The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) is celebrating Dyslexia Awareness Week with the theme of ‘Breaking Through Barriers’. The theme looks 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 week will run between 03-09 October.

Dyslexia influences at least 1 in 10 people and is a genetic difference in an individual’s ability to learn and process information. Over 6 million individuals in the UK have dyslexia and may not have received a diagnosis. Despite its commonality it is often hidden and those living with dyslexia make countless compromises to ‘fit in’ to a neurotypical society.

If a child isn’t diagnosed in their formative years (0 – 8 years) and does not receive the support they need the impact can be lifelong. Through the BDA digital channels we hear about the barriers that children face in school due to lack of support and understanding of dyslexia, and we know that older people share their stories about the trauma of their own education and being labelled disruptive or even stupid.

During Dyslexia Awareness week the BDA are shining a light on barriers that exist and are being overcome through the voices and lived-experience of individuals with dyslexia.

They will also be hosting two free webinars, Supporting Spellings and Times Tables and Resources and Approaches for Teachers. These webinars are accessible from home and aim to give an insight into dyslexia supportive techniques from industry-leading professionals.