Unique Dyslexic web site developments

 

The Uniique Dyslexic Phone app I built

Hello everyone, hope all is well for you all

Wayyyy, way back in 2015 we launched Unique Dyslexic campaign. 

My social enterprise, Dyslexia Pathways CIC, focussed on supporting dyslexic and neuro diverse University students. We have support many thousand of students in that time.

Unique Dyslexic was all about nurturung and supporting dyslexic and neuro diverse creative talents and their mental health. 

The basic premise of the website was to support our successful Unique Dyslexic, Get Creative campaign.

The objective of Unique Dyslexic Get Creative is to support, promote and celebrate the creative talents of the dyslexic community across the full range of creative spectrum. At Unique Dyslexic Get Creative, we promote and support the social model of dyslexia. We see dyslexia as a difference that reflects the diversity inherent in humanity. Its been renamed Unique Dyskexic Eye.

The campaign was very successful, however, the web site, looking back on it now, was a bit of a dogs dinner. Some if it worked well and some of it less well so lol.

The idea was to develop the site myself. Bur what with work and life I never managed to do that. I did try to find a volunteer to help us out with it but that never came together. I designed and built a Unique Dyslexic mobile app.

I have been thinking of just closing it down but, well my head is telling me to close it down and my heart to keep it up and running. I believe its worth keeping it up to support dyslexic and neuro diverse communities.

Below  is a link to the Unique Dyslexic website, have a good rummage around the site and see what you think:

Unique Dyslexic website

I am looking at paying the web devopler, Toolkit Websites to edit it and make it more mobile friendly. So I have asked for a quote. I am thinking of running a funding appeal also for £750.

What do you think?

Blog about one of our Unique Dyslexic Get Creative Workshops

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

There are many dyslexic geniuses out there?

 

There are many dyslexic geniuses out there? However, because of our education system so many of us never realize that genius

Unique Dyslexic Eye t shirt

 

Hi blog readers and followers, hope you have had an enjoyable holiday

Scenius is: ‘a group of creative individuals who make up an ‘ecology of talent’. 

There are many dyslexic geniuses out there but because our education system fails us many never realize that genius. But it is out there because we know over 35% of dyslexics are entrepreneurs. 

Dyslexic geniuses that do succeed do so in spite of there experiences in education and not because of it.

If we are ever going to change how society sees dyslexia we must come together and develop our creative dyslexic scenius to do it.  

We need to challenge societies medical model of dyslexia that tell dyslexics that dyslexia is about deficits, discrepancy and disorder. This medical model has nothing positive to say to dyslexics or about dyslexia.

This is why I developed the social model of dyslexia together with social enterprise. The social model of dyslexia tells us dyslexia is about diversity and difference and the social enterprise part basically means we can support ourselves to solve the issues we face in a dyslexic unfriendly society. 

The social model of dyslexia is our model its provides dyslexics with positive and inclusive vision. It tells it like it is, we struggle at school because our education system is dyslexia unfriendly. It is also neuro diverse and disability unfriendly.

Dyslexics have unique minds, we need to come together to create and untilise our dyslexic scenius to benefit the dyslexic community.

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all.......please leave a like or join our community and or share my podcasts.

Below is a link to my Unique Dyslexic Eye blog on dyslexic scenius:

Dyslexic scenius podcast

Why not join our Unique Dyslexic Eye Clan and subscribe

#PeaceLoveGroovyness from me Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue founder of Unique Dyslexic Eye and Dyslexia Pathways

My dyslexa assessment was a very, "light switched on", eureka moment in my life.

I dont have dyslexia, I AM! dyslexic, #IAmDyslexic

Hello to you all out there

The whole point of Unique Dyslexic, is to promote the idea that every dyslexic mind is unique to the individual. Every dyslexic's life experiences are unique to each individual dyslexic. Also a focus is on the dyslexic creative mind and our unique abilities. As well as the unique minds of neuro diverse communities

All of us have to explore and find the tools that work for us as individuals.

There is no one size fits all needed here. For school, every dyslexic student need to be empowered to build a dyslexic learning tool box that works for them.

Dyslexic positive art installation from me 

This shows an art installation I did as part of our Unique Dyslexic Get Creative campaign. 

The light over the letter I expresses the positivity I have about being dyslexic. (I know positivity may not be a real word but it should be LOL)

It also expresses the impact that my own dyslexia assessment had on me and my life. My dyslexia assessment enabled me to re evaluate the difficulties that I had experienced at school as an un-assessed, and unaware I was dyslexic, dyslexic learner. 

It wasn't me that couldn't learn it was the education system that couldn't teach me in ways that enabled me to learn. My dyslexa assessment was a very light switched on eureka moment in my life.

Also I wanted to say it's not how you write but what you write that's important. 

Be that by hand, by keyboard or by speech to text technology etc. 

Writing by hand is just a strategy and its not the only strategy. 

There is a saying, I think? 

"The saying is, "a picture is worth a thousand words". Which means that a single image can convey a complex idea or story more effectively than a lengthy verbal description. It highlights the power of visual communication, to quickly and clearly communicate information and ideas.

Find the strategy that works for you. Its only a non dyslexic society that says we all have to write by hand. A non dyslexic society that disables us.

For me personally I would never have achieved academically without access to a computer keyboard 

Question for you all:

How would you express dyslexic positivity? 

Please share your ideas in the comments section of my blog.

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

Performance poet Anita Govan performing at our Unique Dyslexic Get Creative event.

 

The fab Anita Govan

Hi Blog readers hope you are all well

October 29th 2014 saw the first Unique Dyslexic Get Creative Celebration of Creativity event. It was the culmination of Unique Dyslexic Get Creative.

Has to have been the hardest days work, most enjoyable, most joy full and most stressful day of my life. I am so proud of everyone who was involved in this project. Including all our volunteers for all their work.

This was the first event of this kind to be held is Scotland and the UK. Organised and run by the first dyslexia focussed social enterprise to be constituted in the UK Dyslexia Pathways Community Interest Company.

I thank everyone, every participant of every workshop, my wife, my directors, The Lord Provost, Ross Cooper, Anita Govan Siannie Moodie and Lizzie Mcdougall, all the artists and everyone of the 60 or so people who came along to the event through out the whole day and making it such a great day.

We had people coming through the door even when we were closing down the event.

Below is a recording of Anita Govan, performance at the Unique Dyslexic Get Creative Celebration of Creativity at the Rothes Halls in Fife Scotland on October 29th 2014 Unique Dyslexic is a Dyslexia Pathways programme. Just select the link below.

Anita Govan, Dyslexic perfomance poet

Below is a link to Anita's web site:

Anita Govan's web site

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog.

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

Humanity has thrived because of neuro diversity and diversity in all its forms

 

Neuro diversity is as important as bio diversity

All Children, including dyslexic, non dyslexic, neuro diverse and disabled are are born creative. The problem is, schools educate that creativity out of us. Education and society does not value that creatiity. Education teaches us to pass exams and that is all it does.

School does not teach us about the value of empathy or emotional intelligence.

School does not enable us to nurture our mental health.

In fact school does the opposite, for far to many of our kids. They leave traumatised by their experiences at school

That why school does not work for our dyslexic, neuro diverse kids, dyslexic, neuro diverse or not.

Humanity has thrived because of neuro diversity and diversity in all its different forms.

What are your thoughts on this?

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness

from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

We all came from a puddle of primordial goo. Everything else after that first life came into being is about diversity. With out that diversity we would not be here.

Welsome to a guest podcast from Dyslexic Mum

 

Unique Dyslexic t shirt logo designed by myself

Hello, hope all is well with you all

I would like to give a big Unique Dyslexic Eye welcome to our guest, Collette Costello, the founder of DyslexicMum. 

In this podcast she will be sharing her, experiences as a dyslexic child at school as well as a dyslexia specialist. She will also be sharing her experiences daughter’s, experiences of school as dyslexic learner.  Collette will also be talking about her organisation, DyslexicMum. 

Below is a link to her guest podcast:

Dyslexic Mum's guest podcast

Just click on the link below. 

Link to Dyslexic Mum's website

Dyslexic Mum's site has a lot of good resources and advice for mum's who are supporting their dyslexic kids.

Hope you all enjoyed the podcast.

#PeaseLoveGrooveyness from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic Mccue

Please leave your thoughts on this podcast

Episode 5 from series one of the Unique Dyslexic Eye Podcast show

 

Participants of our Unique Dyslexic Get Creative Workshop receiving their certificates

Hello all, hope you are all

Here is our latest Unique Dyslexic Eye show. We feature 3 new tracks from 3 talented dyslexic / neuro diverse musicians. Also includes articles on dyslexia / neuro diversity and mental health and well being. 

Also includes an update on our successfully completed Kickstarter campaign. Many thanks to all those who backed and supported our campaign. 

If you are a dyslexic or neuro diverse musician or poet please accept this cordial invitation to send me recordings of your work to feature on my show. 

Just email me steve_mccue@hotmail.com so that we can arrange it. If you have something to share about your experiences of dyslexia and neuro diversity please contact me. Please share, follow or leave a like.

Episode 5 from series one of Unique Dyslexic Eye Podcast show

Please leave a like of follow my dyslexic podcast

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness

From me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

We must change how we think about what it means to be dyslexic

 

#dyslexia positive

Hi blog readers hope you are all well

For decades we have had individual 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. 

My research showed only 19% of dyslexic adults were assessed while at school. This is simply not good enough.

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 us and our 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 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. We have to move away from an old outdated medical model of dyslexia that basically tells us our brains do not work correctly. 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? Its a medical model that talks about dyslexia in terms of discrepancy, disorder and deficits. 

Its a three D model that's about as 3D as a blank sheet of paper. If puts a focus on dyslexics as being the problem and totally fails to recognise that dyslexics fail because our education system and society is dyslexia unfriendly.

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, neuro diverse or disabled peers in a classroom. All together living, learning and playing together.  

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. 

photo above: we must enable dyslexic kids to fly and learn together with their disabled, neuro diverse and non dyslexic peers

We must change how we think about what it means to be dyslexic in a society that disables. We must change how we think and talk about dyslexia.

We have to challenge the current medical discrepancy of dyslexia. It is a model that has nothing positive to say about dyslexia or to dyslexics. It is a model that has only served to trap us behind a narrow one dimensional negative stereotype definition of dyslexia. A definition that totally ignores and stifles our potential and strengths.

That is why I support the social model of dyslexia. It talks about dyslexia in terms of diversity and difference and it recognises that it is society that disables us.

#dyslexia is a difference that reflects #diversity. We need to unleash and nurture that potential not remediate or stifle it.

What are your thoughts on this? please comment


Anyway that's enough from me apart to say my #dyslexia blog has had neary 395.000 reads. Ta to all who read and contribute to my blog including guest bloggers. Hope you enjoy and share my latest one.

many thanks for reading and your support

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to all my blog followers and readers

Why not visit my Unique Dyslexic Eye podcast page and join fab dyslexia / neuro diverse clan.

Unique Dyslexic Eye Podcast Page

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

What are your earliest recollections of reading as a child? Here are some of mine.

The photos I have of me as a kid

Hello everyone, hope you are well,

I bumped into this video on one of my You Tube Explorations. Think I must have been about 5 or 6 when I saw this. Its a kinda easter european fairy tale called, The Singing Ringing Tree. I was on BBC kiddies TV. I still remember the story. Stories like this captured my dyslexic imagingation and got me reading.

Here is a link to a podcast that shows the show:

The Singing Ringing Tree

Tell me about your earliest recollection of reading you have as a kid?

When I was about 2 or 3 I could read Noddy books word for word. I would use my finger to trace nd read out the sentences. Not sure if i was actually reading the book or had memorise the story

As a kid I loved stories like this.

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and books from the rest of series.

Thomas the Tank engine books

I went from fantasy kiddies stories to Sci Fi authours like HG Wells and John Whydham. Even then I knew I was missing lines or losing my place on the page, but I thought that was the same for everyone.

I was lucky that one of my aunts relations. Not totally sure it may have been her dad ran a newpaper shop and he was always giving us comics like the Beano and more adult sci fi comics like Astounding Tales.

Did you read stories and books as a child?

Do you remember what they were?

What kiddies TV programs did you enjoy?

Ok, thanks for reading, please leave a like or subscribe to mt blog

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

Dyslexia Pathways CIC mentioned in Erasmus Academic Network Paper

Here is my Dyslexia Pathways CIC logo designed by me

Hello all, welcome to another of my dyslexia blogs

A while back I put in a google alert for Dyslexia Pathways CIC and discovered we had been given a mention on an Erasmus Academic Network 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 and Dyslexia Pathways CIC have been helping to lead the way for social inclusion who would not be.

Thanks for reading my blog

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

I would not want to be a non dyslexic for all the cash in the world.

We dysllexics can often feel isolated, always remember you are not alone

Hi hope you are all feeling fab out there.

We need to move past a medical model definition of dyslexia that tells us we are broken. A definition that tells us we as dyslexics are the problem.It’s a model that sees us being segregated, marginalized and denied access to an education together with non dyslexics in an inclusive learning environment.

It’s our education system that fails dyslexics not being dyslexic itself. We need to nurture not remediate.  We need teachers in every classroom trained to enable us to learn.

That’s why I support and promote the social model of dyslexia. Because it talking about diversity and difference rather than disability. We learn, think, problem solve and indeed experience the world differently from non dyslexics.

Dyslexia is not a medical issue?

Dyslexia is a difference that reflects diversity. We must embrace diversity, we must nurture it and enable it to flourish.

That why I use the term medical model of dyslexia. #iamdyslexic? not a person with dyslexia like there is me and dyslexia is standing next to me. Like dyslexia is some sort of condition that needs treatment or curing. I don’t suffer with dyslexia I suffer with a society that disables us, that marginalises us, that does not respect and embrace diversity.

Being dyslexic is fab we have fab minds that work in fab ways. I think as a dyslexic, learn as a dyslexic, feel as a dyslexic etc. Being dyslexic is a part of who I am. I would not want to be neuro typical if you paid me a million dollars.

That’s why I say dyslexia is a difference that reflects diversity. Nature and humanity thrives because of diversity and difference and that something we should be celebrating. Dyslexics can and do succeed across the whole of our society.

Being dyslexic is fab

I am dyslexic I don’t have dyslexia, I am not a person with dyslexia. We need to move past the idea that we have dyslexia like it’s some sort of an illness or disability.

We are told so many times that we as dyslexics are disabled so often we start to believe it ourselves and we begin to disable ourselves. We see so many dyslexic kids giving up on school and giving up on themselves because our education system fails them.

It’s not good enough and there is no excuse for it. We must unite and it is being dyslexic that unites us.

Many thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I would appreciate your thoughts. follows, like and feedback on what I have written in this and any of my other blogs

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness from me

Steve #UniqueDyskexicMccue

Just getting it out of my head lol before I scream

 

After a day like today I could kill a pint of ice cold brown ale and bitter

Hi everyone, not a dyslexia post today. 

Just a little venting of frustration about workmen who do not show up. 

I have been caring for Anne today as she is feeling quite unwell. All i needed, on top of that, was a couple no show workmen.

Gawd, booked a guy to come to my mum in law's place to give her an estimate to fix / replace couple double glazed windows in her conservatory today. Agreed to come at 2pm I waited with her until 4pm sigh. A no show and no call to let us know he was not coming.

I had to go home at 4pm because I had a guy coming around to look at, and give us a price, to repair / replace our loo between 5pm and 6pm. After 7pm now. Another no show and no call or message to let us know he would not be cominig.

My apoligies for moaning but, hey it had to come out lol.

Get well soon Anne xxx

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

News about my dyslexia work, my old allotment and update on my mini stroke in my left eye

A hearty hello to you all out there. Hope all is well for you,

Just posting an old video from my allotment. Must be three years old or so. 

In this video I talk about progress with my old allotment. It was going well after a bit of a slow start.

There is also a little bit of news about my dyslexia work. 

As far as my recent mini stroke and loss of sight in my left eye. I will never fully regain sight in my left eye. I guess I have lost about 60% of my vision in my left eye. I managed to carry on with my dyslexia work. Things could heve been so much worse with my stroke.

But, as with all other setbacks in my life I endevour to keep positive and get on with my live.

As always I have to thank my wife, Anne, for all her support and patience. Anne is a true star as far as I am concerned.

Any who, thats if from me, #PeaceLoveGrooveyness to you all.

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

Please feel free to comment, or leave a like and share this blog

The Unique Dyslexic Get Creative movie

Unique Dyslexic Logo, designed by myself

Hello all, hope you are all well out there.

The Unique Dyslexic Get Creative movie that shows some of the work people created at the five Unique Dyslexic Get Creative workshops. There is an introduction from myself an introduction to campaign and being positive about dyslexia. Filmed, scripted, edited and music put together by myself. I had two heart attacks in the middle of delivering Unique Dyslexic Get Creative. It kinda got in the way a bit. I had planned to make a more extenisve video with more subtitles etc. But I was struggling with meeting Lottery deadlines. Thank you to everyone who funded and supported the work and to all those who came along to the workshops.

Just click on the picture to start the movie

.Hope you enjoyed the movie.

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness 

from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

Here is the 6th episode from series 1 of my Unique Dyslexic Eye podcast

 

Here is the 6th episode from series 1 of my Unique Dyslexic Eye podcast

An art installation I did a while back its about dyslexic diversity 

 Hi all hope you are all well

Here is the 6th episode from series 1 of my Unique Dyslexic Eye podcast

6th Episode of my show Unique Dyslexic Eye

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic Mccue

Welcome to episode 3 from series 3 Unique Dyslexic Eye

 

Unique Dyslexic Eye show logos

Welcome to another Unique Dyslexic Blog

Hello all, welcome to episode 3 from series 3 Unique Dyslexic Eye. In this episode I chat with Mirryn who is a dyslexic undergraduate student. She talks about her experiences as a dyslexic learner from age 5 until today.

I also bring you the news from Unique Dyslexic Eye and Dyslexia Pathways CIC.

As always please subscribe, like and share. Its totally free. If you have any questions to ask me about dyslexia and neuro diversity.

Any feedback is welcomed. Click on the link below to listed to the show:

Episode 3 from series 3 of my Unique Dyslexic Eye

Thanks for listening, your feedback is welcomed. Why not subscribe to my Unique Dyslexic Eye podcast channel.

So thats it for todays blog.

#PeaceLoveGrooveyness from me

Steve #UniqueDyslexic McCue

Running dyslexia surgeries for staff and students in colleges and universities

 

Hello all, 

Way back in 2005 when I was running the dyslexia department in a college in London. I run 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 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 fifty thousand pound grant from the Learning and Skills Council 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.

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.

Eight years later and things do not appear to have changed much.

I was talking with a degree student a while back 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 of his dyslexia. 

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. 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 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.

For every positive single article on dyslexia there and 20 or more negative ones. If we are ever to change people's attitudes and perceptions about dyslexia we need dyslexic teachers in classroom who are positive about being dyslexic and can act as role models and mentors to dyslexic children.