School Council

How many faces do you recognise here?

Alexander Graham Bell (1847 – 1922) - was a Scottish-born scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone. He also had dyslexia.

I have Dyslexia – What does it mean I have Dyslexia – What does it mean? ‘Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that affects the skills involved in reading and spelling.   Myth – Reversing letters is a sure sign of having dyslexia. Fact – Many children reverse letters b, d, p & q when learning to write. Myth – Dyslexia only effects boys. Fact – both male and females can have dyslexia. Myth – You can’t be smart if you have dyslexia. Fact – Some of the brightest boys and girls can struggle to read. Dyslexia occurs at all levels of intelligence. Myth – Dyslexia is a disease. Fact – Given the right kind of teaching and resources, dyslexics can read and spell as well as anyone else.

Famous people with Dyslexia

Albert Einstein (1879 –1955) - was a German-born physicist and mathematician and developed the general theory of relativity. He had a learning disability and did not speak until age 3. He had a very difficult time doing Maths in school. It was also very hard for him to express himself through writing. It is suggested that he could have been Autistic.

Autism – The facts Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects the way a person communicates and how they experience the world around them. Autism is described as a spectrum condition. This means that while people with autism, including Asperger’s Syndrome, share certain characteristics, they will be highly individual in their needs and preferences. Autism now affects about one in 100 children. There are around 100,000 children with autism in the UK, with around half a million family members directly affected by the condition.

Myth V Fact Myth - People will autism have no emotion. Fact - Autistic individuals experience all emotions., however they may display them differently. Myth – Autism is a rare developmental disorder. Fact – Autism is the 3rd most common developmental disorder. Myth – Autistic individuals do not a sense of humour Fact – Autistic people often have a wonderful sense of humour. Myth – People can grow out of Autism. Fact - People do not grow out of autism, with early intervention and support progress can be made. Myth – Everyone with autism behaves the same. Fact – People on the autism spectrum are individuals with unique strengths and needs.

Famous people with Autistic traits

ADHD – Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Myth – ADHD is not a medical disorder just an excuse for poor behaviour. Fact – ADHD is a genetic disorder, a person with it does not choose to misbehave. The key symptoms are seen as undesirable traits such as; inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Myth – People with ADHD are lazy and not very clever. Fact – ADHD has nothing to do with a persons intellectual ability. Some highly intelligent people have ADHD. As before…

Famous people with ADHD

Stevie Wonder –is an American musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He has become one of the most creative and loved musical performers of the late 20th century. He was born six weeks premature, resulting in him becoming blind. 285 million people are estimated to be visually impaired worldwide: 39 million are blind and 246 have low vision.

Beethoven (1770-1827) –was a German composer and pianist Beethoven (1770-1827) –was a German composer and pianist. He remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. In about 1800 his hearing began to deteriorate, and by the last decade of his life he was almost totally deaf. He gave up conducting and performing in public but continued to compose; many of his most admired works come from this period. It is estimated that 1 in 6 people in the UK have some degree of hearing impairment or deafness.

A disability is defined when a person has difficulty with: Ellie Simmonds - is a British Paralympic swimmer . She competed in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, winning two gold medals for Great Britain, despite being the youngest member of the team, at the age of 13. In 2012 she was again selected for the Great Britain squad, and won another two golds in London, including setting a World Record in the 400m freestyle. A disability is defined when a person has difficulty with: Normal human functions like seeing, hearing, speaking, or walking. Daily functions like bathing, eating, or driving. Expanded activities like schoolwork, chores, or having a job.

Stephen Hawking - is an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge. Hawking has a motor neuron disease, a condition that has progressed over the years. He is almost entirely paralysed and communicates through a speech generating device.

These are well known people who have, or had disabilities or special education needs, who have made a significant difference to the world in some way.

Some disabilities we can see…some are invisible.

That’s almost 2 out of every 30 of you in this room. There are millions of people worldwide famous or not who live with disabilities. Around 6% are under the age of 18. Okay, so 6% may not sound like a lot but when there are a total of 11 million people in Great Britain with a limiting long term illness, impairment or disability, we’re talking approximately 660, 000 young people. That’s almost 2 out of every 30 of you in this room.

Research shows that disabled children are 3 times more likely to be bullied than their peers. A recent survey discovered that 8 out of 10 children with a learning disability have been bullied. 8/10 I haven’t got any friends. At playtime I just walk round the playground on my own. I would give the other children anything if they would be my friends. Kuldip My friends make me give them sweets. They say they won’t be my friends if I don’t. But they never give me anything. Mary The other girls hid my coat so I couldn’t find it at home time. They laughed when I started to cry. Marsha

This may be due to many reasons, such as: • They may be seen as ‘different’ • They may be more isolated due to their disability. • They may have difficulties telling people about bullying. • They may find it harder to make friends.

What can you do to help? Hopefully by now you will recognise some of the positive contributions people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) have made and continue to make to our society. Let’s face it – who isn’t different in some way? Look at the person next to you…are you exactly the same as each other. Difference should be celebrated! Don’t be a bystander. If you see someone being bullied or treated unkindly, whether they have a disability or not, TELL SOMEONE!

Be a friend. If someone is struggling to join in or seems isolated, try and include them. If you know or suspect someone is being bullied but may have difficulty telling someone, offer them support to do so or be the one to tell an adult in school or at home. Talk to the ‘Calming Crusaders’, they will be in the Rainbow room on Monday and Wednesday lunch times. If you feel unable to talk with someone, write your worries down in the worry box opposite the office.

School Councillors have created a child friendly Anti Bullying policy School Councillors have created a child friendly Anti Bullying policy. Ask your teacher if you can look at it on the schools webpage. www.sjst.co.uk

Remember…2 out of every 30 young people will have a disability or special educational need. Young people who are disabled are 3 times more likely to be bullied than their peers. Do something positive and…