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PRESS RELEASE

2 November 2009                                                                    

Dyslexia Awareness Week 2009

The UK’s leading dyslexia charities have come together for Dyslexia Awareness Week 2009, which takes place this week, to celebrate the theme Dyslexia Strengths.

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that affects one- in- ten in the UK, approximately the population of London. Dyslexia mainly affects the development of literacy and language related skills, however, those with dyslexia also possess a number of strengths including:

• Innovative and ‘big picture’ thinking.
• Excellent trouble shooting and problem solving.
• Strong visual skills.
• Determination.

Research shows that dyslexic people make up almost 20% of the entrepreneurial population in the U.K (J. Logan 2008) and there are many celebrity dyslexics including Richard Branson, Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightley.

Dyslexia Awareness Week is supported by the leading dyslexia charities, the Adult Dyslexia Organisation(ADO), The British Dyslexia Association (BDA), Dyslexia Action, Dyslexia Scotland, the Helen Arkell Centre and the Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties (PATOSS), Xtraordinary People and the Dyslexia SpLD Trust.

Contacts

Rachel Lawson

British Dyslexia Association, Media and Communications Officer

01344 381559 / 07884 383 202

Notes to Editors                                                                                               

1. Dyslexia Awareness Week runs from the 1-7 November 2009.

2. For further information on the Week and downloadable information, go to  http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/get-involved-and-fundraising/dyslexia-awareness-week.html.

3. There are a number of events around Dyslexia Awareness Week:

   The British Dyslexia Association is holding two conferences on dyslexia for teachers during the Week, one in London and one in Plymouth, for further information go to http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/courses-and-events/conferences/assistive-technology.html

   Dyslexia Action is hosting a number of free ‘webinars’ during the Week, for further information go to: http://training.dyslexiaaction.org.uk/dyslexiaweek?destination=node%2F222

   Dyslexia Scotland are running a Road show in Kilmarnock on 6th November and an Adult Network Communications Masterclass on 7th November. For more information, please go to www.dyslexiscotland.org.uk  or call 01786 446650.

   The Adult Dyslexia Organisation (ADO) are launching their Wings2Fly - Dyslexia European project, which is to design to assist dyslexic enterprisers in starting up their business and support entrepreneurial spirit within the Civil Service and Public Service.

   Voice of Africa 94.3FM, Wednesday 4th November 2009, 7pm to 8pm and on internet through www.voiceofafricaradio.com. Theme of the show is

   “Dyslexia Strengths and Entrepreneurs”. Co-hosted by Sister Ekua and Sister Anita.
   Go to: http://www.adult-dyslexia.org

   Xtraordinary People have a number of positive children’s stories on their website, including one that features Richard Branson himself. Go to: http://www.xtraordinarypeople.com/shop.

   To coincide with Dyslexia Awareness Week, November 1st – 7th 2009, the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre is pleased to announce the publication of a new book ‘A Dyslexic Writes’ by Al Campbell. Priced at £5.99 ‘A Dyslexic Writes – an essay on the Conundrum of Conundrums’, is available from the Helen Arkell Bookshop (www.helenarkelldyslexiacentre.com)

4. For more information on dyslexia please go to www.bdadyslexia.org.uk or call the helpline on 0845 251 9002.

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