Challenging preconceptions, Rethinking Dyslexia

“the feedback from last night’s screening in Stirling has been amazing. So positive.

Just want to know if we will be able to purchase a copy of this to use as CPD for all our staff and anyone who was unable to attend. It seems to have been a real eureka moment and it would be great to share it with an even wider audience”

“This is a great film and wish it would be shown to all schools, administrators, and decision makers! I took my 7 year old daughter, who has dyslexia, to see it in Indiana. It is really encouraging”

“This film was realistic and incredibly inspiring – a definite must see!”

“My 13 year old was happy to see it, but in truth I probably got more out of it as a parent. I would love my daughter to see it again in a couple of year’s time when she’s considering her next educational step. Having said that there’s definitely a strong argument for general viewing as it beautifully dispels the myths and uncertainties about what dyslexia is and isn’t, as well as presenting a ‘think differently’ approach to dyslexia, for both those with dyslexia and those who know very little about it.”

Panel members at our Stirling showing said:

“Having suffered from dyslexia all my life I was very unsure of what the film would be about but after the first 5 minutes I was hooked and it was a most enjoyable experience. I have to say at point I was brought to tears as it brought back a lot of bad memories of childhood and the struggles that I had to overcome. As the film moved forward it was great to hear so many positive stories and it brought a lot of hope and motivation to other young people. Being a member of the panel was great and it is so good to see so many families in the audience as it bring hope that people are really keen to help young people become the best they can”. Paul McNeill

“I was grateful to Dyslexia Scotland for asking me to be on the panel after the showing of the film. As chair of Unite Scotland Youth committee I engage with young adults on work related issues – people who are trying to find work or speaking about rights in the workplace and things that can affect people from day to day. During the panel discussion, the question that stands out to me was ‘I’m just finishing uni and the jobs I will be going for involve a lot of reading and writing – do I put it down on my CV that I have dyslexia?’

I find that lack of knowledge about what dyslexia means in the workplace is usually the problem. Usually less informed Human Resources staff think it means that someone can’t read or write. (This is the answer I have got back on more than one occasion.)

I think this is the thing that needs to be tackled for the sake of people like the young man who asked the question. He has run the same race as everyone else but with massive hurdles and has managed to overcome them. But there is a problem that the company or profession that he wants to go into won’t look at his form and say ‘Dyslexia – great, an out of the box thinker with the ability to connect ideas and problem solve – we need someone like that on the team!’

They might ask what they can do to help him – and he might say he needs more time. To lots of companies time is money and all his other talents will be overlooked.

I hope he doesn’t face discrimination for having dyslexia. More awareness-raising needs to be done and companies challenged on their application process” Jamie- Max Caldwell