Dyslexia Awareness Week 2019
Wednesday 4 September 2019
Running from 7-13 October, this year will focus on schools and businesses empowering people with dyslexia
More than one in ten of us are dyslexic. Dyslexic strengths around understanding complex information, seeing the big picture and communicating with others, means dyslexia creates great work at all levels, in all kinds of roles and across all industries. Yet, too often, we are failing to empower dyslexics to do their best work.
For Dyslexia Awareness Week 2019 the British Dyslexia Association is asking schools and workplaces to put aside half an hour to explore how to empower dyslexia in the organisation, maximising the value it brings.
Between Monday 7 and Friday 11 October, we hope you will take a moment during a breakfast, lunch break, assembly or class to:
- Share information about dyslexia using our Dyslexia Awareness Week packs
- Invite relevant people to share their thoughts on dyslexia, including a:
- Dyslexia pupil or member of staff discussing what being dyslexic in the organisation is like, including the strengths it brings
- Senior dyslexic member of the organisation talking about how dyslexia has played a role in their success and what has empowered them
- Member of the HR or SEN team talking about what support is available to people with dyslexia or that suspect they may be dyslexic
- Set some time aside to invite questions and comments from everyone participating
Share photos and thoughts from your session on social media using #DyslexiaAwarenessWeek and for updates on what’s happening, follow the British Dyslexia Association on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
For advice on running your empowering dyslexia session, download the Dyslexia Awareness Week pack for:
To advertise your event download our Dyslexia Awareness Week event poster.
The British Dyslexia Association would like to thank our sponsors for this year’s Dyslexia Awareness Week:
Helen Boden, BDA CEO
"Every year, we are understanding more about how dyslexia is a different way to understand our world, with strengths and weaknesses. It is becoming clearer and clearer that we need to empower dyslexic thinking at school and on into the workplace if we going to build the best organisations possible.
Empowering dyslexia isn’t just an issue of managing weaknesses and complying with the law, it is about coming together as an organisation at all levels, and exploring the value dyslexia is bringing now and how to maximise that in future.
We hope that this year, schools and workplaces up and down the country will benefit from putting aside a lunch break or an assembly to explore empowering dyslexia, starting positive debate and change that runs through the year."
Mollie King, British Dyslexia Association Ambassador, Radio 1 presenter and singer
“When empowered, dyslexia has so much to offer. It is exciting to see so many schools and organisations up and down the country taking time out during Dyslexia Awareness Week to explore how to empower dyslexia. I hope everyone enjoys their sessions and find it a positive experience for all.”
Sharon Hodgson MP, Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Dyslexia and other SpLDs
“A significant proportion of the population is dyslexic, more than one in ten. Unfortunately, too many of those people are not having their needs adequately supported, whether at school or later on in life at the workplace.
This can have long-term consequences not only on individuals, but on wider society. As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Dyslexia and other SpLDs, I’m encouraging schools and workplaces to participate in Dyslexia Awareness Week 2019.
The benefits of doing so could be hugely beneficial, not only for those with dyslexia but for the organisations also.’’
