexics, need to come together and create a coherent global dyslexic community. A community that has a single message. This being that dyslexia is a difference that reflects diversity. 

A global dyslexic community that has a more positive social model of dyslexia vision of dyslexia. A vision which nurtures and values dyslexic diversity and difference. One which  celebrates all that we have achieved and potential to achieve in the future.

We need to consign the medical model of dyslexia to history where it belongs because it has failed us as dyslexics. The medical model of dyslexia is one that has been imposed on us and does nothing but shackle us to a negative stereotype of dyslexia.

The social model of dyslexia defines us by what we can do and achieve, it empowers us and it frees us from the negative medical model stereotype that tells us being dyslexic means we are disabled is some way.

The social model of dyslexia was developed by dyslexics for dyslexia. It is our own model.

That's why I believe that dyslexia is a difference that reflects diversity and that neuro diversity is as important as biodiversity.

My organisation Dyslexia Pathways CIC was the first dyslexia focussed social enterprise in the world and we have embraced and promoted the social model of dyslexia.

Why not join us and let's create the global community and culture we are dyslexics need to move forward and enable our dyslexic kids to thrive and succeed. 

One of the achievements I am most proud of with Dyslexia Pathways CIC is this:

(CIC stands for Community Interest Company) This means we're are a

registered social enterprise and our social aim is to promote and


support dyslexic and other neuro different communities. As with all


social enterprises we are not for profit.

This quote is from an Erasmus academic paper that mentions Dyslexia Pathways CIC:


"There are numerous CICS who have succeeded in providing an intermediation function developing pathways that assist individuals with disabilities to access support to engage in academic courses and vocational qualifications.

These include Dyslexia Pathways CIC, All Inclusive Disability Consultants CIC and Acute Need CIC who have all led the way for social inclusion for those within the disabled community looking to access support to enhance and develop their skillset.

There continues to remain an urgent need for person centered planning rather than relying on generic mechanism for all types of learning disabilities. There is substantial disparity in how these individuals are treated i.e. only 15 % of adults with autism are in paid employment compared to 48% of people with general disabilities (Higgins, 2009)." One in five dyslexics are unemployed.

You can read the whole paper by  clicking on the link below


The message is social enterprise and social model of dyslexic = a new way forward for the dyslexic community.


 http://archive.londonmet.ac.uk/cice/fms/MRSite/Research/cice/pubs/2012/2012_272.pdf

If you read my last blog you can see I am very busy working on a number of things for Dyslexia Pathways CIC. We are currently looking for people who would like to support our work. Or help us crowd fund etc. Of support us in our aim of opening a dyslexia / neuro diverse hub for communities across Fife.

Dyslexia Pathways CIC was the first dyslexia focussed social enterprise in the word We support and promote dyslexia and neuro diversity through social enterprise and social model of dyslexia.




We believe this offers a positive and innovative way forward for the dyslexic community and an empowering alternative the the medical model of dyslexia. A model which tells us our brains do not function normally and that we are broken in some way.

The social model tells us dyslexia is all about diversity and difference. Nature thrives because of diversity and difference as does humanity. That's why we say vivaladifference for dyslexia and neuro diversity as well as for disability.

If we cannot respect and embrace neuro diversity and all other aspect of diversity on planet earth. Then how will we embrace and respect it when we meet it in the universe?

And Finally:

A little something for every dyslexic in the world. May your journey as a dyslexic in a non dyslexic world be a fab one. Every single one of you dyslexics out there are fabtastic. A huge heap of thanks to all those who love and support us.

Together we can touch the stars




Many thanks for reading #PeaceLoveGrooveyness to you all from me.

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

PS;

Had fab convo with Laura Jackson-Cavalleri, a good while back now, via Skype on Sunda about what they are accomplishing for the dyslexic community in Staten Island. We need to have more conversations world wide if we are going to nurture and grow a more positive vision of dyslexia.

A vision that focusses on a positive social model of dyslexia that talks positively about dyslexic diversity and difference and being dyslexic instead of a negative medical model dyslexia vision that has nothing positive to say to us as dyslexics or about dyslexia and has accomplished little for dyslexics.

Always happy to talk to kindred spirits about being dyslexia positive

Tuesday, 16 September 2025

My dyslexia uni work has started again for 2025 / 26. I am feeling a little bit of trepidation abou this, but onwards and upwards

 

Unique Dyslexic logo

Hi from me up here in Glenrothes

Hope all is well with you out there in the real world.

My dyslexia uni work has started again for 2025 / 26. I am feeling a little bit of trepidation abou this because of the mini strome in my left eye. Hav had my first students already. Anne is on holiday from her work next week and we a looking to take a wee mini break. Think I have already mentioned I will be taking it slow and kee[ing stress out of my life.

Below is a podcast I did during COVID. Inspite of COVID my wife Anne, and I were very busy with our work and supporting our family etc.

                        A wee live vlog from me about my dyslexia work etc

The revamp of the Unique Dyslexic is going very well. It's almost completed. Looks fab, if I do say so myself.

I am working hard to reach our 500.000, Five Hundred Thousand views.

The specialist discovered a baby cateract in my riight eye. I have decided to get that sorted as soon as possible, Its not impacting the sight in my right eye right now, But I am believer in getting things done as quickly as possible.

Anyway, just a short blog from mw for a change.

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness 

from me, 

Steve #UniqueDysleic McCue

Thursday, 4 September 2025

New dyslexic academic year is here and other news.

 

Me in Pitlochry a few weeks ago

Hello my friends out there in the real world,

Hope you are all, doing away, out there. Firstly, I would like to thank all you subscribers out there, and to all who visit and read my blogs. I appreciate all your support. Please, consider becoming a subscriber, its totally free and helps keep me motivated. 

Well, a new academic year is here, will be seeing students again with My company Dyslexia Pathways CIC in a couple of weeks. I believe this is out 18th year of supporting the dyslexic and neuro diverse commpunities. Its been 30 years since I qualified as an inclusion specialist teacher, and 27 years since I began my career as a dyslexia specialist.

I am going to slow it down a bit, to help me cope with my old, "8 bit", left eye lol. Its been a rough few months since my mini stroke in January. It knocked a lot of the confidence out of me. but I am getting through it and getting back to my old self. Gawd, old being the operative world, how did I ever get to be 67 lol.

One other problem with my seeing eye is it has a baby caract lol. Its very small and  not impacting on my eye sight yet. I am down for cateract surgery as soo as I can get it. 

The update on my Unique Dyslexic web site is nearly completed and should be up and running again in a couple weeks.  It's looking much better than the old one. Thinking of running a Go Fund me or promoting my old Patreon, or something, to fund it.

I am going to go to the Business Gateway to explore ways of doing my dyslexia work on line. We will see how it goes. 

For my mental health and well being I have started going to an art and craft class once a week. This s going well, already made a couple small things here. I am also looking for an art or photography class. 

Finally, I am investigating doing parachute jumping again, not jumped in over 30 years. Have to see if I am medically fit enough to do one. 

I will let you all know once the new Unique Dyslexic website goes live. Should be a couple weeks.

Ok, thats enough for me in this blog,

Please comment if you like, or subscribe.

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

Tuesday, 2 September 2025

Dyslexia: Different Minds, Different Thinking, Unique Solutions:

 

Dyslexia: Different Minds, Different Thinking, Unique Solutions: #dyslexia a difference that reflects #diversity

Study shows stronger links between entrepreneurs and dyslexia
Dyslexia Pathways CIC Enabling Dyslexics to Fly

We must enable dyslexics to fly

The Dyslexic Mind is a Fabtastic Mind



It has long been known that dyslexics are drawn to running their own businesses, where they can get around their weaknesses in reading and writing and play to their strengths.

But a new study of entrepreneurs in the United States suggests that dyslexia is much more common among small-business owners than even the experts had thought.

The report, compiled by Julie Logan, a professor of entrepreneurship at the Cass Business School in London, found that more than a third of the entrepreneurs she surveyed - 35 percent - identified themselves as dyslexic. 

The study also concluded that dyslexics were more likely than nondyslexics to delegate authority and to excel in oral communication and problem solving and were twice as likely to own two or more businesses.

"We found that dyslexics who succeed had overcome an awful lot in their lives by developing compensatory skills," Logan said during an interview. "If you tell your friends and acquaintances that you plan to start a business, you'll hear over and over, 'It won't work. It can't be done.' But dyslexics are extraordinarily creative about maneuvering their way around problems."

The study was based on a survey of 139 business owners in a wide range of fields across the United States. Logan called the number who said they were dyslexic "staggering" and said it was significantly higher than the 20 percent of British entrepreneurs who said they were dyslexic in a poll she conducted in 2001.

She attributed the greater share in the United States to earlier and more effective intervention by American schools to help dyslexic students deal with their learning problems. 

Approximately 10 percent of Americans are believed to have dyslexia, experts say.
One reason that dyslexics are drawn to entrepreneurship, 

Logan said, is that strategies they have used since childhood to offset their weaknesses in written communication and organizational ability - identifying trustworthy people and handing over major responsibilities to them - can be applied to businesses.

"The willingness to delegate authority gives them a significant advantage over non-dyslexic entrepreneurs, who tend to view their business as their baby and like to be in total control," Logan said.

William Dennis Jr., senior research fellow at the Research Foundation of the National Federation of Independent Business, a 400,000-member trade group in Washington, said the study's results "fit into the pattern of what we know about small-business owners."

"Entrepreneurs are hands-on people who push a minimum of paper, do lots of stuff orally instead of reading and writing, and delegate authority, all of which suggests a high verbal facility," Dennis said. "Compare that with corporate managers who read, read, read."

According to Logan, only 1 percent of corporate managers in the United States have dyslexia.

Much has been written about the link between dyslexia and entrepreneurial success. Fortune Magazine, for example, ran a cover story five years ago about dyslexic business leaders, including Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways; 

Charles Schwab, founder of the discount brokerage that bears his name; John Chambers, chief executive of Cisco; Craig McCaw, the cellular phone pioneer; and Paul Orfalea, founder of the Kinko's copy chain.

Similarly, Rosalie Fink, a professor at Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, wrote a paper in 1998 on 60 highly accomplished people with dyslexia, from a Nobel laureate to a Harvard oncologist.

But Logan said hers was the first study that she knew of that attempted to measure the percentage of entrepreneurs who had dyslexia. Carl Schramm, president of the Kauffman Foundation, which financed the research, agreed. He said the findings were surprising but, he noted that there was no previous baseline to measure it against.

Emerson Dickman, president of the International Dyslexia Association in Baltimore and a lawyer in Maywood, New Jersey, said the findings made sense. "Individuals who have difficulty reading and writing tend to deploy other strengths," said Dickman, who has dyslexia. "They rely on mentors, and as a result, become very good at reading other people and delegating duties to them. They become adept at using visual strengths to solve problems."

Orfalea, 60, who left Kinko's - now FedEx Kinko's - seven years ago, and who dabbles in a hodgepodge of business undertakings, is almost boastful about having both dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
"I get bored easily, and that is a great motivator," he said. "I think everybody should have dyslexia and ADD."
He attributes his success to his difficulty with reading and writing because it forced him to master verbal communication.
"I didn't have a lot of self confidence as a kid," he said. "And that is for the good. If you have a healthy dose of rejection in your life, you are going to have to figure out how to do it your way."

Danny Kessler, 26, also has dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He founded Angels with Attitude, which holds self-defense seminars for women. He is a co-founder of Club E Network (www.clubenetwork.com), which sponsors "networking events," runs an online chat room for entrepreneurs and produces television shows about them.

He said he also had low self-esteem as a child, and now views that as a catapult into the entrepreneurial world. "I told myself I would never be a lawyer or a doctor," he said. "But I wanted to make a lot of money. And I knew business was the only way I was going to do it."

Hope you enjoyed this article and hope you feel more positive for reading it.

If you have enjoyed reading please leave a like or comment.

If you have not done so already please subscribe. It costs nothing and help grows my audience. Please share on your social media.

Many thanks for reading,

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness

from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

Thursday, 28 August 2025

Nurturing my dyslexic mental health and welbeing, yep, forgot all about that bit lol

 


Original Unique Dyslexic logo from Unique Dyslexic Get Creative  Campaign


Hello to all my friends and followers out there. Hope all is well with you,

Well after a lot of procrastination and feeling like a rabbit caught in the headlights About a week ago I actually made the decision to redesign my Unique Dyslexic website.  Its taken me 7 months to get back my dyslexia and neuro diversity work but I feel I am not stationary any more. I am moving forward. 

When I designed to original Unque Dyslexic site the idea was that I was going to learn how to edit it myself. To evolve the site as I went along, but it just never seemed to get done. Never had the time or the energy. Having two heart attacks, type 2 diabetes and hypothiroid in the middle of the Unique Dyslexic campaign. Then I had all my Dyslexia Pathways University work on top. 

I over extended my self. Dyslexic deterrmination can be a fab thing but, as with all things dyslexic, it has its down sides.What with my Dyslexia Pathways CIC work together with the Unique Dyslexic campaign, Unique Dyslexic blog and podcast and all the other social media just never got done. Not forgetting my wife and family and my life in general. I guess I did was I always do. Got too focussed and tried to do it all lol. 

I am 67 now and had the mini stroke, so I guess I am going to have learn to slow down sooner or later lol. Maybe?


      Podcast for nurturing my mental health and well being during COVID

One of my followers asked me what I was doing to nurture my well being, mental health. If this video I walk about some of the music I have been listening to during COVID. What music have you been listening to? How are you supporting and nurturing your own mental health and well being during COVID? So I thought I would record the above blog.

Give it a listen and let me know what you think. I was going to carry on reviewing my fave books, music and dyslexia resources. All my dyslexia work had stopped for COVID so I used the time to learn new skills. I was actually doing an HND in Broadcasting, whichI passed when COVID hit.

Question to you all: What did you all do with all that COVID ceated spare time?

Question: What else would you like me to podcast about?

Ok, thats enough for this Unique Dyslexic Blog

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness from me to you

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

Please leave a like if you feel it deserves one, or why not subscribe to help grow my audience. Maybe even leave a review or share it amongst you social media followers?

Thursday, 21 August 2025

A wee update on my mini stroke

 

Hi all,

Just written and posted a new podcast and post form my dyslexia focussed social enterprise since my mini stroke in January this year. I lost the sight in my left eye and I am also dyslexic. I am shattered. This is me a couple weeks ago. You would not think I had had a stroke in my left eye.

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic Mc|Cue