A phased return to my dyslexia work Phased? gawd lol heart attacks: after living with hypothyroid and type 2 diabeteas and dyslexia piece of cake

Me on left 6 months ago just after my heart attacks and stents. Happy to be alive and kicking but feeling weak as a kitten. On right me with one of my new t shirt designs about a month ago

I am recovering well so far taking my bob martins and going to the gym every week walking often etc. Being a very good boy lol. Difficult to escape cardiac issues when both my mum and dad had heart issues. Sure had my wild musician days but I never smoked cigarettes or eaten to much crappy food. 

Over the last few weeks I have been writing a new business plan for Dyslexia Pathways CIC phew its been hard work. Had a little support from Brag which has been fab. The first draft is nearly completed apart from one section. I hope to get this done by the end on this week. Then just the hard job of proof reading.

I decided it was time to make an application to Access to Work funding again. The last time I enquired about this with the DWP the hurdles to jump were just to big. They were more of a hinderence than a help.

This time they have been much more supporting and helpful. All the application has been done and I have had an access to work assessor come to interview me today. Now its just a question of waiting a few days. I was very stressed I have little trust in the DWP. Didn't claim any benefits because of this.

Hey hey got myself a new business mentor which is fab. Fisrt meeting with my new mentor in a couple of weeks.

Its been a while but I am slowly phasing myself back into my dyslexia Uni work. I have started my dyslexia support work again at Heriot Watt University a couple weeks ago working two days a week.

I have been editing  Dyslexia Pathways CIC web site which is nearly completed. I know its a bit basic but I have endeavoured to do what I can accessibility wise within the constrictions of Wix web sites.

What we really need is a fully accessible site. Like everything else its funding. I have completed stage one for funding through the Transform foundation. Fingers  and everything else crossed it goes well. I just want to make our site more accessible dyslexia friendly.

Dyslexia Pathways CIC web site

I have uploaded my new dyslexia and neuro diversity positive t shirt designs and bags. Thanks to the support with this from Concept Northen and Christian Boer. Please visit our shop have a browse, leave us a like or give me feedback. I have recently added some new bag designs.

Dyslexia Pathways CIC Shop

I have not done any thing about my go fund me page. Please consider backing and enable me achieve the £1000 target. I was invited to an event last night at Edinburgh University. The Fresh Sight 10 anniversary shindig. All very posh indeed. Managed to secure another backer for my #gofundme.

my cardiac arrest / dyslexia go fund me page

I have reached a third of the target so far. A huge thanks to all those who showed faith in me and backed the project. Please consider becoming a backer. Support my dyslexia work with the dyslexic community. You can back us from anywhere in the world. Got a new backer fro Edinburgh University last night.

Anyway thats enough for me for this blog many thanks for reading. Peace love and groovyness to you all.....oh yes passed the 150,000 reads on my dyslexia blog phew.

many thanks for reading your comments, feedback and questions are all welcome.

regards Steve

Dyslexic warriors: its not only about famous or rich dyslexics

one of our fab neuro diverse positive t shirts 

Hi blog readers hope you are all feeling #fab

I was sent this message through my linked in the other day. Its a little story of #dyslexic success against the odds.

We tend to see stories of famous or rich dyslexics which is cool. But I think every dyslexic's stories is important and should be given a forum. 

I asked if it would be ok to share this in one of my blogs, she agreed and here is it:

"Good afternoon Stephen,

I suffer with dyslexia and I found it hard growing up.

In primary school  both my family and the school said that i was slow and lazy that was why I couldn't read faster than others or spelt simple words incorrect.

Through out high school my teachers turned a blind I to my asks of help. I would write in the margins of by book  that I was struggling with reading and spelling.

I was prodicted E's but I put in so much effort and extra time to complete my GCSE's i came out with C's.

It wasn't till Sixth form that I got some help, the teachers where amazing and helped me with out undermining me. I finally felt I was worth it and the effort I put in to tasks wasn't in vain.

I am happy to say that I am now a business admin. Doing an apprenticeship where I am not struggling and I openly ask for help.

I have wrote this message to say thank you.
I say thank you for being brave and making people aware of dyslexia.

I hope I can be as brave as you.

Thank you again

Kindest  regards

Charlotte"

If anyone else wants to share their dyslexia journey in my blog, anonymously or not, just email it to me as steve_mccue@hotmail.com. 

You can add photos but sent a little description of the photo .

I just think Charlotte had a great positive story to share and thank he for letting me share it here.

I kept the brave bit not because I think I am brave but because I thought she herself was being brave because it couldn't have been easy to share her story with me let alone let me share it in my blog.

Dyslexia Pathways CIC online shop give us a visit

Dyslexics falling through the cracks?

Dyslexic students do not fall through the cracks. Our education system is dyslexia unfriendly. That's the issue. Parents can fight for years to get the support their children need in school. Even then they can find accessing support an uphill struggle.

Don't get me wrong here there are fab schools and teachers out there but they are few and far between.

Teachers do not receive any training in meeting the learning needs of dyslexic students on their initial teacher training courses.

The research I did showed that only 20% of assessed dyslexic adults were assessed at school. The other factor here is people will look at dyslexia in isolation from all other factors.

Factors including poverty, parental support at home, and alack of political will to really make positive change that will enable dyslexic students to succeed are just  few of additional factors needing to be considered. Just looking at dyslexia in isolation gives a very one dimensional picture.

Finally, we have to consign the medical discrepancy model of dyslexia to history.

It is a model that has nothing positive to say about dyslexia or to dyslexics. It's a model that traps dyslexics behind a negative stereo type that says we are broken in some way, we need treatment etc. It's a model that has gotten us precisely nowhere.

We have to change that narrative and that's why I support and promote the social model of dyslexia. The basic premise is it is society that disables us. For so many of us this disabling begins at our dyslexia unfriendly education system. Dyslexia is about diversity and difference not disability.

Below is a link to our little dyslexia neuro diversity positive online shop. As is often said dyslexia is a hidden disability. But I would say its about untapped abilities or hidden abilities.

If we are ever going to make positive change for all dyslexics present and future we need to build a coherent dyslexic community. A community with one positive message, one based on social model of dyslexia principles.

I realise every dyslexic is on their own journey coping and developing an understanding on how being dyslexic works for them. We all have different experiences of school etc.  

For me personally I am very open and positive about being dyslexic at every opportunity. Some dyslexics don't even talk about it to their friends. I totally understand why that is.

Anyway before I make this into another mega blog sheesh. The idea behind the shop and positive logos is to enable us to advocate for a more positive profile of dyslexia. Enable dyslexics to get together and share experiences and offer each other support. To start building a coherent dyslexic community. To make the invisible dyslexic visible. We can be ignored when we are visible not so easy to do that if we can be seen.

Yes I am probably just nuts but that's just par for my course lol

Peace love and groovyness to all you fab dyslexic out there.....

PS: My application for a new business mentor with the Cranfield Trust was successful which is fab.

Dyslexia Pathways CIC online shop

#Dyslexic #diversity is #fab

#Dyslexia a difference that reflects #diversity #vivaladifference

We must change the negative narrative around dyslexia to change what is a dyslexia unfriendly society. This cannot be achieved in one week or month in every year and it cannot be achieved unless we come together as a global social movement / community.

I assessed a Lord Mayor of Lambeth who was in his 60s. He was a fab team leader had fab empathy, high emotional intelligence and knew how to delegate and communicate and was a fab problem solver. He was also dyslexic and working in the political arena for over 30 years. 

Dyslexia gives so many advantages but for many of us our education systems still fail us. Many of us never realise those advantages. This is because so many of us never get a dyslexia assessment or any dyslexia support. 

Society disables dyslexics and this disabling begins in schools that still fails to teach far too many of us in ways we can learn and taught by teachers not trained to teach us within inclusive learning environment. 



There are some fab schools and brilliant teachers doing great work out there but we in the dyslexia world need many more of both.

We are still using a medical discrepancy model of dyslexia that tells us our brains are broken and do not work normally. What ever normally means?

This is a fallacy we are not broken or disabled we are different. #Dyslexia is a difference that reflects #diversity ‪#‎uniquedyslexic‬ ‪#‎vivaladifference‬. 

Our education systems need to enable us to learn and enable dyslexics to embrace their dyslexia. 

Yes dyslexics do need support in schools colleges, university and in the workplace but not because we are disabled. We need the support because we are dyslexic and our education system is dyslexia unfriendly. There is a difference. In a neuro diverse society we need to enable all to succeed according to their abilities and skills. 

The old medical discrepancy model of dyslexia has gotten us precisely nowhere. We dyslexics need to change this ourselves. We at Dyslexia Pathways CIC support and promote the social model of dyslexia and social enterprise.

neuro diversity is as important as biodiversity different minds = different and innovative solutions

It is often said that dyslexia is a hidden disability we say its about hidden and untapped potential simply because our education system in #dyslexia unfriendly and as a  result fails us.

During our Unique Dyslexic Get Creative Campaign a number of people said this was the first time they had knowingly spoken to another dyslexic about being dyslexic and shared their experiences of being dyslexic to others.

If we are going to change this and create a community we need to be visible. We have added three new dyslexia and neuro difference shoulder bags to our shop. Just follow the links give us a like or better still buy a bag for dyslexia month.

Dyslexia Pathways CIC is a not for profit social enterprise

A huge KUDOS to every dyslexic warrior and hero out there. Yes being dyslexic or the parents of a dyslexic can be an isolating experience. But remember:

#PeaceLoveGroovyness to you all

regards

Steve McCue

Why the dyslexic conundrum? enabling dyslexics to succeed aint rocket science is IT?

I 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:

"Professor 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. 

The social model of dyslexia tells us it is society that disables dyslexics.

Statistics say that between 30% to 50% of people in our prisons are dyslexic. Each one costs us around £35,000 a year to keep there. Wouldn't it be more prudent to provide dyslexia support at school for a small cost or maybe £2000 per student as a preventative spend measure and enable dyslexics to succeed in education.

Statistics tell us a dyslexic is 6 times more likely to be long term unemployed than non dyslexics. This again is because our education system fails dyslexics. Dyslexics succeed in all areas of society but we have to work so much harder and overcome more societal barrier to do so. 

I think I read recently than 90% of successful dyslexics say they are successful because they are dyslexic. They are doing it not because if their education but in spite of it.

Current research indicates around 35% of entrepreneurs are dyslexic. If we were to provide the support at school we could have 45% of entrepreneurs being dyslexic?

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. Our society is going out of its way to fail dyslexic children.

I am one of those male dyslexic entrepreneurs and before I founded Dyslexia Pathways CIC 8 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 CIC 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. However, in the 8 years I have been a social entrepreneur I have yet to find any dyslexia specific support I, and other dyslexic entrepreneurs need.

One of the aims of Dyslexia Pathways CIC 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.

many thanks for reading

peace love and groovyness to all

Scenius a new word for me

Dyslexic participants from Unique Dyslexic Fused Glass workshop receiving their certificates

Hello there blog readers hope you are all well
Came across a new word from a Brian Eno  lecture, Scenius = creative intelligence of a community. We often talk about the genius of an individual but what about the genius of a community and what a community can achieve together.

It struck me that if we are ever to move forward and develop a strong #dyslexic community we need to come together and combine our creative intelligence or dyslexic Scenius to overcome the barriers that the non dyslexic community places in front of us.

For me I see the biggest barrier as the idea that dyslexia is a disability that we are in some way less of a person than non dyslexics.

This is a result of the medical discrepancy model of dyslexia that society has been imposed on by a non dyslexic society and defined us with.

We have to discard this medical discrepancy model of dyslexia and consign it to history. This is because this model has got nothing positive to say to dyslexics or about dyslexia.

That's why I talk, write, scream from the rafters etc about the social model of dyslexia. This is because it talks about dyslexia in terms of diversity that we don't have disabled minds just different ones. It is not being dyslexic that disables it is society. For so many of dyslexics this disabling begins at school. More importantly the social model of dyslexia was developed by dyslexics for dyslexics. It is our model our solution to the issues we face on a daily basis. 

Many thanks for reading and your feedback is important so please respond if you have something to say.

Creative + intuitive + empathic + lateral + inventive + entrepreneurial + determined + imaginative + inquisitive + unique = dyslexic

Hello there blog readers hope you are all feeling fab

We dyslexics need support in education not because we are disabled but because our education system from primary to higher is a dyslexia unfriendly place to be. 

University Students in the UK can apply for Disabled Students allowance for example. This can be used to buy assistive technology and dyslexia support. This means we have to declare ourselves as disabled and that the issue is with us. This, unsurprisingly, forgets,how dyslexia unfriendly our education system can be for dyslexics. This issue in education is not with we dyslexics but with our education system that fails to meet our learning needs.

Parents can apply for support for their dyslexic children at school. But how many parents have to fight long and hard to get the support their child needs before they get it?

I did a little research on when and where dyslexics are getting a dyslexia assessment and it showed that only around 20% of adults were actually assessed at school. The vast majority were assessed as students at college or university. This means there must be many, many dyslexics out there who never find out they are dyslexic. This cannot be right surely?

Next year will be my 20th year anniversary as a dyslexia specialist and 23rd as an inclusion specialist. I have no idea at all how many dyslexic students I have supported or people I have supported in the workplace etc. 

All I will say is almost everything I learned and understand about dyslexia came from the students I have had the pleasure to work with. 

It wasn't work really it was total enjoyment. Here is a little feedback given to me by students:

Ally wrote:

"Stephen is extremely helpful, supporting and friendly. Over the past few months he has helped me to overcome issues which I have encountered whilst at University. I now feel able to approach my final year with confidence".

Sarah said: 

“I had one to one support with Steve from Dyslexia Pathways who was great. We worked on different techniques together such as how to effectively read and ways to develop my memory skills. This time last year I was in a mess due to stress and anxiety due to dyslexia and coping with university life. I didn’t feel able to cope. I know now that I have the ability to excel in university".

Colin said:

"The support and guidance that Steve from Dyslexia Pathways has provided has allowed me to focus my attention on strategies that enable me to overcome my dyslexia using my personal strengths."

 Margaret said:

"The dyslexia support that Steve from Dyslexia Pathways gave me increased my confidence in my own abilities and enhanced my self esteem."

 Emma said:

"For the first time I have completed a piece of work with time to spare to review it. Felt this was because I was taught how to structure time and to complete small tasks each week."

Gary Said:

"Last year before I started working with Steve from Dyslexia Pathways, I failed my course and exams. This meant I had to take my first year at university again. After receiving support from Steve, I managed to pass my exam and course work and move into my second year."

Snippets of other feedback

"Stephen, the dyslexia specialist, may seem to you to be an average person at first. But after five minutes of talking with him I realised he was not. His ability to talk with me about my particular dyslexia issues and enable me to overcome them was phenomenal."

"Dyslexia Support has helped me to progress. I feel more confident going into my exams using plans and mind map study skills. It has made me realise the importance of the little things I needed to do to be able to do my best."

"Confidence in my own abilities has increased and I have a clearer view on how to structure essays. Self esteem has greatly improved as has my confidence."

"I know where I am going and feel much more confident in my studies."

Some of you may know that about 10 weeks ago I experienced two heart attacks and had to have two stents fitted. The heart attacks impacted on my eye sight and blood sugars also. 

I am happy to say I am on the road to recovery and starting to get my head back into work mode again. 

My blood sugars are back under control again and I have my eye sight back. it has been difficult times but I have come through it with the help of my family and friends.

The Future

I have set up a gofundme page to raise funds to help keep my social enterprise going while I am recovering. To help pay for my websites and keep my organisation running.

I will be starting my dyslexia university work in October and running more training sessions etc.

I have uploaded new dyslexia and neurodifference logo designs to our on line shop and I am in the middle of writing a new business plan.


Please consider contributing to my gofundme and share it on your social media.

https://www.gofundme.com/DyslexiaPathwaysCIC

Many thanks for reading and to all those who have contributed and shared my go fund me

peace love and groovyness to all

Steve