1.  Specific Learning Difficult (SpLD)  First noted in 1964  1980 Meares-Irlen Association founded by Olive Meares and Helen Irlen  Known by other names: Visual Stress Irlen Syndrome Scotopic sensitivity

2. Kriss and Evans (2005)  12.5% of general population  31% of children with other learning difficulties  Coexisting with other SpLDs, particularly dyslexia and autistic spectrum disorders  Associated with other visual anomalies such as abnormal eye movements, binocular vision dysfunction, attention anomalies, visual stress sensitivities.

3.  Cortical hyperexciteability  Biochemical abnormalities – Omega 3/6  Coexisting SpLDs  Binocular abnormalities  Magnocellular issues (where brain activity occurs)

4. The most technically accurate definition of colour is: "Colour is the visual effect that is caused by the spectral composition of the light emitted, transmitted, or reflected by objects.“ Colour is our own perception of the wavelengths of light reflected or transmitted, it is a subjective process. The brain responds to stimuli produced by incoming light on the cone cells in the eye. The Ventral Stream relays colour recognition and originates in the Visual Cortex.

7.  Slow reading pace  Words jumping/moving  Rivers running through the page  Strain working in bright light  Glare from white backgrounds  Headaches  Perceptual difficulties

9.  Think about who is in your class..  Change the background colour of your IWB  Use a large font size  Use coloured paper and exercise books when ever possible!