Transforming lives through better engagement
Ross Duncan is a writer, blogger and speaker who works to promote a better understanding of dyslexia. Here he talks about his own experience with the condition and how we can better support people with dyslexia. He is a Goodwill Ambassador for Volunteering for Dyslexia Scotland.
ROSS was diagnosed with dyslexia later in life, and says the experience of living with undiagnosed dyslexia at school and beyond had a big impact on his life. Growing up with dyslexia, particularly undiagnosed dyslexia, can be isolating and Ross says that while things have changed, it is important that more is done to support people.
He said: “The subject of dyslexia either for a librarian, school teacher or bookseller in the past might have left them feeling awkward, and maybe even perplexed at times as to know what to do when having to deal with the subject. For many generations, mine included, it was something that didn’t exist, it wasn’t recognised and was never fully understood.
“So, no one knew at the time what type of support to provide, which meant no provision was provided. Often this meant that people wishing to use libraries, who happened to be dyslexic, felt excluded, marginalised from their peers principally because they weren’t being catered for.”
Although Ross’s own experience was made worse by not being diagnosed, there are still risks of marginalising people who do know about their dyslexia. This can be down to the book stock that is available in libraries and bookshops, or because a lack of proper support.
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Ross says: “Dyslexia is variable, unique from person to person. This means that support for an individual has to be tailored to accommodate their specific needs. So, if you are in a position to provide either support or information about dyslexia, but you adopt a one-size- fits-all attitude then you set off on the wrong foot.
“For someone who has grown up with dyslexia, they may already have acquired self-esteem issues due to social stigmas.” Best estimates show that between 10 and 15 per cent of the population can be affected by dyslexia. It can be inherited and, according to the British Dyslexia Association, it is the single-largest neuro difference in the workplace1
. Ross adds:
“Some may label it as a learning difficulty, or the much more extreme view that it is a learning disability. Whilst wishing to remain focused and positive in my case I join the mantra of calling it a learning difference.” Ross adds that people with dyslexia often think in creative ways and says that this can influence how they respond to a book, saying: “If you present a plain printed book to someone with dyslexia then you might not get a level of interest or enthusiasm as you might have been looking for, as the person with dyslexia may only see a book as challenge.” Ross points to the power of reading as a transformative experience, and cites Lord John Bird – founder of the Big Issue – who first learnt to read as a teenager
in prison. Ross says: “He believes that Britain should be a ‘cognitive democracy’ and that a ‘revolution in reading’ is the best way to bring about change, as further evidence of this.2
”
Lord Bird is strong advocate for public libraries, and is the co-chair of the Libraries All Party Parliamentary Group, which seeks to gather cross-party political support for libraries and the services they provide.
Ross says that there are examples of how libraries can provide innovative support for people with dyslexia, and points to Darren Taylor as an example. Darren is managing director of ECO-Communities, which runs a number of library branches through a social enterprise. He has dyslexia and uses his own experiences to develop inclusive services, particularly around digital inclusion and support mental health issues.
Aside from the clear role of libraries to engage and support, Ross says that publishers should be playing a bigger part. He highlights the work of two smaller publishers, saying: “For some people struggling to read can result in low self-esteem and, in some cases, depression. That is why Barrington Stoke aims to cater for a wide variety of age groups from children through to adulthood all the while being conscious of ability too.
“Dekko Comics is another specialised publisher. Originally set up by Rossie
Spring-Summer 2020
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