Education - Parents - Made By Dyslexia

What is dyslexia?

When kids and parents search “What is dyslexia?” online, we are told it’s a “disability” or a “lifelong learning disorder.”

9 in 10 kids say this makes them feel hopeless or scared for their future, and fails to include dyslexics’ extraordinary strengths – now the most sought after in every workplace.

To change this, we’ve created this film to hijack the search algorithm for good. So that each year, millions of children and parents will find it at the top of our searches and glimpse their bright and incredible futures.

Dyslexia defined

Dyslexic brains process information differently. This results in a pattern of strengths, such as problem-solving, creative thinking, and seeing the big picture. Plus, challenges like spelling, reading, writing and rote learning.

Dyslexics have created some of the greatest inventions of all time, from the light bulb to the motor car, the iPhone to the aeroplane.

What is Dyslexic Thinking?

Dyslexic Thinking is now recognised as a skill on LinkedIn and a noun in the dictionary, and our Intelligence 5.0 report tells us that Dyslexic Thinking skills are the most in-demand skills in every job, across all sectors, globally today. Here is the entry in dictionary.com:

How to spot it

	Dyslexia can be identified at 5 years or earlier. The earlier it’s discovered and supported, the sooner dyslexic kids catch up and keep up.
	A mismatch between what an individual seems capable of verbally and the written work they produce is a strong indicator of dyslexia.
	The ‘label’ is vital for our understanding. Adjustments and accomodations that come with identification are crucial for our success.
	You can spot dyslexia as much by the strengths as by the challenges. Dyslexic strengths are in high demand in today’s workplace.
	4 in 5 dyslexics say knowing they were dyslexic helped them develop the perserverance to succeed. Identification is key to our self-esteem.

How to support it

	Support dyslexic children with evidence-based, multi-sensory, interventions, like those shared in our free, online, training.
	Positive praise is vital. Spot our strengths, whether it’s imagining, questioning, explaining and help us do lots of them.
	Research shows that we are most motivated to improve when we hear negative and positive comments in a ratio of 1:5.
	Technology is a game-changer. It can support us with our challenges and help us demonstrate all the brilliant things we know.
	You can empower amazing dyslexic imaginations by typing, using speech to text, making videos, mind mapping and more.

How to empower it

	Every dyslexic child has dyslexic strengths.
	They’re the things we are naturally good at and love to do.
	Finding our strengths is key to building self-esteem.
	They lead us into jobs we love and lives that are fulfilling.
	Empathy, Imagining, Making and more are all dyslexic strengths.

Get the facts

Download our simple factsheets.

Watch

Watch our simple videos and learn how to support your child’s xtraordinary dyslexic mind.

WATCH HERE

Email

Email your school, education authority, or politician to ask for all teachers to be trained.

Explain dyslexia to your child

Being dyslexic is a brilliant thing. After all, the inventor of the aeroplane was dyslexic. And the lightbulb! So are many xtraordinary writers, like Roald Dahl and Dav Pilkey, the creator of Captain Underpants. It’s important to know that you’re dyslexic – it helps you to understand why some things come naturally and others are much harder.

5 FACTS TO EXPLAIN:

	When you’re Made By Dyslexia, your brain works differently, and that’s a good thing.
	It means you are naturally good at lots of things (better than your friends who are not dyslexic).
	But you might find certain things tricky in the classroom (more than your friends would).
	The most important thing is to find what you’re good at – and do lots of it.
	By focussing on your dyslexic strengths, you can and will go far!

Visit our kids page to find out more!

Grab a copy of ‘Xtraordinary People’ to read together!

This brilliant book will help you understand the 7 ‘Xtraordinary’ strengths that come with dyslexia. It’s a brilliant way to explain dyslexia to all kids.