Swale council unanimously agree to sign Dyslexia pledge
06:00, 09 April 2021
The council has pledged to support people with dyslexia.
Councillors from Swale council unanimously agreed to sign the Made by Dyslexia pledge which will see it consciously work to help people with the condition.
It also requires the authority to write to every school in the borough and encourage teachers to take advantage of free staff training and resources offered by the British Dyslexia Association.
Swale councillor Cllr Ben J Martin (Lib Dems) opened up on what it's like to have dyslexia and the struggles people face.
He said: "I’m delighted that the council has unanimously agreed to take the Made By Dyslexia Pledge and to encourage local schools to take advantage of the free training and resources available to help identify and support dyslexic students.
"Up to 1 in 5 people have dyslexia, with 80% of dyslexics not diagnosed until after they leave school.
"Though dyslexia can cause struggles at school, its certainly not a barrier to success, with many successful business people, scientists, sports persons and entertainers acknowledging their dyslexia as being a key part of their success.
'I believe my dyslexia is a gift, as much as there are challenges, my dyslexia gives me different strengths.'
“As a dyslexic myself I know how hard it can be to go through school struggling with reading and writing.
"I was lucky, my teachers were able to see my knowledge and concentrated more on the content of my work than my spelling or poor handwriting.
"I believe my dyslexia is a gift, as much as there are challenges, my dyslexia gives me different strengths.”
Cllr Hannah Perkin added: “It was amazing to hear the personal experiences of so many councillors during the debate.
"Dyslexia is a different way of thinking and identifying dyslexia early can help prevent issues with mental health and low self-esteem later in life.
"The passing of this motion is a step towards ensuring everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Find out more about the pledge here.
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