Dyslexia Awareness Week 2022

The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) celebrated Dyslexia Awareness Week from 3rd-9th October. Every year the BDA uses this week to share information and resources with teachers, employers and the general public to raise awareness and highlight a different theme relating to Dyslexia.

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that predominantly affects reading and writing. However, dyslexia is actually a disorder of information processing so other skills can also be affected. People who have dyslexia may struggle with remembering information they see and hear, which can directly impact learning and particularly affects literacy skills.

For 2022, the BDA chose the theme of ‘Breaking Through Barriers’ to look at how those living with dyslexia have overcome obstacles in their lives. This could be during education, work or general day-to-day living. The aim of Dyslexia Awareness Week 2022 was to highlight the barriers that exist and how different people with a variety of lived experiences are overcoming these barriers. To do this, the BDA enlisted the help of some familiar faces.

Lizzie Acker brought colour and chaos to our screens during the 2021 season of Great British Bake Off. She also revealed her own neurodiversity during the show, sharing that she has Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and ADHD. Since the show, Lizzie has been open about how her conditions affect her life and has used her social media platforms to raise awareness. The British Dyslexia Association teamed up with Lizzie to do some baking for Awareness Week 2022. You can watch the video here.

“I think Dyslexia Awareness Week is so important because dyslexia is still surrounded by a load of negative stereotypes like ‘you’re thick’, ‘you’re lazy’ and it all needs to change. These [thoughts] are only going to change by awareness and it becoming more normalised and people talking about it more and people just knowing more about it!” Lizzie Acker (quote from BDA website)

Former Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis also featured in Dyslexia Awareness Week 2022. Entrepreneur Theo shared his experience of growing up not knowing he was dyslexic and struggling at school. He describes dyslexia as his “superpower” and despite leaving school with no qualifications, Theo has firmly made his mark on the business world, launching his first company at age 23. You can read Theo’s thoughts here.

“Understand your weaknesses, utilise your strengths and then you will truly be able to thrive and work with your own superpower – your dyslexia. It’s a huge part of who you are.”

Theo Paphitis (quote from BDA website)

For further information about Dyslexia Awareness Week 2022, visit http://www.bdadyslexia.org

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Ione Inness
Ione is the Director at SEND Tutoring and has over 20 years’ experience working with children and young people. In the last 10 years she has worked with children of varying different needs, including: Autism, Pathological demand avoidance (PDA), Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Attention deficit disorder (/ADD), Social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH), Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, Speech and language delays or difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Nonverbal, speech/communication delays, Challenging behaviour, Profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), Anxiety, Cognition difficulties, Learning difficulties.

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