Sir, – From November 3-9, Dyslexia Awareness Week will be celebrated all over the country. Events will highlight the successes of dyslexic people and raise awareness of how appropriate support can help dyslexics achieve their maximum potential.

For many years the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), providing support and information and Dyslexia Action (DA), teaching and assessment, campaigned for recognition of dyslexia and support for children and adults.

After the Rose Report (2009), the DfE provided funding to support the Dyslexia Specific Learning Difficulty Trust comprised of : British Dyslexia Association, Dyslexia Action, Driver Youth Trust, Helen Arkell, Patoss, Springboard and Xtraordinary People. They were tasked with providing high quality information to parents, schools and local authorities, including a database of effective interventions and resources for dyslexia and literacy difficulties.

While the national organisations, their websites and helplines provide excellent information, they do not always reach people who could benefit from help, but do not know what help is available. Underpinning the national organisations are local support groups, who alongside their own helplines and websites organise events in Dyslexia Awareness Week provide. Dyslexia Network Plus (www.dyslexianetworkplus.org).

Hambleton and Richmondshire’s support group, is showing James Redford’s film The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia, at the Forum, Northallerton on Thursday at 7.30pm. This is how Robert Redford’s grandson and several successful dyslexics coped with their dyslexia. Following the film there will be an open discussion on dyslexia and how it can be supported at any age. This is an opportunity for adults and children and their supporters to meet up and find out where they can get help.

A new group, Dyslexia Support Stockton, is being set up by Helen White, based at Fairfield in Stockton and they are planning their first event, a funday from 11am-3pm on Saturday, November 8, welcoming any families from the Tees Valley area details from helenjoan1986@gmail.com

JUDITH STANSFIELD

Melsonby, Richmond.