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 We have to move away from an old outdated medical model of dyslexia that basically tells us our brains do not work correctly.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