Thursday, 26 April 2018

😎iamdyslexic and I am not invisible

ARt installatiom from our Unique Dyslexic  programme  Invisible Dyslexic



Hi readers hope you are all well

😎iamdyslexic and I am not invisible

But so many of us are invisible. If we want to have a fab dyslexic community. If we want to celebrate dyslexic culture. 


If we want to challenge and change the negative medical discrepancy narrative around dyslexia. If we want a strong and proud and positive dyslexia community?

We must be visible to each other and we must have our own positive narrative of dyslexia. 

That's why I support and promote the social model of dyslexia through social enterprise. This is a positive, empowering and inclusive way forward. 

More importantly it is a narrative created by dyslexics for dyslexics.

Why not join us and support what my organisation does.

Dyslexia Pathways CIC by dyslexics for dyslexics. Our social model of #dyslexia and social enterprise vision offers dyslexics an empowering, inclusive and positive vision.

Dyslexia Pathways CIC web site


Dyslexia Pathways CIC Unique Dyslexic Facebook

Dyslexia Pathways CIC online shop

Thanks for reading your comments and feedback is welcomed





Friday, 20 April 2018

Dyslexics fallling through the cracks? Maybe it’s a chasam?


me in the Glenrothes town park on a walk

Hi blog readers thanks for taking the time to visit and read my blog

If is often said that dyslexic kids fail at school because they fall through the cracks. What ever that means. Dyslexic students do not fall through the cracks. Our education system is dyslexia unfriendly that's why we fail. Our education system fails us we do not fail it.

Don't get me wrong here there are fab dyslexia friendly schools and teachers out there but they are few and far between.  Research I did showed that only 19% of assessed dyslexic adults were assessed at school.


This is just not good enough.

Especially when you consider research has shown around 50% of adults in our prisons are dyslexic. Dyslexic kids leave school with low self confidence and self esteem. That dyslexics are six times more likely to be long term unemployed than non dyslexic peers.

Dyslexics, can and do succeed in all areas of our society. Indeed, 35% of entrepreneurs are dyslexic. But they succeed in spite of their experience in school not because of it.

We have to challenge the narrative of a medical discrepancy model of dyslexia that has nothing positive to say about dyslexia or to dyslexics. It's a model that traps dyslexics behind a negative stereo type that says we are broken in some way, that we need treatment etc. It's a model that has gotten us precisely nowhere.

Dyslexics have to change that narrative. That's why I support and promote the social model of dyslexia. The basic premise is it is society that disables us. For so many of us this disabling begins at our dyslexia unfriendly education system.

Dyslexia is about diversity and difference not disability. That's why I founded Dyslexia Pathways CIC in 2009 as a social enterprise. I believe social enterprise and social model of dyslexia is an innovative, inclusive and empowering way forwards.

The medical model of dyslexia is one that has been imposed upon us by a non dyslexic society. The social model is one developed by dyslexics for dyslexics.

If we are ever going to make positive change for all dyslexics present and future we need to build a coherent dyslexic community. A community with one positive vision, one based on social model of dyslexia principles delivered through social enterprise.

Thanks reading why not visit our website at www.dyslexiapathways.com/ 

https://www.gofundme.com/rehabmyheart

Dyslexia Pathways CIC founded by dyslexics for dyslexics for positive change


Regards,


Friday, 6 April 2018

New directions: closing doors and opening new ones to find new challanges





a dyslexia positive art installation I did a while back
Hi all hope everyone is feeling #fab and ready for the week end. Its coming up to a year since my two heart attacks. 

My recovery is going ok so far so good and touch wood as they say. I am now going to the gym as part of my heart wellness / cardiac rehab twice a week.

I want to try aqua aerobics if I can find the cash to pay for it. That's one of the reasons I started my go fund me. To help me with costs related to my recovery.

My university work is going fine, have done more dyslexia support sessions than I did last year.
However, I had my first meeting with my new business mentor yesterday. We had a good long chat about the future for myself and Dyslexia Pathways CIC.

He is going to give me support and guidance with a new business plan which focusses on growing the training side of the business.

We may be a social enterprise and not for profit but if the business cannot make enough income we cannot carry on providing the free support we offer and have offered in the past.

I also want to develop the dyslexia / neuro diversity creative side of what we do. In the longer term the goal is there to build an accessible bespoke website for this. I have an outline of a design for this.

It looks like I will have to start winding down my dyslexia university work to make time for all change though.

I am not keen on this idea but 2018 is the 10 anniversary of the founding of Dyslexia Pathways CIC. If I want it to continue for another 10 years things have to change.

I am trying to build a new website for Dyslexia Pathways CIC.  A good friend in Germany is helping with this.

Once again I want to thank everyone who has backed my go fund me. Your support has helped enormously and very much appreciated.

anyway that's enough from me for now

peace love and groovyness to you all

Steve

PS

I have revamped my go fund me by the way please click the link and have a look and maybe even back me and my dyslexia work.


If I post on your social media and you don't want it there just delete it.

But if you like what you see and read please back me and or share.

Comments welcome also