Some tools in my dyslexia learning tool box

Hi from me 

Hello from me here in Glenrothes in Scotland

I now use Alexa for spelling when I am at home. Alexa is fab for spelling and you can ask her as many times as you like. 

You can also develop a personalised dictionary with the common words you struggle to remember how to spell. 

For grammar, do not try and find all grammar mistakes at the same time. Make a list of your common grammar errors and go through the list one at a time. 

What ever you do, do not let what other people say stop you, never let their remarks stop you from writing or reading. 

There is also a free suite of assistive technology called My Study Bar that might help. The only way you will know if its going to work for you is download and try it. My advice with assistive tech software is, try a free version first if there is one available.

Below is a link to the, My Study Bar site:

My Study Bar Link

Just a few ideas that are in my dyslexic learning tool box. What is in your dyslexia tool box. Remember, no two dyslexia learning tool boxes are the same.

#PeaceLoveGroovyness from me to you

Steve McCue

Dyslexia: celebrate your uniqueness

 

Dyslexia: a difference that reflects diversity

Hello there blog readers hope you are all well

Ah ha here we go again, someone telling me I am dyslexic and therefore my brain is not functioning properly, my brain is broken sigh. Lets wheel out the old medical model of dyslexia AGAIN!. A medical model of dyslexia that has got we dyslexics exactly nowhere. A medical model of dyslexia that shackles us to a negative stereotype that basically comes down to this. A medical model that tells us dyslexia is about, deficits, disorder and discrepancy. That Dyslexia is a problem that needs to be fixed.

I have just read that if we dyslexics go through one particular programme 80% of dyslexic problems disappear. Hmmmm, dyslexic problems? Ahhh, does this mean teacher training is going to include training on ways to support dyslexic learners in an inclusive learning environment in the future I ask myself?

Hmmmm, nope not on your nelly does it.

Does it mean is our dyslexia issues just disappear and we are no longer dyslexic if we go through this programme? Or is it that we are still dyslexic but somehow cured of those pesky dyslexic problems? Dyslexic problems, problems and more problems. This is how society views us, just one big bundle of problems.

Dyslexia does not disappear it is a part of us. It was a part of us when we were born and it will be a part of us until the day we pop our clogs and go to meet our maker. We need to be enabled to understand our dyslexia and work with our dyslexic strengths. Schools need to enable us to develop a dyslexia learning tool box full of tools and strategies that enable us to learn as dyslexics. 

From my perspective, dyslexia is a very important part of me because it enables me to do so many very positive things well. In my life I have been a professional musician, an inclusion and dyslexia specialist, a social entrepreneur etc. I don't think I could have done any of these if I had not been dyslexic. Being dyslexia is about diversity and difference.

Dyslexia is a difference that represents the diversity inherent within the humanity. How much art, how much science, philosophy etc would have been lost if it were not for the way the dyslexic brain works. I don't say the dyslexic brain is broken I do say it is just different.

Vive la difference I say.

Unique Dyslexic t shirt

I will finally say I do not suffer with dyslexia. I embrace it for what it gives me. But what I did suffer with is education systems that still fails the vast majority of dyslexic kids at schools all over the world.

Who I do feel for are all the dyslexic students I have worked with in colleges and universities after listening to their nightmare experiences of being dyslexic at school.

What are your thoughts on dyslexia?

ta for taking the time to read my blog #PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

regards

Steve

When I'm 64 lol

Remember the Beatles song, "When I'm 64", lol well today Feb 13th 2022 I am 64 lol

We dyslexics can change things for the better for ourselves

One of my dyslexia positive t shirt designs

Hi to all my followers and readers, I really appreciate your support.

We dyslexic can change things for ourselves and for the dyslexic community. 

For years I hated my dyslexia unfriendly bank statements, I contacted my bank and asked for my bank statements to be printed on A4 size paper in pastel beige or blue Took the bank while but eventually I got  my dyslexia friendly bank statements.

My philosophy is, "If you dont ask, you dont get.

We have to challenge our dyslexia unfriendly society at every opportunity. History shows us that society will not change on its own, it never has and never will unless we challenge it. 

regards

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

Steve McCue

Inclusion is good for business

 

Hi blog readers hope you are all well

Well every business person in the county is well aware that budgets are tight for all businesses. But every business benefits from a healthy and motivated staff.

Healthy and happy staff are more productive, less likely to take time off due to illness and stress and be far more motivated. 

A business can also serve its dyslexic, disabled and neuro diverse customers more effectively by being dyslexia, neuro diverse and disability friendly and it makes sound business sense as well.

Remember one happy and satisfied disabled or dyslexic customer, indeed any customer will tell their friends and give positive feedback on social media and in turn will come and buy from your business and / use your services. Every business in the country benefits from returning customers. 

Whilst I do not see dyslexia as a disability it is recognised as a disability by the law. Employers are required under this legislation to support disable and dyslexic staff by making reasonable adjustments.

There is support available for employers to support dyslexic / disabled staff through the government Access to Work scheme. They can provide funds to buy assistive tech software if it required for dyslexic and disabled staff. Last time I worked with Access to Work they were able to provide 90% of the costs towards hardware and software for dyslexic / disabled staff.

Businesses, training organisations and charities have to remember that 20% of the UK population is disabled, around 10% are dyslexic. Meeting their needs effectively can increase business turnover and enhance corporate image and create a more productive workforce. So it makes sound business sense to be dyslexia / disability friendly.

Disability and dyslexia friendly solutions can benefit non dyslexic staff. Speech to text software is a far more effective and efficient way to input text into a computer.

There are also many ways to enable dyslexic and disabled staff to use the computer more effectively.  For example  dyslexics, not all, can benefit from using different colour background colours on computers.  This could also help non dyslexic staff avoid eyestrain and head aches etc. This is a simple and free solution and there are many others.

Dyslexia Pathways CIC run regular dyslexia awareness training sessions which can be run for whole organisations or in groups with people from other organisations. This is probably the first step in raising awareness of dyslexia.

Then its about providing a safe environment where staff can discuss any dyslexia / disability disclose they are dyslexic / disabled. Maybe have a named person in HR where people feel able and comfortable to disclose.

I know it is not easy for small organisation to do this but the benefits from supporting disabled and dyslexic staff far outweigh any possible perceived negatives.

http://www.uniquedyslexic.com/

http://www.dyslexiapathways.com/

Many thanks for taking the time to read my blog

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

Steve McCue

Some feedback from dyslexia research I did

 

My Unique Dyslexic Eye Show Logo

Hi everyone, I hope 2022 is going ok for you all

Hi everyone here is my latest Unique Dyslexic Eye show. Today I talk about a little dyslexia research I did a while back for my social enterprise Dyslexia Pathways CIC. Please leave a review or give us a like. Why not share it with your friends.

I would welcome your feedback on this show. My email is steve.mccue@uniquedyslexic.com.

If you are a dyslexic or neuro diverse musician, poet or just have something you would like to share with my listeners please send it to me and lets get you on the show.

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all and thanks for listening I really appreciate it. Just click on the link below to go to my podcast page.

Podcast from series 1 Unique Dyslexic Eye

Would be fab if you could subscribe to my podcast, its totally free to do. Your comments are welcome. It would also be fabtastic if you could share my dyslexia / neuro diversity blog and podcast.

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

Steve McCue

 

Unique Dyslexic Eye show logo

Dyslexia and isolation

I was working with one of my dyslexic uni students yesterday. It was not a very easy session for him or myself. He is struggling with his course work and his work load had gotten on top of him quite a lot. He is obviously a very bright student and knows his subject very well but his issues with confidence and motivation were causing him great anxiety. All he knew was he had this big ball of stuff in his head that he knew this work needed to be done and when it had to be completed by but the ball was impenetrable to him.  

So we sat down together, worked out what needed to be done and by when. We then started to break each assignment down into its constituent parts and put together timelines to plot out what needed to be done and set some goals for the next couple of weeks. We opened out this ball of stuff in his head and mapped out different routes to enable him to get to his destination of assignments completed.

Of course he still has to get on with his work and his issues with motivation will still be there but because we had spent a little time doing this mapping out exercise he now felt he could tackle his work. He said because he had kept everything in his head the problems with his work just appeared so huge and undo-able. I gave him my e-mail and said he could contact me to discuss his progress if he felt he wanted to.

During this session he told me he had never really talked to anyone about being dyslexic not his parents or his friends. He told me he didn't understand his dyslexia or what his dyslexia report said about him. He basically felt quite alone with his struggles with his dyslexia. In fact this was the first time he had discussed anything to do with dyslexia with anyone else. I wonder how many other dyslexics there experience these same issues.

So much time, some much money spent on so much research, and still so little is understood about dyslexia by so many.....including the so called experts sigh.

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

Steve McCue

Feedback from some of my dyslexic students

 

Feedback from students who used our services at Dyslexia Pathways CIC

What people who used our services said about us:

 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 way 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 ever I completed a piece of work with time to spare. This was because I was taught how to structure my time more effectively."

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."