Dyslexia; its about diversity and difference

I designed this 1 in 10 logo for dyslexics and those who support us to raise awareness

Dyslexia is about diversity and difference and definitely not about disorder, disability and discrepancy. 

Yes society disables and this disabling begins day one at Dyslexia unfriendly schools for far to many of us. Unless we dyslexics as a community change they way how we think and talk about dyslexia we will enable society to continue to disable us.  

Unless we change how can we expect society to change how it sees Dyslexia?

From an inclusion perspective there are three models of disability. The charity model say we are poor disabled people who are broken and society needs to give us money because society pity's us. It is a model imposed upon us by society and it is a disempowering model.

There is the medical model that basically says we are disabled, that it is we dyslexics that are the problem, that we are broken is some way and need a cure. It is another model imposed on us by society. This is another disempowering model.

Finally, there is the social model of dyslexia which say Dyslexia is about diversity and difference and it's is society that disables. 

It is our model developed by dyslexics for dyslexics. In my view this is an empowering model. It may not be perfect but its a start.

From my perspective both as a dyslexic and a Dyslexia and inclusion specialist with 29 years of experience working in the fields of dyslexia and inclusion I know what model I choose.

Which model would you choose?

I don't need pity, I am not broken and disabled #IAmDyslexic😎 And that's fab.

You are welcome to comment and send me thoughts on this, and any other, of by dyslexia blog, Comments welcomed from people from all other neuro diverse communities  and well as from people who are disabled.

Peace love and groovyness to you all 

#PeaceLoveAndGroovyness

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Thanks for reading

Steve McCue