For all you aspiring dyslexic, disabled or neurodiverse writers

My certificate from Scotland CanDo for Eutrepreneurs 

Just a short blog today

https://sdyslexia.blogspot.co.uk/2018/03/guns-dont-kill-people.html

Bit of a heads up here for all you aspiring disabled, dyslexic or neuro diverse writers or even if you have been published. 

i have a profile on disabled writers. Here is a link to my profile. Why not go have a look and maybe consider joining the group. 

You will need to write a short profile, maybe three paragraphs. I don't know the criteria for acceptance. 

No guarantee of success but if you don't try you never know.

https://www.disabledwriters.com/profiles/steve-mccue

Many thanks for reading please share on your social media or comment on any of my blogs

Dr Maggie Adern-Pocock MBE: dyslexic asronomer and TV presenter of BBC The Sky at Night

I posted this to my dyslexia blog because I thought Maggie has a #fab inspirational story to tell about being dyslexic.

Sky At Night presenter Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock 'confused with tea lady' and she is dyslexic.

It was a love of the children's TV show The Clangers that got the new The Sky At Night presenter interested in space science. Now Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock - who has faced many adversities in her life - is on a mission to get other women into the field.

"I've studied and worked in very male-dominated environments," says leading space scientist Dr Aderin-Pocock.

"When I got my first job with the Ministry of Defence there were a few times I walked into a room and someone would say, 'three coffees, love'.

"There's the initial shock because people aren't used to seeing black female scientists or engineers.
"I always tried to show them straight away I was competent and get their respect. That's when colour and gender disappear."

For Dr Aderin-Pocock, overcoming adversity has been a lifelong theme.

Born in 1968, her parents divorced when she was four years old and she spent her childhood moving from school to school in London - more than a dozen times in all.

"I was put in remedial class and people assumed I was not going to achieve very much," she says.
"I did feel written-off. It was like people put me at the back of the class where I couldn't do any harm. It was a bit depressing.

"But I always had a dream."

For the young Dr Aderin-Pocock, it centred around exploring the wonders of far-away planets and stars, especially those she watched on children's TV.
"I think The Clangers made me into a space scientist," she says fondly.

"I wanted to go and visit them.

"My problem with education was that I had dyslexia so I found reading and writing quite difficult."

'Saved' by science

But rather than hindering her, the frequent school moves eventually proved beneficial as she "outran" her file.

"My new school didn't have it and so they asked me what stream I should be in. I told them the top one," she said.

"I did well at science. In that respect, science 'saved' me. I knew it was a way to get my goal."
Encouraged to study by her Nigerian father, exam success followed and she went on to gain a physics degree and a PhD in mechanical engineering at Imperial College London.

From that job with the Ministry of Defence working on landmine detectors, her career has featured everything from telescopes in South America to building instruments that look into the heart of stars.

Her innate ability to communicate her passion in an engaging way previously saw her enlisted by the BBC for TV series including Do We Really Need the Moon? and In Orbit: How Satellites Rule Our World, while Stargazing for CBeebies is scheduled to air next month.

Her expertise was recognised in 2009 with an MBE for services to science and education. But despite her success, Dr Aderin-Pocock is still something of a rarity - only 13% of all STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) jobs in the UK are occupied by women. 

That is a situation she is keen to see change.

"When you look at some of the figures - in physical sciences it is about a 30:70 split between women and men, and 10:90 in engineering - you wonder, 'how far have we come?'

"We have to change people's mindsets."

I think she is correct about changing mindsets. Not just societies we dyslexics have to change our own.

That's why I founded Dyslexia Pathways CIC and that why I promote the social model of dyslexia through social enterprise.

Please share ,share, share and hmmm share

#iamdyslexic🙂

#iamdyslexic😎Is. I make sense of the world, feel, understand, think as a dyslexic. I see through a dyslexic prism and dont want to be cured. Nature and humanity thrives because of diversity. Just think of all the fab accomplishments of dyslexics throughout history. #dyslexia is a difference that reflects #diversity What would be lost if there were such a thing as a cure for diversity? It would not be a cure it would be an amputation. If I were a stick of rock it would have the word dyslexic written all through it.

I have been editing  Dyslexia Pathways CIC web site which is nearly completed. I know its a bit basic but I have endeavoured to do what I can accessibility wise within the constrictions of Wix web sites. 

What we really need is a fully accessible site. Like everything else its funding. I have completed stage one for funding through the Transform foundation. Fingers  and everything else crossed it goes well. I just want to make our site more accessible dyslexia friendly.

Dyslexia Pathways CIC web site

I have uploaded my new dyslexia and neuro diversity positive t shirt designs and bags. Thanks to the support with this from Concept Northen and Christian Boer. Please visit our shop have a browse, leave us a like or give me feedback. I have recently added some new bag designs. 

Dyslexia Pathways CIC Shop

I have not done any thing about my go fund me page. Please consider backing and enable me achieve the £1000 target. I was invited to an event last night at Edinburgh University. The Fresh Sight 10 anniversary shindig. All very posh indeed. Managed to secure another backer for my #gofundme.

my cardiac arrest / dyslexia go fund me page

I have reached a third of the target so far. A huge thanks to all those who showed faith in me and backed the project. Please consider becoming a backer. Support my dyslexia work with the dyslexic community. You can back us from anywhere in the world. Got a new backer fro Edinburgh University last night.