Onwards and upwards

If you have a blog that nobody reads is that equivalent to talking to yourself?

;-)))))

Well after 9 weeks of hard work that day I have been waiting for has arrived.......yep its pay day lol. Well I hope its pay day because I have no idea if the monies I am owed for the work I have done has been actually paid into my bank account. Still fingers crossed that there are no hitches. 

This working for yourself lark is very famine or feast.....I either have more work than I can cope with or no work at all. For example I have had 10 very busy weeks to contend with but after next week I will have no paid work for about three weeks. Still it gives me a chance to recharge my batteries and develop other ideas and look for other funding opportunities. Today I am meeting with someone regarding a dyslexic community project based around culture / dyslexic culture. If I can make a good pitch and win the funding it could lead to developing new sources of income.

Onwards and upwards so they say pmsl

revision bah humbug lol

I am currently working with a lot of students revising for exams. Blimey I rememeber my own experience of exams and not much of the memories are positive. On my degree my course work grades were As and high B grades but my exams were C grades if I was lucky. I really worked hard at revision...if only I had me teaching me back then what I know today about being a dyslexic doing exam revision lol. 

I met with one student who I have worked with a couple of times before. Last time we met I had suggested she try using mind maps to help her with revising. The student came for their dyslexia support today and showed me her revision mind maps. They were a peice of art work in their own right. Great use of imigary and colour on a large peice of art paper. Fantastic stuff..........

I had another student who has only been assessed as being dyslexic a few months ago. He is still trying to come to terms with it and how it has impacted on his life in the past and today. He is one of the reasons why I feel dyslexia specialists should all be trained counsellers. He has a lot of self errected barriers to break down as well as issues with his confidence and self esteem. Had a great session with him today though.

For some time I have been thinking about writng a book on dyslexia based on my own experiences as a dyslexic trying to survive in a non dyslexic world. I have been writing bits and peices here and there but lacked focus for a book. Today I thought of a book title which, I hope, will enable me to focus on writing this book.

Tomorrow I have a meeting with a prospective funder for a project on dyslexia and culture. I am hoping to get the funding to develop a new dyslexia friendly web site that will enable dyslexics to show their art work, music, writing and photographs. I would like to have a theme of being positive about dyslexia but this is still in development. Its only a very small amount of money which will restrict what can be done but we will give it a go.

In December I am hoping to get a new director for Dyslexia Pathways. I just have to arrange a meeting and see if we can work together. If I am to take Dyslexia Pathways any further as a business I need to have others on board who have the time, expertise and committment to enable me to take Dyslexia Pathways further.

a tough few months finacially

The past 5 months have been really tough for us financially. We are still struggling after fostering the kids for 8 weeks over the summer. Not that I would have done anything different mind you. But I had to give up my work at the universities to months early and lost 8 weeks income as I became the main carer for the kids. I had to close the company down for 8 weeks essentially. When I have the time I will relate the whole story in my blog. Have to say the social services were about as much use as a chocolate watch in hell. We received no help finacially, no support with child care costs or with getting the youngest into a nursery not support of any kind what so ever.

The whole social services side of the fostering was a complete night mare. So much so I, and the family, have made an official complaint. This in itself has been hmmmmm difficult. I am lucky in some respects as I have experience of working with vulnerable kids and adults as an inclusion and dyslexia specialist teacher. I know how the system works and have reasonable good literacy skills. Well I have a masters degree and specialist teaching qualifications so my literacy skills are pretty good despite being dyslexic.

In my view the social services let down the kids, their mum and ourselves in a big way. So I feel I have no choice but to take this complaint as far as I can. My next letter goes to the head man at the council and to the first minister of Scotland

As I said I lost two months income, I didnt have any time to develop the company and my new ideas and all my savings were used. I lost training opportunities and new business opportunities.

We really enjoyed fostering the kids but its not easy caring for a 3 year old and 14 year old. It was the hardest and most challenging thing I have ever done in my life. The good news is the kids are back with their mum and all are getting the support they need from a different social work team. I have nothing but praise for all those involved in getting the kids back together with their mum. But not those initially involved with this case

The good news is I started working again in September with my company Dyslexia Pathways and on Friday I will receive the cash I earned in October. Phew it is much needed and its been a long two month hard slog to get here. The good news is we have ecceeded the targets set from last year already.

charging carers for respite and support? surely no!

An article from change org

A Scotland which devalues unpaid carers

We have been informed that very few , if any, of the proposed amendments to the Self Directed Support Bill in relation to unpaid carers have been moved for Stage 3, with the exception of at least one amendment submitted by Scottish Labour which relates to: Section 16 of the Bill would amend section 87 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (concerning local authorities’ powers to charge for services or support) and would have the effect of allowing local authorities to charge for support provided to carers under section 2 of the Bill.

This amendment has not be supported by the Government. If this amendment is not accepted it will effectively open up the possibility that local authorities can extend charges for support to thousands of unpaid carers who love and support those with a disability or long term health condition.
Carers have very few rights and, each day, we find it more difficult (due to existing charging and tightening eligibility criteria) to access the support needed to ensure that the people we love and care for can live with dignity and be fully part of our communities.

We cannot understand why this Government has chosen not to strengthen the rights of carers when Ministers consistently tell us how much our contribution is valued. By effectively extending charging for support to us, any commitment to valuing carers is demeaned.

Is this the vision for an independent Scotland - one where carers who provide some £10 billion of care and support every year - are charged when they need a bit of help, which sustains their ability to care?

We ask that this Government reconsider the amendments submitted by carers’ organisations. We believe the amendment submitted to remove the provision which extends the ability to charge, and others suggested relating to carers’ assessments and a duty to support carers will strengthen provision for Scotland's 600,000 unpaid carers, a group who save this country in excess of £10 Billion per year, a group that is growing, and may well include many of those who read this, if not now, perhaps in the future. We ask that when the debate takes place next Wednesday all MSPs will put aside party politics and vote to strengthen this Bill for unpaid carers

a polemic from ME!!!!!! lol

The condems, and Labour before them, are pushing more and more people into poverty caused by their political policies and decisions.

Banks and other organisations such as power companies have been allowed by our politicians to behave in a despicable manner. Our politicians failed to place effective controls on the banks to stop them from gambling the money away that we the public trusted them to look after.

Our politicians have failed to stop energy companies from profiteering from its customers. Our politicians have failed to stop organisations and rich individuals from evading the paying of taxes.

The decisions made by our politicians enable companies to get richer whilst the people they employ and the rest of us and this country as a whole get steadily poorer. Our politicians do not represent the disabled community, the poor or vulnerable people in our society.

We are currently being ripped of by a group of male, middled aged millionaires who are there to represent themselves and their paymasters. They fail to take any responsibility for any poor decisions they make.

These people have no morals, not one ounce of humanity between them and feel no compassion towards the people their decisions and politicies negatively affect. The sooner disable people realise this and start to become politically active the better.

We need our own political party to represent us, they can't ignore us if we are sitting in parliament face to face.

Feedback from students who used our services at Dyslexia Pathways

What people who used our services said about us:

 

Sarah said:

“I had one to one support with Steve from Dyslexia Pathways who was great. We worked on different techniques together such as how to effectively read and way to develop my memory skills. This time last year I was in a mess due to stress and anxiety due to dyslexia and coping with university life. I didn’t feel able to cope. I know now that I have the ability to excel in university.”

 

Colin said:

"The support and guidance that Steve from Dyslexia Pathways has provided has allowed me to focus my attention on strategies that enable me to overcome my dyslexia using my personal strengths."

Margaret said:

"The dyslexia support that Steve from Dyslexia Pathways gave me increased my confidence in my own abilities and enhanced my self esteem"

Emma said:

"For the first time ever I completed a piece of work with time to spare. This was because I was taught how to structure my time more effectively."

Gary Said:

"Last year before I started working with Steve from Dyslexia Pathways I failed my course and exams. This meant I had to take my first year at university again.  After receiving support from Steve  I managed to pass my exam and course work and move into my second year."

a few observations on life Victor Meldrew stylee lol

The condems do nothing but run the people of this country down. Half the country are workshy scroungers, disabled people are unable to make any positive contribution to society, young people that work hard in school are taking worthless qualifications the youth that are not are lazy stupid and cause trouble where ever they are. People are having the timerity to live longer too and having to scrounge off the state pension so they put the pensionable age up so that most of us will have to work until we drop.

 I thought that government was there to represent the people but to me is appears all they do represent are middle aged white male Lords of the land.They have never had go through the dehumanising process of claiming benefits. Never had to go without food so their children could eat. Have never and will never experience poverty first hand. Will never lose their home because they have lost their job.

How does it make sense the poor and less well off have to pay the highest prices for electricity and gas to heat their homes and cook their food? Fuel price hikes are putting more and more of us into fuel poverty. Yet fuel provider profits rise year on year.

How can our government introduce a minimum price for alcohol in order to curb binge drinking and yet have access to subsidised booze in parliament? The prices they pay mean they are will be the only ones who will be able to afford to drink pretty soon.

Teach us in ways we can access learning and we can learn and achieve

Dyslexia is not a disability have been saying that for many many years. It is society that disables many dyslexics because we are not taught in ways that enable us to access the learning going on in the class room. There is far to much focus of the things we do struggle with doing. Not enough on our abilities and the things we do well. We are just like anyone else out there in the non dyslexic world. We excell at some things and struggle with others. Its not that we cannot read or write well because clearly we can once we find stratagies that enable us to do those tasks well. Yes we do struggle with spelling but so do many non dyslexics. We have to move away from a medical model of dyslexia that tells us our brains do not work correctly. That dyslexics need to be cured of the malady of dyslexia. We have to move away from a disabled remediation model of dyslexia that takes kids out of the class room and gives them even more work to do in school. Dyslexic kids already work very hard at school and what do we do? We give them even more work to do. We need teachers and teaching methods that enable all kids to achieve in the classroom according to their disability. Please note in the CLASSROOM together with other kids. I do not believe in medicating dyslexic, adhd and add kids at all.

Sigh lol

My dyslexia work at universities is going very well. I have already seen more students than this time last year and am doing some dyslexia support work 5 days a week. Had a bit of  blip last week on Wednesday with my health but managed to work through it. Had to cancel one appointment though as I was just too ill to concentrate. So far this month is going well too.

Thursday was an interesting day. I had to get into Edinurgh by public trasport and it was a total night mare. Basically I spent 5 hours working providing dyslexia and over 6 hours travelling by bus from and to Glenrothes. I left my home a 6am and finally arrived home at 6.45pm. I got home my brain was just mince lol

I am struggling finacially at the moment but will be solvent again once I get paid for the dyslexia support work I carried out in October. I will probably end up £100 in overdraft by the time I get paid for the October work at the end of November. I love what I do and have other ideas to develop but this working for yourself lark is very hand to mouth and far from an easy option.

I would like to get myself on a course to update my skillset but everything costs money and its money we just do not have at this time. I would like to do something more on social enterprise so that I could mentor other dyslexic entrepreneurs or in something to do with leadership. Or update my dyslexia teaching skills so that I could work with children as well as adults. Finally, I need to get some refresher training in assisstive technology. The inability to get any training for myself is the one thing which gets me down. I am keeping my eyes open for any possible free training I could access but as yest not seen anything suitable.

Had a meeting with our graphic artist volunteer who is helping me to realise my designs for a new project I want to push forward with. He is dyslexic himself and is quite a talented artist. We met in a little coffee house and had a very interesting conversation about my work and this new project. We quite forgot about paying for our coffee and were chased out by one member of staff asking for payment. Do'h I wasn't trying to do a runner we just strolled out of the door in deep conversation lol. Still the staff were very polite about it and I was very apologetic and embarressed lol.

I have received a lot of calls from prospective dyslexic volunteers which is another area I would like to develop. However, I think I would need some office space to move in this direction. Which again costs money that we do not have. Once December is here I will look into the crowd funding idea once again.

Sigh lol

Dyslexia support work rooms

Had 5 great dyslexia support sessions today with 5 quite different students. Even got to work in a very nice room with a nice big window letting in lots of natural light today. Normally I get the pleasure of working in a small sideroom that has a long appature in the ceiling leading up to a small window which lets in no natural light what so ever. Still its a warm and resonable comfortable room to work in.

I can't complain though. When I first started working with dyslexic students I had to find my own classroom to work in with a student. No privacy at all then as anyone could walk in during a dyslexia support session and any time.

In one college I worked at I had my own office and place to work with students. It was in a building euphamistically called The Cottage. My office was on the first floor. Sounds rather quaint a lovely but the Cottege was right next to a main road which often disturbed me and my students. The bottom floor was used as a staff room where staff oftem went to cook and eat their microwaved food and smoke lol. The smell of the food often permiated into my office lol. Ahhhh happy days as they say. 

genetically inferior

I was taking part in a discussion about Ian Duncan Smith on another forum. The phrase genetically inferior was used. Hmmm interesting phrase genetically inferior..... I don't know why or how or exactly when the UK became an intolerant uncaring society. But that’s where we are now.

 What surprises me is just how quickly the electorate swallowed the conservative / lib dem war against disabled people with all its vitriol and lies about disabled people. That somehow we are all scroungers and benefit cheats who are living the good life on benefits. That disabled people are incapable of making any positive contributions to society at all.

When the Nazis embarked on their final solution and built extermination camps that killed millions of people who had been labelled as being genetically inferior. The rest of German society at that time chose to ignore what was being done by their political leaders in their name.

Here in the UK the electorate are choosing to ignore what is being done to disabled people and people from other vulnerable groups in our society.

If anyone is genetically inferior it is the condems because somewhere along the line they lost their humanity and tolerance genes. It must be a condition that is transferable by media because the rest of UK society seems to be losing theirs too.