 |
| Unique Dyslexic Eye logo |
Hello there all, hope life is being good to you
Things stay the same?
Way back in 2002 when I was managing the dyslexia department in a college in London. I ran a number of open dyslexia surgeries for students and staff wanting to find out more about dyslexia. As it turned out a large number of staff and students took up the offer and came to the surgeries.
Some just want some advice on ways to support their dyslexic student s more effectively. But others came because they either knew they were dyslexic or suspected they were dyslexic.
All had some concerns that being dyslexic would hinder their career prospects and nearly all had not disclosed they were dyslexic.
As a result of this I put together a proposal for a new dyslexia focused project called Breaking down the barriers of dyslexia.
The basic idea was to provide free dyslexia screening and assessment to staff at the college as well as provide training in dyslexia friendly work strategies.
I managed to get a £50.000 grant from the Learning and Skills Council in London for the project. The project itself went very well. We had a target to provide 8 free dyslexia assessments and in the end we provided 23 over the 4 month life of the project.
However, at the end of the project, despite how well it went 99% of those assessed still did not want their bosses to know they were dyslexic.
18 years later and things do not appear to have changed much.
I was talking with a degree student who I had been providing dyslexia support over the last semester. A very bright student as well. He was expressing an interest in becoming a teacher but felt that it was not possible for him to become a teacher because he was dyslexic.
He was expressing his concerns about telling any prospective employers about his dyslexia. That if he did it would adversely affect his job and career prospects. He would be a great teacher as well in my opinion
There is far too much focus on dyslexia as a negative condition that adversely impacts on our abilities to succeed academically and in the work place. That dyslexia is about disorder, discrepancy and deficits Let’s face it what employer wants to take on a dyslexic who can't spell, has poor memory, a brain that does not work properly, who can't read well etc.
This is what the average person in the street still believes dyslexia to be. Very few mention any of the positives of dyslexia at all. So it is not surprising many dyslexics keep it a secret, including teachers.
This is what the average person in the street still believes dyslexia to be. Very few mention any of the positives of dyslexia at all. So it is not surprising many dyslexics keep it a secret, including teachers.
Many thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I very much appreciate you popping in.
Please feel free to leave any comments you may have about my blog or maybe subscribe. Its totally free to do so.
It would be fab if you would leave a like and or subscribe, it's totally free and you will receive a notification when I publish my blogs.
#PeaceLoveGrooveyness from me
Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue
Disclosure is totally your decision, I certainly always do. If you do disclose employers and yourself can apply for ACCESS to Work funding to pay for assistive technology and training. This is available in the UK. It costs nothing to an employer or yourself. A lot of employers do not know this exists. Its probably the least known benefit people can claim for. I think its now open for volunteers.
ReplyDelete