Why do we still need a Dyslexia Awareness Month?

Psst— it’s Dyslexia Awareness Month! ??

In case you’ve somehow made it this far through October without noticing, that means all over the world, students with dyslexia, their classmates and the educators who support them are coming together to really focus on everything from accessibility and inclusion to success stories of dyslexic excellence. We’ve loved seeing the celebrations, and everybody Going Red for Dyslexia so far!

…But there is one question that keeps cropping up again and again.

Do we really still need a Dyslexia Awareness Month? Shouldn’t awareness be year-round? Or is it a bit of a relic, from a time when accessibility, inclusion and understandings of neurodiversity were nowhere near as prominent in the educational narrative, and progress had far further to go?

Because everybody loves a numbered list, we’ve put one together on just why we think this global event is vital opportunity for the global dyslexia community, and especially for children and young people.

1. Social stigmas against dyslexia still exist.

Unfortunately, dyslexia’s been subject to no shortage of weird hearsay over the years, and some of it still persists. The biggest is that dyslexia is tied to intelligence, and that students who have dyslexia simply aren’t smart and are destined to get low grades. It’s just not the case, especially with the right reading support— but enough people still believe it for it to still be a problem, especially when it comes to classroom whispers, which can lead to low self-esteem and low confidence in academic abilities.

2. It’s also an opportunity to bust some of those myths!

How about a dyslexia mythbusting assembly or plenary activity this week? Children and young people are some of the most susceptible to these kinds of falsehoods. Think about busting common playground myths like…

? Having dyslexia means that you’re not that smart

? Using reading support is the same as cheating

? Dyslexia is contagious

? Dyslexia is made up!

3. Sometimes it’s nice to feel seen.

If you’re a student with dyslexia, knowing that you’ve got a whole global community vocally rooting for you and believing in your skills is… pretty confidence-boosting, actually.

4. It raises the profile of the dyslexic experiences we don’t talk about as much, too.

What’s it like having dyslexia, but struggling with other aspects of learning that aren’t reading and writing? What about having dyslexia and being BAME, or having dyslexia and co-occurring neurodiversities, or having dyslexia and being trans? Dyslexia Awareness Month’s focus on individual stories means that these vital narratives get amplified, and it helps dyslexic children and young people in these scenarios feel seen, feel less alone, and more likely to reach out for support if they need it.

5. It’s an important fundraising opportunity!

Whether it’s for a local cause, reading support supplies or your local Dyslexia Association, Dyslexia Awareness Month is a huge fundraising opportunity. Many schools and colleges have a non-uniform or themed dress day, and some people even take part in challenges to raise a little cash for a good cause.

6. When we all move together, visibility massively increases.

Think of a falling leaf. When one floats across our path on an October stroll, we’re not that likely to notice. But when a hundred, or a thousand leaves all go skyward together, then that’s when we look up and start paying attention. The same is true of awareness activity: when we all post, start talking and start creating together, that’s when the world outside the neurodiversity community starts seeing the message too, and that’s how prevailing social opinions change, those first narratives about dyslexia that children and young people learn shift, and inclusive change happens. That’s why having a month to bring that focus together is important, because whilst awareness needs to be year-round, a rallying point is a vital amplifier, too.?

But do you think we still need a Dyslexia Awareness Month?? Let us know in the comments below! ??