About Dyslexia Action
Our mission is to ensure that individuals with dyslexia are identified and educated to allow them to be successful.
About dyslexia
Dyslexia is the most common of the learning difficulties affecting one in ten children, an estimated 1.2 million children across the UK and an average of two to three children in every classroom. Dyslexia is a brain-based developmental disorder with consequences that persist from the pre-school years through to adulthood; it is a life-long condition.
Unrecognised dyslexia can result in the loss of self-esteem, and, in children, behavioural difficulties. Early intervention is critical. Children with the highest risk of dyslexia can be identified as early as five or six years of age. A full formal assessment with an educational or occupational psychologist or specially trained teacher will establish if an individual has a specific learning difficulty. The effects of dyslexia can be alleviated but dyslexia cannot be cured. Specialist, structured, multi-sensory teaching, designed to meet the needs of the individual, helps overcome the difficulties of dyslexia.
About Dyslexia Action
Dyslexia Action (Formerly the Dyslexia Institute) is a national charity and the UK’s leading provider of services and support for people with dyslexia and literacy difficulties. We specialise in assessment, teaching and training. We also develop and distribute teaching materials and undertake research.
Dyslexia Action is the working name of the Dyslexia Institute, created on its merger with the Hornsby International Dyslexia Centre and forming the largest supplier of specialist training in this field. Dyslexia Action is committed to improving public policy and practice.
We partner with schools, LEAs, colleges, universities, employers, voluntary sector organisations and Government to improve the quality and quantity of help for people with dyslexia and specific learning difficulties.
Our services are available through our 26 centres and 160 teaching locations around the UK. Over half a million people benefit from our work each year.
With the help of much needed donations from individuals, companies and charitable trusts, Dyslexia Action is able to support more dyslexic children, young adults and adults across the UK.
The following are a small selection of our current projects that funding is required for:
The Partnership 4 Literacy Project
This project, which is funded with the support of donations, currently involves primary schools in London, Nottingham, Coventry and Hull. It aims to provide a body of specialist knowledge in each school to equip it to meet the needs of those children struggling in the bottom 10% of attainment, including those at risk of dyslexia. The project involves awareness training for all staff, screening to identify those at risk, specialist staff training, awareness training for parents and consultancy to ensure that improvements are sustained.
Fulfilling Potential Appeal
Dyslexia Action currently provides urgent specialist help for over 200 children, young people and adults each year with dyslexia from low-income families through the Fulfilling Potential Appeal. This is the only national provision of subsidised specialist assessments and tuition available to those who really need it. These individuals also experience poverty of opportunity and social exclusion. 53% are from lone parent families and 42% from families on income support with significant levels of debt. Of the adults, the majority are unemployed or in very low income occupations with little hope of climbing the employment ladder. All applications are considered by an Allocations Committee, made up of Dyslexia Action staff and other professionals with experience of dyslexia, who meet three times a year. The programme offers specialist assessments for people of all ages with dyslexia and literacy difficulties to identify their strengths and weaknesses and then, if dyslexia is confirmed, offers a programme of up to six terms of specialist multi-sensory tuition. Whilst the programme supports as many as possible, there are always very deserving cases who have to stay on the waiting list until sufficient funds are raised.
Local requirements
Dyslexia Action has 26 centres and 160 teaching locations around the UK. We need donations to purchase much-needed equipment, including specialist teaching resources and to help us to raise awareness of dyslexia among parents, teachers, and other educational providers. Our centres are very grateful to their local communities for donations which help them to continue to provide their valuable services.
If you would like to find out more about our services, to find out how to get more involved, or to support Dyslexia Action through your place of work, through a sponsored event or by leaving a bequest in your will, please refer to our website www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk, or contact us directly by telephone on 01784 222300 or info@dyslexiaaction.org.uk.