Paul Ross asked the question in his blog. How far has dyslexia come since the 1970s? This was my response. What would yours be?

 

Dyslexia and Isolation Project Plan

Hi blog readers, friends and social media followers

We still do not have an agreed single definition for dyslexia. There is to much focus on the medical model, our dyslexic brain is broken, we need to be cured and remediated deficit model of dyslexia. Still to many dyslexic kids are being let down by an education system that fails to teach them In ways they can access the learning that takes place in schools. There are still too many dyslexics in our prisons because they have been failed by the education system. There is still to much misinformation and too many incorrect myths surrounding dyslexia. In most schools all dyslexics kids learn to be are failures.

I am dyslexic and a dyslexia specialist.....I believe that dyslexia is not a disability that it is a difference and that it is society that disables us. I believe in the social model of dyslexia. Dyslexia is a result of our evolution and as such reflects human diversity. Thus dyslexia is a difference not a disability. That all kids in school have the right to be learn and achieve according to their potential. This disabling begins in school where we are not taught in ways we can access the learning effectively. Of course there are some great dyslexia friendly schools, colleges and universities out there but they are far and few between.

Yes we have accessible technology that some dyslexics can use to enable them to overcome literacy barriers. But they are not a panacea and do not work for everyone. More to the point the high cost of this software makes it inaccessible in terms of cost for many dyslexics.

Yes dyslexia has a little higher profile now but in the main its a quite negative profile that focusses on what we do struggle to do. But we are just like everyone else out there in the non dyslexic world. We do struggle with some things but we can excel in others. Dyslexia is a difference not a disability and its a difference that needs to be embraced, nurtured and encouraged from day one in school.

Many thanks for reading, why not join my Unique Dyslexic Eye Clan, please follow. like, subscribe or share.

Peace Love Groovyness to you all #PeaceLoveGroovyness

Steve McCue I am dyslexic and have been a dyslexia and inclusion specialist for over 26 years,

How did you feel after you were assessed as dyslexic?

 

One of my dyslexia project ideas

Hi all hope you are well

This post turned up on a thread on Facebook:

It's weird before I was Diagnosed I would apply for any job I had many started in retail hated it did m and s that was ok I worked in banking I loved it I then did underwriting then decided to do a business course hated it found out I was Dyslexic since then it has stopped me now any job I apply for I think about reading would I be able to whereas before It never bothered me

This was my answer to that post:

I can really empathize with what you are saying Rose. I do believe the way society talks about dyslexia disables us. We get assessed and the report talks about dyslexia in terms of deficits, disorder and discrepancy. I remember doing my own assessment thinking I am doing all these tests I already know I am going to be crap at and then the ed psych said yes you are bad at this you are dyslexic. No mention was ever made about the positives of being dyslexic. No mentioned was ever made about the impact of my failure to achieve at school had on my self confidence, self esteem and mental health. The support I got from university just focussed on the academic not on the whole of me as a dyslexic. We are the lucky ones we mat have been assessed as adults but at least we have an assessment. My research showed on 19% of dyslexic adults were assessed while they were at school. We don't fail because we are dyslexic we fail because our education system and society fails us. Around 90% of successful dyslexics say they were dyslexic in spite of there education not because of it. So many of us become self fulfilling prophecies. Where about in the world are you Rose? Physically reading from a book turning the pages is not the only way to access books. Its only one way. There are audio books text to speech software that can do the reading for you. I have been a dyslexic dyslexia and inclusion specialist for over 26 years. Being dyslexic is the main reason I have had a successful career. My dyslexic emotional intelligence and empathy are just two positives that come with being dyslexic. Like 36% of entrepreneurs I am dyslexic. Dyslexics are unique problem solvers, we are big picture thinkers. I know its been tough Rose but never give up on yourself never underestimate dyslexic determination.

So my question to you is: How did you feel after you were assessed? What thoughts went through your mind when you found out you were dyslexic?

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

Steve Mccue (dyslexic dyslexia and inclusion specialist for over 26 years)

Dyslexia is a life experience, not a life sentence

Unique Dyslexic logo

Hi everyone,

I see a lots of information on social media informing us in the dyslexic community that dyslexia is a gift.

The majority of dyslexics, of those who have actually received an assessment, do not see dyslexia as a gift. Only around 19% of adult dyslexics were assessed while they were at school. This does not reflect how most dyslexics experience being dyslexic. Life for dyslexic kids, both assessed and unassessed can be very difficult and their parents.

How can we change this?

From an inclusion perspective we can look at models of dyslexia to help us understand what the barriers are and how we can overcome them.

The medical model of dyslexia tell us its about deficit, disorder, and discrepancy. Blimey that is a great definition for being dyslexic. Is it any wonder so many of us struggle with low self esteem, self confidence and even long term mental health issues.

Its not surprising so many of us feel like an enigma to ourselves. A student once said to me, nobody likes to think they have something wrong with them especially something wrong with their brain. But that's what the medical model of dyslexia tells us. Once I got told that I gave up on school.

Medical model language does far more harm than good. It offers dyslexics no hope, it places the perceived failure of dyslexics to achieve academically on dyslexic kids and on the parents of dyslexic kids. We know our education system is not fit for purpose for dyslexic, neuro diverse and disabled kids.

Is it any wonder so many just give up at school? Its no wonder so many dyslexic kids don't achieve at school or just give up on school?

That's why I believe we need to change the way we talk about dyslexia we need a different more positive vision. That's why I and my social enterprise supports and promote the social model of dyslexia. The social model says its about diversity and difference. That we don't have broken minds we have different ones. The social model of dyslexia and social enterprise offers the dyslexic community and much more positive, inclusive and empowering vision. One that recognises the roll society playing in disabling us.

This one fact alone shows how society disables. Only 19% of dyslexic adults were assessed at school.

Far to many dyslexic kids have poor self esteem and a lack of self confidence or mental health issues because of their experiences of school. We have to change how we think and talk about dyslexia or we will continue to allow our dyslexia unfriendly education system to damage our dyslexic children.

What needs to be done? We need more teachers trained to work with dyslexic kids. We need to give teachers the time the need to develop a more dyslexia inclusive curriculum. We need to give dyslexic kids access to dyslexia friendly learning materials.

Dyslexia is a life experience and it can be fab, but what we do at school is turn dyslexia into a life sentence.

Dyslexia is about diversity and difference not about discrepancy, disorder and deficits.

What do you think about this blog?

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all and thanks for reading

Steve McCue I am a dyslexic and have been a dyslexia and inclusion specialist for over 26 years

Dyslexia Pathways CIC wins Award who'da thought it lol

Prestige Awards Logo

Hi every one hope all is well with you all

My organisation, Dyslexia Pathways CIC has won a Scotland Prestige Award for the work we do.

We were nominated and we won blimey. Below is a copy of the communication informing me that we had won the award:

"As explained, we had considered Dyslexia Pathways CIC in this year’s Scotland Prestige series for the category, Dyslexia Support Service of the Year and you will be our 2021/22 winner. Congratulations again Steve. I do hope the recognition will be helpful. I have attached a prepared logo which supports the award."

The Prestige Awards recognise small and medium-sized businesses that are best in their market over the past year.

Corporate Livewire contacted me and said there’d been an anonymous nomination.

“They asked me about what we at Dyslexia Pathways CIC does and they researched us online. 

To be honest I thought it was a scam and completely forgot about it all. Then about 3 weeks ago week they got in touch to say congratulations, I’ve won the award for the best dyslexia support service in Scotland. 

I have not mentioned this until now because I still believed it to be a scam. But I researched this and discovered it was not a scam.

They take into consideration all the reviews, achievements and our social enterprise work.

Nominations for Prestige Awards can come from self-submissions, colleagues, clients or customers.

Judges look for strengths in areas such as excellent service, innovation, ethical ways of working, and consistent performance.

We have been are invited to celebrate this achievement and pick up our award on the 3rd September at the Norton House Hotel & Spa, Ingliston, Newbridge EH28 8LX.

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

Steve McCue

Defining dyslexia: its our choice not societies

Unique Dyslexic Logo

Hi everyone hope you are all well

The medical model of dyslexia says dyslexia is about discrepancy, disorder and deficits.

Social model of dyslexia says its about diversity and difference. As a dyslexic I choose diversity and difference every time.

Which do you choose?

E mail me with your comments: steve.mccue@uniquedyslexic.com

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

Steve McCue

Dyslexia: disability or difference

 

My social enterprises logo Dyslexia Pathways Community Interest Company

Hi everyone hope all is well with you all

Fresh Sight are a, Edinburgh University student lead business consultancy group who work for charities and social enterprises. 5 years ago my organisation, Dyslexia Pathways CIC, commissioned them to do 8 week project with my social enterprise Dyslexia Pathways CIC.

They were helping us with research and feasibility study for our new dyslexia and neuro difference hub we plan to open in Fife. They did a fab job for us. If you are charity or social enterprise and interested in getting some business support Fresh Sight are fab.

Just click on the link below:

Dyslexia research video for Dyslexia Pathways CIC

How would you answer the question Dyslexia: Disability or Difference? 

Please send your answer to me steve_mccue@hotmail.com I will write a follow up blog from your questions and answers. I will not mention your name in that blog.

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

Steve McCue

Dyslexia Pathways CIC and Unique Dyslexic Eye News and Shout Out

 

Unique Dyslexic Eye Peace, Love, Groovyness logo

Hi and welcome to you all to my next dyslexia / neuro diversity blog

Well that's all my university dyslexia and neuro diversity support work done for this academic year. What with students exams, assignments and dissertations the past month has been a challenge for them and for myself. 

June this year will be my 26th year as a dyslexia and inclusion specialist and its been a privilege working with every student. I learned so much from them all fab fab fab. I will also be celebrating 13 years working with my social enterprise Dyslexia Pathways CIC and around 6 years with our Unique Dyslexic Campaign.

I have had a wee break from recording Unique Dyslexic Eye show but I will be recording our next series of the Unique Dyslexic Eye show over the next few weeks. I plan to try and include more interviews in this series. Once I can work out how to do it lol. 

Right now if you are dyslexic or from any other neuro diverse community and have something to share with my audience about dyslexia and neuro diversity please contact me on steve_mccue@hotmail,.com. Lets get you one the show.

If you have a question you would like to ask me about my life as a dyslexic and dyslexia and inclusion specialist ask away.

We also play music recorded by dyslexic and neuro diverse musicians and poets so if you are a song writer or poet please lets get together and on my show. Ideally recordings should be MP3. I use an app called Smart Recorder when I am doing dyslexia blog at my allotment. 

Here is a link to my first ever Unique Dyslexic Eye show to give you an idea about what we do. 

Below is a link to my podcast show page just click on it.

Unique Dyslexic Eye show

Would be fab if you could leave it a like, give it a share or subscribe to the channel itself please. Your comments are also very welcome. 

Thanks for reading again please leave a like, comment and subscribe to my blog. We are fast approaching 300.000 reads.

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

Steve McCue