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For decades we have had parents of dyslexic kids fighting our education system one at a time. Sometimes they win little victories and get support for their dyslexic kids. Most of the time they face long battles and get nowhere.
Only 19% of dyslexic adults were assessed as dyslexic whilst at school. Just think about that.
We, as dyslexic adults need to get together to build a social movement where we can work together. Work together to bring positive changes to the current education system that, up to now, is still failing too many of our dyslexic children.
Right now, many of us are fighting for positive change from the bottom upwards. We have to influence those who are responsible for developing education policy. This can only be done if we work together and take this to those who make policy.
There also needs to be political will to make the changes to our education system that will enable our dyslexic kids to succeed is school. Right now there is no political will to do this. Only by working together can we influence those who run our education system.
We have to make a much more positive case for supporting our dyslexic kids. A case based on our dyslexic strengths, and not our perceived weaknesses. We have to move away from an old outdated medical model of dyslexia that basically tells us our brains do not work correctly. That says dyslexia is all about deficits, disorder and discrepancy. That somehow we are not normal. That we are broken in some way. What does this say to potential employers about dyslexics? What does this say to our dyslexic kids?
I am not saying dyslexics do not need support at school. What I am saying is we need teachers in every classroom being trained to teach to meet the diversity of learning needs in the class room. To enable teachers to do their job of teaching our dyslexic kids together with their non dyslexic peers in a classroom.
Every day I visit Facebook I read real life stories about dyslexic kids and parents battles to get what is a human right to a good education. Stories about dyslexic kids not wanting to go to school. About parents seeing their children crying and frustration and fear about going to school. This is just not good enough at all.
I believe it is society that disables dyslexics and that's why I promote and support the social model of dyslexia. I am not saying it's a perfect model but it places the responsibility for the failure of our education to meet the learning needs of dyslexic kids where it belongs. Not on the shoulders of dyslexic kids and parents. But squarely on the shoulders of those who shape our education system and politicians why are responsible for developing and running an education system that fails so many of us.
Dyslexics can and do succeed but many do so in spite of their education not because of it.
#dyslexia is a difference that reflects #diveristy. We need to unleash that potential not remediate or stifle it.
We, as dyslexic adults need to get together to build a social movement where we can work together. Work together to bring positive changes to the current education system that, up to now, is still failing too many of our dyslexic children.
Right now, many of us are fighting for positive change from the bottom upwards. We have to influence those who are responsible for developing education policy. This can only be done if we work together and take this to those who make policy.
There also needs to be political will to make the changes to our education system that will enable our dyslexic kids to succeed is school. Right now there is no political will to do this. Only by working together can we influence those who run our education system.
We have to make a much more positive case for supporting our dyslexic kids. A case based on our dyslexic strengths, and not our perceived weaknesses. We have to move away from an old outdated medical model of dyslexia that basically tells us our brains do not work correctly. That says dyslexia is all about deficits, disorder and discrepancy. That somehow we are not normal. That we are broken in some way. What does this say to potential employers about dyslexics? What does this say to our dyslexic kids?
I am not saying dyslexics do not need support at school. What I am saying is we need teachers in every classroom being trained to teach to meet the diversity of learning needs in the class room. To enable teachers to do their job of teaching our dyslexic kids together with their non dyslexic peers in a classroom.
Every day I visit Facebook I read real life stories about dyslexic kids and parents battles to get what is a human right to a good education. Stories about dyslexic kids not wanting to go to school. About parents seeing their children crying and frustration and fear about going to school. This is just not good enough at all.
I believe it is society that disables dyslexics and that's why I promote and support the social model of dyslexia. I am not saying it's a perfect model but it places the responsibility for the failure of our education to meet the learning needs of dyslexic kids where it belongs. Not on the shoulders of dyslexic kids and parents. But squarely on the shoulders of those who shape our education system and politicians why are responsible for developing and running an education system that fails so many of us.
Dyslexics can and do succeed but many do so in spite of their education not because of it.
#dyslexia is a difference that reflects #diveristy. We need to unleash that potential not remediate or stifle it.
Anyway, #PeaceLoveGrooveyness from me
Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue
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