How far has dyslexia come since the 1970s?

Paul Ross asked the question in his blog. How far has dyslexia come since the 1970s. This was my response. What would yours be?

We still do not have an agreed single definition for dyslexia. There is to much focus on the medical model, our dyslexic brain is broken, we need to be cured and remediated deficit model of dyslexia. Still to many dyslexic kids are being let down by an education system that fails to teach them In ways they can access the learning that takes place in schools. There are still too many dyslexics in our prisons because they have been failed by the education system. There is still to much misinformation and too many incorrect myths surrounding dyslexia. In most schools all dyslexics kids learn to be are failures.

I am dyslexic and a dyslexia specialist.....I believe that dyslexia is not a disability that it is a difference and that it is society that disables us. I believe in the social model of dyslexia. Dyslexia is a result of our evolution and as such reflects human diversity. Thus dyslexia is a difference not a disability. That all kids in school have the right to be learn and achieve according to their potential. This disabling begins in school where we are not taught in ways we can access the learning effectively. Of course there are some great dyslexia friendly schools, colleges and universities out there but they are far and few between.
 
Yes we have accessible technology that some dyslexics can use to enable them to overcome literacy barriers. But they are not a panacea and do not work for everyone. More to the point the high cost of this software makes it inaccessible in terms of cost for many dyslexics.
 
Yes dyslexia has a little higher profile now but in the main its a quite negative profile that focusses on what we do struggle to do. But we are just like everyone else out there in the non dyslexic world. We do struggle with some things but we can excel in others. Dyslexia is a difference not a disability and its a difference that needs to be embraced, nurtured and encouraged from day one in school.