Dyslexia Awareness Week 2024
The year, the theme is “What’s Your Story?”. The theme aims to encourage individuals to share their personal stories, offering insight into both the struggles and strengths that come with dyslexia. The hope is to highlight that everyone’s story is unique. Whether it’s a story of overcoming challenges, embracing creativity, or achieving success despite adversity, every person’s dyslexia story is a vital piece of the broader narrative of neurodiversity.
By opening up these conversations, we can develop greater understanding, empathy, and support for the millions of people around the world living with this condition.
The Power of Storytelling: Why It Matters
Storytelling has always been a powerful way to connect people, create awareness, and spark change. For individuals with dyslexia, sharing their story can be both empowering and inspiring for others. It helps to break down the stigma that often surrounds the condition and provides a platform for those who may have felt unheard or misunderstood.
What is Dyslexia? A Brief Overview
Dyslexia is a learning difference that primarily affects reading, writing, and spelling. It’s not related to intelligence or motivation, but rather how the brain processes language. It affects all genders, ethnicities and social groups. People with dyslexia often have difficulty recognising words, decoding sounds, or understanding written text, but they frequently excel in areas like creative thinking, problem-solving, and big-picture vision.
About 1 in 10 people are affected by dyslexia, which means there is an estimated 3 students in every classroom. This statistic highlights the fact that there are millions of people who have stories to tell about their personal experiences.
“What’s Your Story?” – Encouraging Diverse Voices
This year’s theme encourages people of all ages to share their stories, whether they’re just beginning their journey or have decades of experience living with dyslexia. By sharing individual stories we can break through myths and build a deeper understanding. Marcia, 17, has been happy to share her lived experience:
“I have always found writing hard; however, it was at the beginning of secondary school that I first began to really become aware of my difficulties with reading and writing. No matter how much I tried in English lessons and other subjects that relied heavily on reading and writing, I could never seem to keep up and felt so far behind my peers. This impacted my confidence during these lessons and I just felt stupid!
It was at the beginning of college that I was able to get tested, and finding out I had dyslexia made so much sense! I wish I had been able to have had the assessment earlier, as since my diagnosis there have been strategies put into place to support me through my education. I now have additional time if needed to complete assignments and assessments, get extra support in lessons if I am finding something difficult and have green overlays and worksheets to help with my reading. It feels good to finally have the help and support in place that I needed all along!”.
This dyslexia awareness week, whether you have a lived experience, or know someone with dyslexia, here are some ways to get involved with raising awareness:
1. Share Your Story Online
Platforms like social media, blogs, and podcasts are great ways to share your story with a wide audience. Use the hashtag #DAW24 to connect with others and raise awareness. Whether you’ve struggled in school, found creative ways to succeed, or developed unique problem-solving skills, your story could inspire and help others going through similar experiences.
2. Listen and Learn
If you don’t have dyslexia, take time to listen to the stories of those who do. Hearing their experiences firsthand can shift perspectives and help break down myths.
3. Join Dyslexia Awareness Events
The British Dyslexia Association will be hosting events, including free online webinars to build your understanding around dyslexia. Check out their website for further information.
4. Encourage Children to Share
Children with dyslexia may feel isolated, especially if they don’t see others like them. Encouraging children to share their experiences, either through writing, drawing, or storytelling, can help build confidence and self-esteem. Schools can also play a role by creating spaces where children with dyslexia can express themselves and support one another.
5. Encourage Children to Share
Children with dyslexia may feel isolated, especially if they don’t see others like them. Encouraging children to share their experiences, either through writing, drawing, or storytelling, can help build confidence and self-esteem. Schools can also play a role by creating spaces where children with dyslexia can express themselves and support one another.
Your Story Matters – Dyslexia Awareness Week 2024 is a time to recognise the diverse experiences of those living with dyslexia and encourage everyone to share their stories. Whether your story is one of struggle, success, or ongoing discovery, it has the power to inspire and educate others. This week, let’s celebrate the strength, creativity, and resilience of those with dyslexia.
