Why the dyslexic conundrum? enabling dyslexics to succeed aint rocket science is IT?

I read an interesting and relevent article to all dyslexic entrepreneurs and organisations who provide support for entrepreneurs as a whole. Here is a little of what the article said:

"Professor Julie Logan’s research at the University of Bristol in 2001 reported that 1 in 5 of the UK’s entrepreneurs she surveyed was dyslexic, twice the rate expected for adults in the UK. Women’s Enterprise Scotland estimate that 60,000 women are registered as business owners in Scotland, which could equate to as many as 12,000 female dyslexic entrepreneurs, depending on how the term ‘entrepreneur’ is applied.

In 2008 Prof. Logan’s research at Cass Business School in London made business headlines when she reported that entrepreneurs with dyslexia make significantly different decisions compared to non-dyslexic entrepreneurs in two key respects: the number of businesses they choose to set up, and how many people they employ. Dyslexic entrepreneurs did significantly more of both. This means that the actions of this group are important for economic growth."

Lets just suppose there are another 12.000 male dyslexic entrepreneurs or potential entrepreneurs out there in Scotland. Yet many schools, colleges, training organisations fail to provide adequate support that will enable dyslexics so succeed. Yet many dyslexics still leave school without having their dyslexia assessed and as a result end in in low level employment, long term unemployed or worse still in our prisons. This is a waste of their lives, they become and burden on the economy and it is a waste of potential income for the scottish economy.

Dyslexics have to be seen as a potential untapped resource to the socttish economy and provided with appropriate support in our schools and colleges. This support need not cost a lot of money. Indeed a few simple clicks of a mouse can enable a dyslexic to work more effectively on a computer for no cost what so ever. 

The social model of dyslexia tells us it is society that disables dyslexics.

Statistics say that between 30% to 50% of people in our prisons are dyslexic. Each one costs us around £35,000 a year to keep there. Wouldn't it be more prudent to provide dyslexia support at school for a small cost or maybe £2000 per student as a preventative spend measure and enable dyslexics to succeed in education.

Statistics tell us a dyslexic is 6 times more likely to be long term unemployed than non dyslexics. This again is because our education system fails dyslexics. Dyslexics succeed in all areas of society but we have to work so much harder and overcome more societal barrier to do so. 

I think I read recently than 90% of successful dyslexics say they are successful because they are dyslexic. They are doing it not because if their education but in spite of it.

Current research indicates around 35% of entrepreneurs are dyslexic. If we were to provide the support at school we could have 45% of entrepreneurs being dyslexic?

I do not believe dyslexia to be a disability it is society that disables so many of us by not teaching us in ways we can access the learning in schools. Our society is going out of its way to fail dyslexic children.

I am one of those male dyslexic entrepreneurs and before I founded Dyslexia Pathways CIC 8 years ago I had a career as a dyslexia specialist working with adults in colleges. I have to say that when I was starting up my social enterprise Dyslexia Pathways CIC I encountered is a total lack of dyslexia specific support for dyslexic entrepreneurs here in Fife and in Edinburgh. I went to many organisations for support and advice and not one of them any idea dyslexia and how to support a dyslexic entrepreneur.

Many orgainsations I went to were more of an hinderence than a help. I did meet with some supportive individuls who were very supporting and I have to thank them for their support with my own journey to becoming an entrepreneur. However, in the 8 years I have been a social entrepreneur I have yet to find any dyslexia specific support I, and other dyslexic entrepreneurs need.

One of the aims of Dyslexia Pathways CIC is to create a new mentoring scheme for dyslexic entrepreneurs and potentail entrepreneurs. To enable  them to unleash their potential and succeed in their chosen entrepreneurial path. Please read my blog if you would like to find out more about the work we do at Dyslexia Pathways.

many thanks for reading

peace love and groovyness to all

Scenius a new word for me

Dyslexic participants from Unique Dyslexic Fused Glass workshop receiving their certificates

Hello there blog readers hope you are all well
Came across a new word from a Brian Eno  lecture, Scenius = creative intelligence of a community. We often talk about the genius of an individual but what about the genius of a community and what a community can achieve together.

It struck me that if we are ever to move forward and develop a strong #dyslexic community we need to come together and combine our creative intelligence or dyslexic Scenius to overcome the barriers that the non dyslexic community places in front of us.

For me I see the biggest barrier as the idea that dyslexia is a disability that we are in some way less of a person than non dyslexics.

This is a result of the medical discrepancy model of dyslexia that society has been imposed on by a non dyslexic society and defined us with.

We have to discard this medical discrepancy model of dyslexia and consign it to history. This is because this model has got nothing positive to say to dyslexics or about dyslexia.

That's why I talk, write, scream from the rafters etc about the social model of dyslexia. This is because it talks about dyslexia in terms of diversity that we don't have disabled minds just different ones. It is not being dyslexic that disables it is society. For so many of dyslexics this disabling begins at school. More importantly the social model of dyslexia was developed by dyslexics for dyslexics. It is our model our solution to the issues we face on a daily basis. 

Many thanks for reading and your feedback is important so please respond if you have something to say.

Creative + intuitive + empathic + lateral + inventive + entrepreneurial + determined + imaginative + inquisitive + unique = dyslexic

Hello there blog readers hope you are all feeling fab

We dyslexics need support in education not because we are disabled but because our education system from primary to higher is a dyslexia unfriendly place to be. 

University Students in the UK can apply for Disabled Students allowance for example. This can be used to buy assistive technology and dyslexia support. This means we have to declare ourselves as disabled and that the issue is with us. This, unsurprisingly, forgets,how dyslexia unfriendly our education system can be for dyslexics. This issue in education is not with we dyslexics but with our education system that fails to meet our learning needs.

Parents can apply for support for their dyslexic children at school. But how many parents have to fight long and hard to get the support their child needs before they get it?

I did a little research on when and where dyslexics are getting a dyslexia assessment and it showed that only around 20% of adults were actually assessed at school. The vast majority were assessed as students at college or university. This means there must be many, many dyslexics out there who never find out they are dyslexic. This cannot be right surely?

Next year will be my 20th year anniversary as a dyslexia specialist and 23rd as an inclusion specialist. I have no idea at all how many dyslexic students I have supported or people I have supported in the workplace etc. 

All I will say is almost everything I learned and understand about dyslexia came from the students I have had the pleasure to work with. 

It wasn't work really it was total enjoyment. Here is a little feedback given to me by students:

Ally wrote:

"Stephen is extremely helpful, supporting and friendly. Over the past few months he has helped me to overcome issues which I have encountered whilst at University. I now feel able to approach my final year with confidence".

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 ways 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 I have completed a piece of work with time to spare to review it. Felt this was because I was taught how to structure time and to complete small tasks each week."

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."

Snippets of other feedback

"Stephen, the dyslexia specialist, may seem to you to be an average person at first. But after five minutes of talking with him I realised he was not. His ability to talk with me about my particular dyslexia issues and enable me to overcome them was phenomenal."

"Dyslexia Support has helped me to progress. I feel more confident going into my exams using plans and mind map study skills. It has made me realise the importance of the little things I needed to do to be able to do my best."

"Confidence in my own abilities has increased and I have a clearer view on how to structure essays. Self esteem has greatly improved as has my confidence."

"I know where I am going and feel much more confident in my studies."

Some of you may know that about 10 weeks ago I experienced two heart attacks and had to have two stents fitted. The heart attacks impacted on my eye sight and blood sugars also. 

I am happy to say I am on the road to recovery and starting to get my head back into work mode again. 

My blood sugars are back under control again and I have my eye sight back. it has been difficult times but I have come through it with the help of my family and friends.

The Future

I have set up a gofundme page to raise funds to help keep my social enterprise going while I am recovering. To help pay for my websites and keep my organisation running.

I will be starting my dyslexia university work in October and running more training sessions etc.

I have uploaded new dyslexia and neurodifference logo designs to our on line shop and I am in the middle of writing a new business plan.


Please consider contributing to my gofundme and share it on your social media.

https://www.gofundme.com/DyslexiaPathwaysCIC

Many thanks for reading and to all those who have contributed and shared my go fund me

peace love and groovyness to all

Steve