Dyslexia Awareness Week 2020

Molly King the TV/Radio presenter and singer in The Saturdays, launched Dyslexia Awareness Week in October 2020. She was diagnosed when she was 8 and was “lucky enough” to be given the support she needed from a young age. “Dyslexia creates many challenges and it has also had a hugely positive impact on my life”.

She is supporting The British Dyslexia Association to increase assessment, diagnosis and support in schools. Without this so many children are left to face these challenges alone. Dyslexia is often misunderstood and can go undiagnosed for many years, meaning that 80% of children leave school without a diagnosis. Between 10-15% of people are dyslexic and schools are extremely unlikely to fund dyslexia assessments. There are between 800,000 and 1.3 million young people in education with dyslexia and 6.6-9.9 million people across the UK.

Some dyslexic individuals regard their dyslexia as a gift because it gives them a different view on life and so many compensating skills. According to Baum’s study (1985) 33% of students with specific learning difficulties are gifted. There is a high incidence of entrepreneurs who are dyslexic. Therefore although we tend to concentrate on difficulties dyslexic children have in our very literate world, it is important to realise that if we can resolve some of their difficulties with literacy, we can unleash great talent!

Dyslexia is a lifelong condition although presentation changes as students mature. Pupils with dyslexia benefit from discussion of their learning profiles and have an understanding of the many people with similar challenges.

If you feel that your child may have dyslexia, why not contact Theresa to find our more about getting them assessed? Theresa works from her COVID-secure home in Bishop’s Stortford, on the Herts and Essex border and within easy reach of London, Cambridge, Kent, Beds and Bucks.