A little guest blog from dyslexic artist Kathy Thompson enjoy and please feel free to leave positive feedback

Photo about of some original Kathy Thompson artwork

Hi blog readers I hope you are all well and happy out there in the real world.

For those not aware of our little campaign Unique Dyslexic Get Creative sought to reach out to dyslexics and other neuro diverse people / communities in Fife. As it turned out we did much more than reach out across Fife but across the world.

Not bad for a tiny dyslexia focused social enterprise. In fact Dyslexia Pathways CIC (Community Interest Company) was the first dyslexia focused social enterprise in the world.

One of our goals it to change the way we think about dyslexia that's why we have a social model of dyslexia focus. We see dyslexia as a difference that reflect diversity rather than a disability. We believe that our social model of dyslexia focus together with social enterprise offers a more positive and empowering way forward for the dyslexic community.

We know many dyslexic kids struggle at school, not because they are not bright enough, but because our education system is not a very dyslexia friendly place for many dyslexic kids to be. As a result many dyslexics do not achieve their potential in school. Moreover, many leave school with poor self esteem, low self confidence and can even suffer with long term mental health issues.

Unique Dyslexic Get Creative campaign wanted to focus on creativity because we know it can enhance self esteem and self confidence. We know creativity is good for our mental health. We also knew we did not want to focus on literacy at all because we felt this may dissuade people from coming along to out creative workshops.

If you look back at other of my blog entries you can find out more about Unique Dyslexic Get Creative, Dyslexia Pathways CIC  etc

Now I want to introduce Kathy Thompson and her blog

I thought I would share a short guest blog with you all from Kathy Thompson suspected dyslexic artist. She got involved with Dyslexia Pathways CIC Unique Dyslexic campaign in 2014.

Take it away Kathy

Three or four years ago I started painting for the first time , I am 56 years old. At the time I was going thru a lot of anxiety and questioning everything about my own self.

Never knew there was a creative side to me. I was looking around the internet and facebook trying to find a group or just anything I could identify with when I came across "Unique Dyslexic Get Creative".

My interest immediately peeked, being blown away by tapping in to my own creativity for the first time and having a brother and daughter who are dyslexics.

I began to share my art with the group, it took a lot of courage to do that, thru the acceptance and encouragement I gained there , I now have the courage to keep pursuing my art passion , and the confidence to share publicly.

I have sold five paintings and given away around eleven, been invited as an art vendor to local events.Most recently I posted a few on facebook for sale. I doubt I would have the courage to post publicly had I not found the "Unique Dyslexic Get Creative " group.

I suspect i am dyslexic. But atypical or compensated , i think i am a good reader , my writing is not legible. As for reading. I reas a lot but don't retain a lot. Just bits and pieces.

This is my personal painting by Kathy

If there is anyone else who would like to write a little guest blog just send me an e mail or leave a message here.

So as usual its peace, love and groovyness from me here in Glenrothes in Fife
Steve McCue

we need to move forward from a negative medical model definition for dyslexia

Proposed site for our Dyslexia pathways CIC hub for dyslexic and nuero diverse communities in Fife

Hi hope you are all feeling fab out there

We need to move past a medical model definition of dyslexia that tells us we are broken. A definition that tells us we as dyslexics are the problem.

It's a model that sees us being segregated, marginalized and denied access to an education together with non dyslexics in an inclusive learning environment.

It's our education system that fails dyslexics not being dyslexic itself. We need to nurture not remediate.  We need teachers in every classroom trained to enable us to learn.

That's why I support and promote the social model of dyslexia. Because it talking about diversity and difference rather than disability. We learn, think, problem solve and indeed experience the world differently from non dyslexics.

Dyslexia is not a medical issue?

Dyslexia is a difference that reflects diversity. We must embrace diversity, we must nurture it and enable it to flourish.

That why I use the term medical model of dyslexia. #iamdyslexic😎 not a person with dyslexia like there is me and dyslexia is standing next to me. Like dyslexia is some sort of condition that needs treatment or curing. I don't suffer with dyslexia I suffer with a society that disables us, that marginalises us, that does not respect and embrace diversity.

Being dyslexic is fab we have fab minds that work in fab ways. I think as a dyslexic, learn as a dyslexic, feel as a dyslexic etc. Being dyslexic is a part of who I am. I would not want to be neuro typical if you paid me a million dollars.

That's why I say dyslexia is a difference that reflects diversity. Nature and humanity thrives because of diversity and difference and that something we should be celebrating. Dyslexics can and do succeed across the whole of our society.

Being dyslexic is fab

I am dyslexic I don't have dyslexia, I am not a person with dyslexia. We need to move past the idea that we have dyslexia like it's some sort of an illness or disability.

We are told so many times that we as dyslexics are disabled so often we start to believe it ourselves and we begin to disable ourselves. We see so many dyslexic kids giving up on school and giving up on themselves because our education system fails them.

It's not good enough and there is no excuse for it. We must unite and it is being dyslexic that unites us.

many thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I would appreciate your thoughts and feedback on what I have written in this and any of my other blogs

regards

Steve

Idea for a dyslexia positive tee shirt. anyone want to help me realize it?

Just a little to do list for Dyslexia Pathways CIC (Community Interest Company)

Hi blog readers hope you are all well

Thought I would just write a little to do list today:

Writing an Improving Lives lottery funding bid for a new dyslexia hub. Getting some fab support with this from Equalities Fife.

This is a massive piece of work. Even if we do not get this Equalities Fife are going to support us with further funding etc and getting out dyslexia / neurodiverse hub up and running in one shape or form.

Still supportting dyslexic and neuro different uni students. I have three appointments today

Designing dyslexia positive tee shirts to enable us to be more dyslexia positive and more visible and hopefully less isolated. We must all be more dyslexia positive.

I have done two new tee designs. One is using black only text and one colour. The colour one would be more expensive to produce and to buy. Which do you prefer? 
 
Still promoting dyslexia through social enterprise and social model of dyslexia.
 
Still running dyslexia awareness training,
 
In the middle of writing my dyslexia book and going to start Layla's Lemur children's book
 

 

Looking to set up a steering committee for the hub. Getting support from Equalities Fife with this.

 

Need attract some new directors to support what we do.

 

I am trying, very badly, to get some funding to help with what we are doing. Keep our websites open etc, help pay my bills

 

I am on stage 2 of writing a bit to get some support from Just Enterprise for support with a marketing strategy.

 

I am needing some support with writing a new business plan by the way lol

 

So not up to much as you can see. Send in the clones lol

 

Anyway that's enough from me for this week.

 

Peace love and groovyness to all in the dyslexic and all other neuro diverse communities. Ta for reading my blog please share, share, share and share.

 

Below are some photos from our Unique Dyslexic Get Creative Fused Glass workshop. A fab day it was too.

 

 

When and where were you assessed as being dyslexic? Progress progress progress

picture above Dyslexia Pathways logo

Hi blog readers hope you are all well.


A while ago I put together a little dyslexia questionnaire about dyslexia on Survey Monkey which gave some interesting results. The first question was about when and where people were assessed as dyslexic.


I thought I would try something similar again but as part of my blog.


Below is the question and results and all you have to do is answer the same question.



Question 1: When and where were you assessed as being Dyslexic?

19% were assessed at school


62% were assessed in later life either at college or university with a couple being assessed privately


19% had never been assessed but believed they were dyslexic.


One responder said," my son was assessed at school as dyslexic in 3rd grade and I was a lot like him in many ways"


So what would your answers to this question be. You can just leave your answers in the comments section at the bottom. You don't have to leave any information about yourself at all.


I am looking for support, volunteers with writing our business plan, for managing our social media and with digitizing my dyslexia resources



We were the first dyslexia focussed social enterprise. This means we are a business that has social aims and not for profit. We believe social enterprise and our social model of dyslexia ethos offers the dyslexic community and innovative, empowering and positive way forward for the dyslexic community.


Ta for taking the time to read my blog. Please share it amongst your friends and other Facebook pages etc.


Below are some photos from our Unique Dyslexic Get Creative furniture up scaling workshop don't in partnership with Furniture Plus and Claribella Christie.

thanks for reading peace love and groovyness to you all

Steve McCue