Excerpts From The Dyslexia Explored Podcast Episode #141
Dyslexia Show UK: 15th-16th March
Dive into the heart of neurodiversity at the Dyslexia & Dyscalculia Show! March 15-16, NEC Birmingham. Arran Smith shares the vision behind this empowering event on The Dyslexia Explored Podcast.Â
A must-attend for parents, educators, and individuals ready to embrace thinking differently. Let’s unite, learn, and grow together. đź’Ş Register here: https://dyslexia.show/Â
Was Life Different Before Dyslexia Diagnosis?
Ever felt different growing up? Struggles with reading, writing, and making friends hinted at something more—Arran Smith's journey with dyslexia. 📚✨
Discovering his dyslexia wasn't just about challenges; it was the start of understanding and embracing my unique way of thinking. đź’ˇ
Why Dyslexia Was Like Going To The Dentist?
Discovering Arran Smith had dyslexia felt like an unexpected journey, one that started with reluctance and ended with acceptance. 📚✨
Arran's first encounter was at a Leicestershire Dyslexia Association event, a blur of conversations that didn't mean much to him then. But a book titled for dyslexic children changed his perspective—it was finally something that spoke directly to him. 📖
Diagnosed after a visit to the Dyslexia Institute, the revelation was surprisingly uplifting. It was like finding a missing piece of his puzzle. Yet, comparing dyslexia to his fear of the dentist, it highlighted the mixed feelings he had
Dyslexia: Beyond the Lowest Point in my Life
Arran Smith shares a powerful moment of vulnerability, highlighting the intense challenges of dyslexia. But it was reaching out that marked a turning point, embracing his unique way of thinking as his strength. 🌟
Let's open up about mental health and learning differences. Remember, you're not alone.
Dyslexia:Â Support or Stigma?
Arran Smith shares a defining school moment: overcoming challenges to create a PowerPoint, only to face a teacher's harsh words. This incident, deeply affecting his family, underscores the critical need for empathy and support in education.
Let's push for understanding and inclusivity. Every student's potential is unlimited.
Dyslexia and Illegible Handwriting
Arran Smith's journey highlights the vital role of personalized support in education. Despite his severely dyslexic handwriting, a dedicated SENCO named Anne and a teaching assistant stepped up, fighting for the necessary adjustments to ensure Arran could thrive. Their efforts resulted in tailored support, including beautifully handwritten revision notes for all his lessons—a testament to their dedication, even if Arran couldn't decipher them.
This story underscores the importance of understanding and adapting to individual learning needs. It's a call to action for more inclusive education practices, where every student's unique challenges are met with unwavering support and compassion.
Human Support: Dyslexia's Path to Independence
Arran Smith shares how the support he received during school, while invaluable, has led to a reliance on others for assistance, especially in tasks involving reading and writing. This dependency has translated into his adult life, where seeking help from those around him, like his wife or through the Access to Work program, has become his 'first flight' response to challenges.
Despite this, Arran views the support as a form of freedom, enabling him to learn in his own way and navigate the world with confidence. His story highlights the double-edged sword of dependency and independence faced by individuals with learning differences and the crucial role of supportive networks in their lives.
Dyslexia and Relief of Support
Arran Smith highlights a transformative shift in his educational experience from primary to secondary school, particularly during GCSEs. The introduction of support in the form of a teaching assistant, who took on the task of writing for him, significantly reduced his stress and anxiety. This change allowed him to fully engage in learning without the overwhelming cognitive load that writing imposed due to his dyslexia.
This story sheds light on the often overlooked aspect of cognitive load in students with learning differences. By removing the barrier of writing, Arran could concentrate on absorbing information and participating in class—a critical insight for educators and supporters.
Dyslexia's Spelling Struggles
Arran Smith shares his ongoing battle with spelling due to dyslexia, alongside challenges with dyspraxia and dysgraphia. Spelling remains his toughest hurdle, impacting reading and writing. He describes his unique approach to decoding words, akin to a manual reconstruction process, highlighting the complexity of learning differences.
The MRI Proof: Visualizing Dyslexia
Arran Smith reflects on the skepticism he faced in year three, with one teacher doubting the existence of dyslexia, a sentiment still encountered today. Despite such disbelief, scientific evidence, including MRI scans, robustly validates dyslexia's reality. These scans reveal how dyslexia manifests differently in the brain, showing unique activation patterns in areas linked to imaginative and spatial abilities as a form of compensation for decoding challenges.
Dyslexia and Clocks
Arran Smith shares a relatable struggle with time perception, a common challenge among those with dyslexia. Interpreting traditional analog clocks and understanding specific time intervals, like the difference between half-past and quarter-to, can be perplexing. This led to moments of waiting just to clock in at a time he could confidently recognize and record.
His experience echoes the story of racing legend Jackie Stewart, who openly discussed his dyslexia after his son's diagnosis, revealing his own unique strategies to manage challenges, such as adapting when writing checks.
