New NIACE book and training to support dyslexic adults Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 09:51

Dyslexia affects approximately 10% of the population, but many learners lack information about the support available to them at college, university or when learning at work. However, evidence suggests that appropriate and timely support can make a big difference to student success and retention.

Dyslexia and Transition: Making the Move - available from the end of July - is an accessible resource designed to help dyslexic adults and those who support them to make the transition from or to school, college, university, work-based learning. Drawing on case studies and interviews with learners, it provides clear guidance and practical tools that will empower dyslexic learners – as well as their families and other support networks - to make positive decisions about future learning.

Rachel Davies, an experienced dyslexia teacher and the book’s author, said:

"Making the move into learning, or moving from one kind of learning to another, is always a big decision. There's a lot to consider, and that's even more the case if you have dyslexia or need some kind of extra support whilst you're learning.

"I work with dyslexic students in a college and in this book I've summarised the kinds of information that my own students have found useful over the years. Just a few weeks ago I was talking to a student about how the year had gone and how he felt he had changed. I'd seen him go from a shy young man who was very reluctant to discuss his dyslexia with anyone, to a confident person who took charge of the support he was getting, what he used it for and when he wanted it. When I asked him about what had happened he said, ‘When I first got here I didn't know how it would be. Now I realise it's not like school.’ He'd discovered that as an adult you're very much the person in charge of your dyslexia support.

"Making informed choices about your learning and the support you need can be crucial to your success. I just have one plea - please don't read Dyslexia and Transition from cover to cover! It's designed to be dipped into, used when you need it, for your personal situation. Make use of it and then move on, to follow your passion; start a new career or brush up your skills - wherever learning takes you."

NIACE has also been delivering training for teachers or trainers working with dyslexic adults, the most recent of which took place yesterday. Due to popular demand, NIACE will be re-introducing these training sessions later this year, with dates published online as soon as they are confirmed.