Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland Dyslexia Raising awareness

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland Learning outcomes By the end of the training session, you will have an awareness of: the characteristics of dyslexia how features of dyslexia may be displayed in the workplace/education setting

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland the support available to individuals who show signs of dyslexia and how to access this support methods that will assist individuals in the immediate learning or workplace context relevant statutory responsibilities in relation to dyslexia.

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland What is dyslexia?

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland What Is dyslexia? Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which affects 10% of the population and is most commonly characterised by difficulties with the acquisition of reading, spelling and writing skills. Frequently, mathematics and aspects of spoken language are affected. Dyslexic people often suffer from auditory processing difficulties, poor organisational skills, poor physical co-ordination and directional confusion. The majority of dyslexic people have poor short-term memory that causes an inability to retain sequences of numbers and words, and instructions to carry out simple tasks. Except for the common difficulty with written language no two dyslexic people exhibit the same range of associated characteristics. Dyslexia affects people across the whole spectrum of ethnicity, socio-economic status and intellectual ability.“ (Dyslexia Scotland 2004)

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Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland Dyslexia is not... due to low intelligence the result of an emotional or psychological condition an excuse to get preferential treatment in education or employment an insurmountable barrier to success.

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland An individual with dyslexia may... be a poor or hesitant reader have difficulty understanding written text have difficulty with organising tasks and written work have poor handwriting skills

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland What is Dyslexia? An individual with dyslexia may... have poor spelling difficulty remembering oral instructions difficulty with time management have difficulties expressing ideas clearly in speech or written work have poor directional skills have family members with similar difficulties lack self confidence

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland An adult with dyslexia may have.. good intuitive thinking and problem solving skills good innovative and lateral- thinking skills good empathetic/people skills strong creative talents strong determination to succeed

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland How can we help?

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland How can we help? Confirm dyslexia or otherwise Ask the individual what would help them Adjustments should be appropriate for the individual Adjustments need not be complicated or expensive

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland Adjustments in the workplace may include... use of prompt sheets use of assistive technology such as screen readers or speech-to-text software use of templates for reports or electronic versions of forms.

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland Adjustments in a learning environment may include... recorded lectures providing handouts/lecture notes in electronic format using different fonts/paper colour using different methods to assess knowledge

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland Why do we need to know about dyslexia ?

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland Why do we need to know about dyslexia ? The Equality Act 2010 brings together all current discrimination legislation to: eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic.

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland 1.Removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people due to their protected characteristics. 2.Taking steps to meet the needs of people from protected groups where these are different from the needs of other people. 3.Encouraging people from protected groups to participate in public life or in other activities where their participation is disproportionately low. This means...

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland Benefits of the equality duty Compliance with the general equality duty is a legal obligation, but it also makes good business sense. An organisation that is able to provide services to meet the diverse needs of its users should find that it carries out its core business more efficiently. A workforce that has a supportive working environment is more productive. Many organisations have also found it beneficial to draw on a broader range of talent and to better represent the community that they serve. Source:

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland Further information Dyslexia Scotland Tel: Helpline: Jobcentre Plus Information about Disability Information Adviser and Access to Work British Dyslexia Association

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland Ability Net – for information and advice on ICT Information on the Equality Act Equality and Human Rights Commission helpline – Scotland Tel: Further information

Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland