#iamdyslexic #vivaladifference #uniquedyslexic and other stuff ;-))))



#iamdyslexic hash tag

Hi blog readers hope you are all well

Why I say #iamdyslexic

I am dyslexic. I don't have dyslexia. I am not a person with dyslexia. I do not suffer with dyslexia.

#iamdyslexic pls share the hashtag if you agree #uniquedyslexic #vivaladifference.

I say #iamdyslexic because I am not a person with dyslexia like there is another standing next to me.  I don't say I have dyslexia like its some sort of chronic illness.

I don't say I suffer with dyslexia because I don't suffer with dyslexia. What I do suffer with is a society which marginalises me, that denies me, and many other dyslexics, our human right to an education that enables us rather that disables.

As a dyslexic I see and make sense of the world through a dyslexic prism. I believe that being dyslexic informs my decision making, my problem solving and the way I interact with the world and with others.

I don't think I could have ever become a musician, or teacher, or specialist inclusion and dyslexia person or social entrepreneur or human rights advocate if I were not dyslexic.

Being dyslexic gives me a strong emotional intelligence, it gives me empathy, it gives me a feel for things, I tend to go with my heart and instinct. I am a lateral thinker rather than a logical linear one.

I am not saying dyslexics are better than non dyslexics I am just saying we are different. Like disabled people, neuro diverse people and like neuro typical people there are things that we are all fab at and things we just are not fab at. For me personally the things that being dyslexic makes me fab at far outweigh the things I am not so fab at.

The problem is that our education system does not enable us to achieve using our strengths. It takes a one size fits all approach which just does not work for so many of us from all communities. Its not the fault of teachers or schools even.

There are many fab teachers and schools. what we lack is governments that are more interested in league tables, more interested in telling teacher what they should teach and how they should teach it.

What we need is an education system where inclusion is at the forefront not just an afterthought. If we cannot have inclusion in our education system how can we expect to have inclusion in our society.

Of course the single most important factor in developing an understanding of dyslexia was my first assessment. I think I was around 35 years old and at university when student services suggested I go for an assessment.

It helped me gain insights into my early experiences of school and put them into context. The report is not entirely correct regarding a childhood illness. I got serious scarlet fever when I was about 4 years old and then a lot of complications after that which kept me in hospital for over a year no a few months as in the report.

Any thought I would show you my first dyslexia report see below:

My first dyslexia report

Its not being dyslexic that disables and fails us. It is our education system and society that does that.

#dyslexia is a difference that reflects #diversity #vivaladifference.

Neuro diversity is as important as biodiversity

What do you think? 

Bits and bobs of other news.

I have to thank Inspiralba for giving us support with out search for funding. They have kindly given us a list of local trusts that we can approach to seek funding from. As well as that they have written us a letter of introduction to one of the trusts. I have added some other text to this and once I have had it proof read I will send it off to them.

Their graphic designer is also helping me with a new design for our tee shirt logo range. As it happens I have just designed a new logo which is ready to go on tee shirt now.

Dyslexia is about invisible abilities but because of this we need to make ourselves more visible. we need to advocate for a more positive profile of dyslexia.

That's one of the reasons I decided to try the tee shirt idea. Lets make ourselves more visible lets start having the conversations and lets start supporting each other and building a community.

I have got through stage one of application for support with marketing with Just Enterprise. Now all I have to do is complete the stage two application.....wish me luck......I am so bad at marketing. On the list also is support with a business plan for the hub and business.

I am starting to get together the information needed for our stage one application for a Big Lottery Improving Lives Award. I have got a couple of other grant applications that I can use that fit the criteria for this Lottery Award.

Time to start making mind maps again I think. I want to have this done and dusted by the end of next week.

Anyway many thanks for taking the time to read my blog. If anyone would like to write a little guest blog please just let me know.

peace love and groovyness to everyone out there

Oh yes PS this blog will take me to 40.000 reads