Dyslexia is one of a number of conditions under the umbrella term neurodiversity. According to the British Dyslexia Association, around ten per cent of the population are affected by dyslexia to some extent. These figures might not be a true reflection of the prevalence of dyslexia as there is likely to be a proportion of the population, particularly adults or older students, who may not have had a formal diagnosis or assessment.
The Dyslexia resource guide aims to provide teachers and trainers in the FE sector with an understanding of the potential impact of dyslexia on learning and how to better support learners to achieve their full potential. It focuses on dyslexia and related conditions from a neurodiversity perspective, including how staff can make the most of an individual’s strengths and positive characteristics that may be associated with their neurodiverse condition. The resource explores the signs, symptoms, behaviours and provides top tips for adapting communication, teaching strategies and environment to enable learners to thrive.
The guide is designed to be used alongside the ETF course to help you support learners with dyslexia which the ETF offer as an in-house course. A taster session for this course is freely available online.
Dyslex.io is a dyslexia friendly app, it provides information and advice to learners, teachers and employers. All the resources and links are quality assured by the British Dyslexia Association and other leading UK dyslexia charities.
dyslex.io is the result of a project funded by the Department for Education.
On the Foundation Online Learning site, is a course, Supporting learners with dyslexia, to support you in understanding what dyslexia is and provides practical ideas for supporting learners with dyslexia.
British Dyslexia Association - provides information, advice and guidance.
Dyslexia Action - provides accredited training
Dyslexia Foundation - Dyslexia screenings and subsidised rates of assessment costs for people in work and educatio
dyslex.io - provides information and advice to learners, teachers and employers.
RNIB Bookshare - RNIB Bookshare supports learners with a print disability to access the curriculum. They provide accessible textbooks and resources for sight loss, dyslexia ,dyspraxia, autism and qualifying physical disabilities. The service is free to UK education organisations.
Read Kath Wood's Neurodiversity: Unleashing potential in learners blog post. Kath, a Disability Training and Consultancy Specialist at Remploy Ltd, explains why thinking about conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism just as special educational needs or learning difficulties may prevent teachers and trainers recognising some learners’ potential and why, instead, looking at these as examples of neurodiversity can help teachers to recognise and unleash the potential in learners, with and without a diagnosed condition.