being an entrepreneur who is dyslexic

I have just read an interesting and relevent article to all dyslexic entrepreneurs and organisations who provide support for entrepreneurs as a whole. Here is a little of what the article said:

"PrI ofessor Julie Logan’s research at the University of Bristol in 2001 reported that 1 in 5 of the UK’s entrepreneurs she surveyed was dyslexic, twice the rate expected for adults in the UK. Women’s Enterprise Scotland estimate that 60,000 women are registered as business owners in Scotland, which could equate to as many as 12,000 female dyslexic entrepreneurs, depending on how the term ‘entrepreneur’ is applied.
In 2008 Prof. Logan’s research at Cass Business School in London made business headlines when she reported that entrepreneurs with dyslexia make significantly different decisions compared to non-dyslexic entrepreneurs in two key respects: the number of businesses they choose to set up, and how many people they employ. Dyslexic entrepreneurs did significantly more of both. This means that the actions of this group are important for economic growth."

Lets just suppose there are another 12.000 male dyslexic entrepreneurs or potential entrepreneurs out there in Scotland. Yet many schools, colleges, training organisations fail to provide adequate support that will enable dyslexics so succeed. Yet many dyslexics still leave school without having their dyslexia assessed and as a result end in in low level employment, long term unemployed or worse still in our prisons. This is a waste of their lives, they become and burden on the economy and it is a waste of potential income for the scottish economy. Dyslexics have to be seen as a potential untapped resource to the socttish economy and provided with appropriate support in our schools and colleges. This support need not cost a lot of money. Indeed a few simple clicks of a mouse can enable a dyslexic to work more effectively on a computer for no cost what so ever.

I do not believe dyslexia to be a disability it is society that disables so many of us by not teaching us in ways we can access the learning in schools.

I am one of those male dyslexic entrepreneurs and before I founded Dyslexia Pathways 3 years ago I had a career as a dyslexia specialist working with adults in colleges. I have to say that when I was starting up my social enterprise Dyslexia Pathways I encountered is a total lack of dyslexia specific support for dyslexic entrepreneurs here in Fife and in Edinburgh. I went to many organisations for support and advice and not one of them any idea dyslexia and how to support a dyslexic entrepreneur. Many orgainsations I went to were more of an hinderence than a help. I did meet with some supportive individuls who were very supporting and I have to thank them for their support with my own journey to becoming an entrepreneur.

One of the aims of Dyslexia Pathways is to create a new mentoring scheme for dyslexic entrepreneurs and potentail entrepreneurs. To enable  them to unleash their potential and succeed in their chosen entrepreneurial path. Please read my blog if you would like to find out more about the work we do at Dyslexia Pathways.

a pen of thorns

Hi all hope you are all ok out there

A pen of thorns

Whenever I think about the difficulties I experienced with writing at school I am taken back to an image I used for a dyslexia project I did for my first dyslexia specialist qualification. Some of you may also remember it. It summed up dyslexia for me to a tee at that time. It was just a hand wearing an industrial glove and holding a pen covered in rose thorns. No non dyslexic will ever comprehend how the simple act of putting pen to paper can be so difficult and painful for dyslexics.

Going back to my secondary school days I can remember that I would look at others in my class writing neatly in joined up writing using their fountain pens. They left no trail of ink or blots as their hand glided over the page with all the ease of a professional skater on the ice. Their writing flowed easily across the page like water flowing down river. Sentences and paragraphs all neat and tidy, spelling all correct miraculously appeared. I couldn't get it together at all. The fountain pen felt uncomfortable in my left hand, my writing didn't flow it stuttered, I had to drag it across the page. Whilst not quite as actually prickly as the pen in the picture it metaphorically might as well have been. No sooner had I put pen to paper there would be a mess of ink trailing behind my left hand. My hand would be covered in ink as I tried hard to engage in the act of writing on a piece of paper.

Then there was my spelling to contend with. It was like trying to drive down a road full of lollypop ladies. It seemed like every third word I would have to stop and contemplate how to spell something. Every five yards I drove down this road one of lolly pop ladies one would step out and stop me. Then so sooner had she gone another would be in her place. Needless to say it took me ages to write anything and every time I handed in work a teacher would comment on my messy work. If I was lucky they wouldn't do it in front of the rest of the class. For those of you who may not know what a lollypop lady is they are people who stop traffic to let school children cross the road in safety.

By the time I was 14 years old I have had enough of school, well the learning part of it anyway. So I stopped attending. Not altogether though I would go to art and music but for me the rest of school was irrelevant. It was a lot easier to skip school back then than it is now. I had lots of inventive ways of skipping school.

Years later in my first year at university I got feedback from a lecturer for a 2000 assignment I completed. I had spent many hours handwriting this assignment and, gawd only knows, how many pieces of paper were screwed up and thrown in the bin before I had completed it. Every word was written in upper case because that’s the only way I can write legibly. I checked every word for spelling errors many times. It was like painting the Sistine Chapel for me. The first comment the lecturer wrote, in the dreaded red ink I might add, was,” doesn’t writing like this take a long time? How can you ever expect to pass an exam writing like this?” Somehow this comment took the gloss off the fact I got an A- for the assignment.

#PeaceLoveGroovyness

Steve McCue

Onwards and upwards

If you have a blog that nobody reads is that equivalent to talking to yourself?

;-)))))

Well after 9 weeks of hard work that day I have been waiting for has arrived.......yep its pay day lol. Well I hope its pay day because I have no idea if the monies I am owed for the work I have done has been actually paid into my bank account. Still fingers crossed that there are no hitches. 

This working for yourself lark is very famine or feast.....I either have more work than I can cope with or no work at all. For example I have had 10 very busy weeks to contend with but after next week I will have no paid work for about three weeks. Still it gives me a chance to recharge my batteries and develop other ideas and look for other funding opportunities. Today I am meeting with someone regarding a dyslexic community project based around culture / dyslexic culture. If I can make a good pitch and win the funding it could lead to developing new sources of income.

Onwards and upwards so they say pmsl

revision bah humbug lol

I am currently working with a lot of students revising for exams. Blimey I rememeber my own experience of exams and not much of the memories are positive. On my degree my course work grades were As and high B grades but my exams were C grades if I was lucky. I really worked hard at revision...if only I had me teaching me back then what I know today about being a dyslexic doing exam revision lol. 

I met with one student who I have worked with a couple of times before. Last time we met I had suggested she try using mind maps to help her with revising. The student came for their dyslexia support today and showed me her revision mind maps. They were a peice of art work in their own right. Great use of imigary and colour on a large peice of art paper. Fantastic stuff..........

I had another student who has only been assessed as being dyslexic a few months ago. He is still trying to come to terms with it and how it has impacted on his life in the past and today. He is one of the reasons why I feel dyslexia specialists should all be trained counsellers. He has a lot of self errected barriers to break down as well as issues with his confidence and self esteem. Had a great session with him today though.

For some time I have been thinking about writng a book on dyslexia based on my own experiences as a dyslexic trying to survive in a non dyslexic world. I have been writing bits and peices here and there but lacked focus for a book. Today I thought of a book title which, I hope, will enable me to focus on writing this book.

Tomorrow I have a meeting with a prospective funder for a project on dyslexia and culture. I am hoping to get the funding to develop a new dyslexia friendly web site that will enable dyslexics to show their art work, music, writing and photographs. I would like to have a theme of being positive about dyslexia but this is still in development. Its only a very small amount of money which will restrict what can be done but we will give it a go.

In December I am hoping to get a new director for Dyslexia Pathways. I just have to arrange a meeting and see if we can work together. If I am to take Dyslexia Pathways any further as a business I need to have others on board who have the time, expertise and committment to enable me to take Dyslexia Pathways further.

a tough few months finacially

The past 5 months have been really tough for us financially. We are still struggling after fostering the kids for 8 weeks over the summer. Not that I would have done anything different mind you. But I had to give up my work at the universities to months early and lost 8 weeks income as I became the main carer for the kids. I had to close the company down for 8 weeks essentially. When I have the time I will relate the whole story in my blog. Have to say the social services were about as much use as a chocolate watch in hell. We received no help finacially, no support with child care costs or with getting the youngest into a nursery not support of any kind what so ever.

The whole social services side of the fostering was a complete night mare. So much so I, and the family, have made an official complaint. This in itself has been hmmmmm difficult. I am lucky in some respects as I have experience of working with vulnerable kids and adults as an inclusion and dyslexia specialist teacher. I know how the system works and have reasonable good literacy skills. Well I have a masters degree and specialist teaching qualifications so my literacy skills are pretty good despite being dyslexic.

In my view the social services let down the kids, their mum and ourselves in a big way. So I feel I have no choice but to take this complaint as far as I can. My next letter goes to the head man at the council and to the first minister of Scotland

As I said I lost two months income, I didnt have any time to develop the company and my new ideas and all my savings were used. I lost training opportunities and new business opportunities.

We really enjoyed fostering the kids but its not easy caring for a 3 year old and 14 year old. It was the hardest and most challenging thing I have ever done in my life. The good news is the kids are back with their mum and all are getting the support they need from a different social work team. I have nothing but praise for all those involved in getting the kids back together with their mum. But not those initially involved with this case

The good news is I started working again in September with my company Dyslexia Pathways and on Friday I will receive the cash I earned in October. Phew it is much needed and its been a long two month hard slog to get here. The good news is we have ecceeded the targets set from last year already.

charging carers for respite and support? surely no!

An article from change org

A Scotland which devalues unpaid carers

We have been informed that very few , if any, of the proposed amendments to the Self Directed Support Bill in relation to unpaid carers have been moved for Stage 3, with the exception of at least one amendment submitted by Scottish Labour which relates to: Section 16 of the Bill would amend section 87 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (concerning local authorities’ powers to charge for services or support) and would have the effect of allowing local authorities to charge for support provided to carers under section 2 of the Bill.

This amendment has not be supported by the Government. If this amendment is not accepted it will effectively open up the possibility that local authorities can extend charges for support to thousands of unpaid carers who love and support those with a disability or long term health condition.
Carers have very few rights and, each day, we find it more difficult (due to existing charging and tightening eligibility criteria) to access the support needed to ensure that the people we love and care for can live with dignity and be fully part of our communities.

We cannot understand why this Government has chosen not to strengthen the rights of carers when Ministers consistently tell us how much our contribution is valued. By effectively extending charging for support to us, any commitment to valuing carers is demeaned.

Is this the vision for an independent Scotland - one where carers who provide some £10 billion of care and support every year - are charged when they need a bit of help, which sustains their ability to care?

We ask that this Government reconsider the amendments submitted by carers’ organisations. We believe the amendment submitted to remove the provision which extends the ability to charge, and others suggested relating to carers’ assessments and a duty to support carers will strengthen provision for Scotland's 600,000 unpaid carers, a group who save this country in excess of £10 Billion per year, a group that is growing, and may well include many of those who read this, if not now, perhaps in the future. We ask that when the debate takes place next Wednesday all MSPs will put aside party politics and vote to strengthen this Bill for unpaid carers

a polemic from ME!!!!!! lol

The condems, and Labour before them, are pushing more and more people into poverty caused by their political policies and decisions.

Banks and other organisations such as power companies have been allowed by our politicians to behave in a despicable manner. Our politicians failed to place effective controls on the banks to stop them from gambling the money away that we the public trusted them to look after.

Our politicians have failed to stop energy companies from profiteering from its customers. Our politicians have failed to stop organisations and rich individuals from evading the paying of taxes.

The decisions made by our politicians enable companies to get richer whilst the people they employ and the rest of us and this country as a whole get steadily poorer. Our politicians do not represent the disabled community, the poor or vulnerable people in our society.

We are currently being ripped of by a group of male, middled aged millionaires who are there to represent themselves and their paymasters. They fail to take any responsibility for any poor decisions they make.

These people have no morals, not one ounce of humanity between them and feel no compassion towards the people their decisions and politicies negatively affect. The sooner disable people realise this and start to become politically active the better.

We need our own political party to represent us, they can't ignore us if we are sitting in parliament face to face.