Claymation interviews

Have a look at this short animated, claymation film which features interviews with some very famous (and entertaining) characters!  It was produced by art students in Sydney with the support of Marianne Mullally, a Davis facilitator. I love it and the music!

Dyslexia.wmv: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSQI46ezQ8U

Government petition

The British Dyslexia Association has launched a petition to the government requesting that sufficient dyslexia training be provided as part of Initial Teacher Training.

It needs 100,000 signatures to trigger a debate in Parliament. If you agree with the petition would you please sign it, and even more importantly, pass on this request and link to everyone you know or meet who might be willing to do the same.

Here is a link to the petition.

‘Dyslexia Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me’

Donna Flagg, author of Surviving Dreaded Conversations, has written a moving account of her experiences at school and how her success (she now owns and runs two businesses) ‘is directly tied to my ostensible failures of the past, not because of the scars, but because of what I had to learn in order to survive a system that did not recognize me as a legitimate member’.

You can read the full article here.

Inventors, Writers and Art Competition

The British Dyslexia Association is holding an Inventors, Writers and Art Competition. The awards ceremony will be during Dyslexia Awareness Week (31st October to 6th November 2011).

There are three separate sections:

Art Competition  The submission can be a drawing, sculpture, collage or photography. There are three age-based categories so anyone aged 3 to adult can enter.

Inventors Competition The B.D.A. invites dyslexics of all ages to submit ideas for a piece of technology based equipment, which does not currently exist, but which could provide substantial benefits to dyslexic people.

Writers Competition  This competition is for a fictional short story or poem (no more than 500 words in length).

Each section has three age-based categories so anyone aged 3 to adult can enter.

All submissions need to be received by the BDA by 30th September. Click on any of the competition links (above) for further details.

SuperReading

I have finished the SuperReading course. It ran over 10 weeks and guaranted to double my reading efficiency, a calculated relationship between speed and calculation. However, it requires you to practice the techniques for 40 minutes each day which is a considerable commitment.  The final results for the dyslexics in my group rose from being better than 27% of the non-dyslexic population to better than 91%!

 The ongoing course results are being monitored by Dr Ross Cooper who had described them as ‘extraordinary’.  If you would like to do a SuperReading course, it is now covered by the DSA. I am in the process of becoming a SuperReading coach so please contact me if you or your college are interested in setting up a course.

Post Graduate Diploma in Adult Dyslexia Diagnosis and Support

I was pleased to hear that I have been awarded my Pg Diploma in Adult Dyslexia Diagnosis and Support. I have thoroughly enjoyed studying this section and hope to be able to progress to the MA.  However, with the LLU+ unit closing because of the cutbacks, I will need to wait until the next academic year to see where I can continue my studies.

World Book Night

I took part in World Book Night yesterday and gave away 48 copies of The Reluctant Fundamentalist.  I was just one of  20,000 people giving away a total of 1 million books. I gave mine to taxi drivers, shop assistants and the people sitting outside at the pub and they, in turn, must pass their copy on when they have read it. Each book’s journey can be traced on www.bookcrossing.com through its unique number.  It was surprisingly hard to find 48 people who wanted a free book, almost a third of the people said that they did not read books.

Let’s hope this event becomes an annual event and more people discover the joy of reading.

National Dyscalculia Day

The 3rd of March is national dyslcalculia day. It is estimated that between 3 and 6% of the population are dyscalculic. Dyscalculics don’t just have problems with maths but also struggle with areas which substantially affect the quality of their every day lives. However, most people don’t know that it exists and so very few people are getting the help they need. The Davis Math Mastery Programme address the main symptoms of dyscalculia and help re-build confidence.

BDA Accredited Workplace Assessor

I have just heard that I have been accredited by the British Dyslexia Association as a workplace assessor.  This programme included: 

  • an awareness of the 7 Specific Learning Difficulties and how these can manifest themselves in adults, understand the issues of comorbidity and be aware of latest research.
  • information on current strategies and coping mechanisms, including both organisational and behavioural strategies as well as assistive technology solutions.
  • current methods for screening and psychological assessment.
  • information on new case law and relevant legislation
  • a code of conduct

Dyslexia Awareness Week 2010

Dyslexia Awareness Week in 1 – 7 November 2010. This year, the theme is ‘hidden dyslexia’.

It is particularly appropriate to focus on this theme against the recent changes to the Equalities Act which came into force on 1 October.  Whilst some areas remained unchanged others have been broadened and there are also some new characteristics which were not included in existing legislation. ACAS have a clear overview on their website.

Further details of how the changes may affect employers with regard to employees with dyslexia are on my webpage Equality Act 2010 and dyslexia