Dyslexia Awareness Week Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - 12:10

It is thought that 10% of the population is affected by dyslexia and this year's Dyslexia Awareness Week (1 - 7 November) is celebrating the strengths of dyslexic people - their creativity, problem-solving skills and ability to think in a visual way.

These strengths are also highlighted through much of NIACE's work and especially through the extraordinary achievements of Adult Learners' Week winners:

Barrie Hughes had worked for the parks department in Brighton and Hove for 14 years before admitting that he couldn't read and write. At the age of 58 he decided to seek some help and it was then that he was diagnosed as severely dyslexic.

He began with one-to-one literacy classes and since then, Barrie has become a Union Learning Rep and is working with the GMB Union and City Services to open a learning centre where he works.

Barrie said:

"I love being able to write poetry and to read things. At work I have even drawn up some plans for developing the seafront. I would not have had the confidence or ability to do this before I started learning again."

Susan Browne left school with low self-confidence and thought it was her fault she found learning hard - it wasn't until her mid thirties that her dyslexia was diagnosed. Aged 32 she decided to return to academic learning to help her daughter with homework and in just 10 years has progressed to a postgraduate MSc in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of East London.

Her achievements are all the more remarkable, because Susan comes from a disadvantaged area which has one of the lowest rates of progression into higher education in the country. She has also battled depression, is a single parent and is a full-time carer for an 87-year old woman.

Susan said:

"I never imagined that I would have got this far with my education. It has been very hard, but it has made me very strong and very proud. It has given me great riches and set me free from very, very low self-esteem."

...dyslexia need not stop you from succeeding in life. In fact, in can be a basis for an academic career, success at work, and community leadership.

Rachel Davies, NIACE Programme Director

Robert Turner was good at hiding his dyslexia at work. Afraid to pick up a pen, he would remember messages and pass them on over the phone to his colleagues. However, he always knew that he was being held back in his career at Birmingham International Airport by his reluctance to face up to his difficulties.

Finally Robert became sick of missing the opportunities and since joining a literacy course at the airport, he was has been promoted to terminal assistant and has completed an NVQ level 2 in customer service.

Robert said:

"I would not be in the job I am now had I not decided to return to learning and the NVQ level 3 will test all the knowledge and skills I have gained through my learning experience."

Sandra Huggett is only now on her way to becoming a beauty therapist, despite always wanting to be one. She was brought up in a children's home, labelled as ‘thick' at school and left unable to read or write. It was only at Bexley College that she was diagnosed as dyslexic.

She is now improving her literacy skills alongside studying an NVQ Level 2 in Beauty Therapy and as an added boost, Sandra has been able to work with her niece and nephew who have both been diagnosed with dyslexia.

Sandra said:

"I found it very hard in my first year but after doing dyslexia classes [they] have made me feel I can do anything now. It is as if I am a flower and I've had water - it's made me open up and bloom for the first time."

Rachel Davies, NIACE Programme Director, said:

"Research by the British Dyslexia Association suggests that dyslexia is a very common learning difference, thought to affect 10% of the population, 4% of which are severely affected. Dyslexia is often thought of as a series of difficulties - with spelling, reading, writing and memory - but many people with dyslexia associate it with strengths and talents like creativity, problem solving, thinking visually and thinking ‘outside the box'."

"The stories of Barrie, Susan, Robert and Sandra are all fantastic examples of how, with the right support, dyslexia need not stop you from succeeding in life. In fact, in can be a basis for an academic career, success at work, and community leadership."