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 26th year anniversary as a dyslexia specialist and 29th 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."

Question for you all: I have used 10 words to define dyslexia. What would your 10 words be?

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

Steve McCue

Trials and tribulations of dyslexic entrepreneurs

 

My Unique Dyslexic tee shirt logo design

Hi blog readers and followers hope you are all well

Being an entrepreneur who is dyslexic 

I have just read an interesting and relevant 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 Scottish 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.

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.

I am one of those male dyslexic entrepreneurs and before I founded Dyslexia Pathways 3 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 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 organisations I went to were more of an hindrance than a help. I did meet with some supportive individuals who were very supporting and I have to thank them for their support with my own journey to becoming an entrepreneur.

One of the aims of Dyslexia Pathways is to create a new mentoring scheme for dyslexic entrepreneurs and potential 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.

The importance of a dyslexia assessment

Hi from me

Hi everyone hope you are all well

One of my Unique Dyslexic Eye podcasts from series 1. In this show I talk about the importance of a dyslexia assessment and why I support and promote the social model of dyslexia through social enterprise:

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-4uzfn-f7b6dc

Please leave a like, subscribe and share

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

Steve McCue

Series 2 Episode 1 of my show Unique Dyslexic Eye

Hi from me

How are you all?

Welcome to series 2 episode one of my Unique Dyslexia Eye show:

series-2-episode-1-unique-dyslexic-eye-show/

#dyslexia #podcast #neurodiversity

#PeaceLoveGroovyness from me

Steve McCue

Would be fab if you could share if you like this or subscribe to my poadast

Dyslexia: the three Ds

My Unique Dyslexic logo

Hi blog readers I hope you are all feeling fab. Yeah I understand things are tough for us all. This is certainly the toughest life has been for me in my lifetime.

A short blog this time...……………..

Being #dyslexic isn't about hidden disability. It's about a society that cant see our abilities and a Dyslexia unfriendly society that marginalises us .

An education system that's is so focussed on a negative medical model of dyslexia that can't see, or does not want to see, our abilities. A medical model of dyslexia that can only see us in terms of discrepancy, disorder and deficits.

Its about a society that cant get its head around the idea that dyslexia is about diversity and difference not discrepancy, disorder and deficits. I call the medical model of dyslexia the three d model lol its about as three d as a sheet of blank paper.

thanks for reading

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all.

Steve McCue 

Hi from me lol

Bits and Bobs

 

My Unique Dyslexic Eye show logo

Hi hope you are all well

A while back I was informed my social enterprise Dyslexia Pathways CIC was being considered for the 2020 / 21 Scotland Prestige award for the category, Dyslexia Support Service of the Year. I have now been informed that we are the 2021/22 Prestige award winner in that category. I have not mentioned this before because I thought it was a scam but apparently it is not. I am chuffed.

We all know Richard Branson is dyslexic. I think most of you will know I have been interested in outer space all my life. Its the dyslexic dreamer and curiosity in me. BUT. The billionaire space race is on? How many will die from COVID while they have their little jollies in space? This will add nothing to our understanding of space at all. All it takes is one bad COVID mutation and it could be hasta la vista humanity.

Priorities guys the needs of the billionaires don't out weigh the needs of humanity.

Teacher training does not prepare teachers for inclusion in their classrooms, does not prepare them to teach disabled, dyslexic, disabled kids. Teachers are not given the funding, time and resources to create inclusive teaching environments

One of my Unique Dyslexic Eye blogs has been selected to kick off the Disability Unions Disability Pride Month, I am chuffed: https://disabilityunion.co.uk/we-need-to-change-the-way-we-talk-about-dyslexia/… Please support #DisabilityPrideMonth #UniqueDyslexicEye #DisabilityUnion

This week we saw racism raise its ugly head again after England's loss to Italy. Bigotry and hate knows no logic.

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

Steve Mccue

https:/

Me and dyslexia: An enigma to myself

 

Logo for my Unique Dyslexic Eye Show

Hi blog readers hope you are all well and feeling #fab. 

To those not feeling #fab about being dyslexic for whatever reason, and there are a lot of us feeling like this, I send positive vibes to you all.

I am not a person with #dyslexia, I don't suffer with #dyslexia I don't have #dyslexia. 

#iamdyslexic😎. 

I am very happy that I think, feel and see the world through a #dyslexic prism. #Dyslexia is an integral part of me. It is a part of my identity of who I am.

For a long time I was an enigma to myself, and to my teachers I think. I felt just as smart as other kids but somehow I couldn't show it in my school work. School became a place I didn't want to be in.

As many will know I am very positive about being dyslexic.


However, i was not always so positive about being #dyslexic. I'd actually didn't know I was #dyslexic until I was assessed as #dyslexic when I 35 years old. My assessment for  being #dyslexic was the first step to becoming more positive about being #dyslexic. It enabled me to put my experiences of school into perspective.

It was the starting point of my journey into understanding the enigma that was me.

But I also know there are so many #dyslexics out there who are not happy to be #dyslexic. Their life experiences of being dyslexic at school, in work and training have been so negative it eats away at self confidence, self esteem and erodes mental health well being. 

I know this because that's what my negative life experiences of being an un-assessed and unsupported #dyslexic did to me. I know from first hand experience that being #dyslexic can be a bit of a nightmare. I know this because of all the other dyslexics I have supported as a Dyslexia specialist.

I am often asked why I do my #dyslexia work. I often ask that question myself. I guess my answer is, "I don't feel I have a choice". I believe many of us have strong sense of injustice as a result we stand up and battle against it. I think this may be because so many of us experience injustice when we are at school because our education system fails us.

I did some research on when adults were assessed. Only 19% of adult #dyslexics were actually assessed at school. Many #dyslexics go through their whole lives without ever being assessed. Without even knowing they are dyslexic.  This is simply not good enough.

We must change how we think and talk about being #dyslexic and about dyslexia in general. We must move away from a medical discrepancy model of dyslexia that basically traps us behind a negative stereotypical, one dimensional image of dyslexia. It's a model that has nothing positive to say to #dyslexics or about #dyslexia. Its a model that has been imposed upon us by a non #dyslexic society that quite simply fails us.

That's why I founded Dyslexia Pathways CIC as a social enterprise. That's why I support and promote the social model of dyslexia. That's why I chose to found my social enterprise Dyslexia Pathways CIC. Simply because I believe the social model of dyslexia together with social enterprise is an empowering, positive and inclusive way forward. More to the point I saw it as a dyslexic / neuro diverse way forward.

Thanks for reading

Peace love and groovyness to you all

#PeaceLoveGroovyness

Steve McCue

Dyslexia Pathways CIC: "Leading the way for social inclusion".

 

My social enterprise logo

Hi blog readers and followers hope you are all well

I was recently researching internet marketing and internet tools. One of those tools we were introduced to was Google Alert.

So I put in a little google alert on Dyslexia Pathways CIC and discovered we had been given a mention in an Erasmus academic paper.


Here is the specific passage that mentions my organisation, "Dyslexia Pathways CIC".

"There are numerous CICS who have succeeded in providing an intermediation function developing pathways that assist individuals with disabilities to access support to engage in academic courses and vocational qualifications. These include Dyslexia Pathways CIC, All Inclusive Disability Consultants CIC and Acute Need CIC who have all led the way for social inclusion for those within the disabled community looking to access support to enhance and develop their skillset."

To say I am chuffed would be an understatement but hey to read that we at Dyslexia Pathways CIC have been, "helping to lead the way for social inclusion", who would not be.

Thanks for reading my blog #PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

Steve McCue, I am a dyslexic dyslexia and inclusion specialist

 

Unique Dyslexic #vivaladifference

Revision Bah Humbug lol 

I have spent a lot of time working with a lot of students revising for exams. Blimey I remember my own experience of exams and not much of the memories are positive. On my degree my course work grades were As and high B grades but my exams were C grades if I was lucky. I really worked hard at revision...if only I had me teaching me back then what I now know today about being a dyslexic doing exam revision lol. 

I met with one student who I have worked with a couple of times before. Last time we met I had suggested she try using mind maps to help her with revising. The student came for their dyslexia support today and showed me her revision mind maps. They were a peice of art work in their own right. Great use of imagery and colour on a large piece of art paper. Fantastic stuff..........

I had another student who has only been assessed as being dyslexic a few months ago. He is still trying to come to terms with it and how it has impacted on his life in the past and today. He is one of the reasons why I believe all dyslexia specialists should all be trained counsellors. He has a lot of self erected barriers to break down as well as issues with his confidence and self esteem. Had a great session with him that day though.

For some time I have been thinking about writing a book on dyslexia based on my own experiences as a dyslexic trying to survive in a non dyslexic world. I have been writing bits and pieces here and there but lacked focus for a book. Today I have been trying to  think of a book title which, I hope, will enable me to focus on writing this book.

I am hoping to find new directors for Dyslexia Pathways. If I am to take Dyslexia Pathways any further as a business I need to have others on board who have the time, expertise and commitment to enable me to take Dyslexia Pathways CIC further. 

If interested you can call me on 078 287 414 73 or email: stephen.mccue@dyslexiapathways.co.uk. 

Ok #PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all  

Steve McCue founder of Dyslexia Pathways CIC and Unique Dyslexic Eye