West Berkshire Dyslexia Association (WBDA)
Clare's Talk
The WBDA is a very small Local Dyslexic Association and we were unfortunately on the verge of closing last year (2010) however through the BDA, we took up the idea of an Open Evening and it was set for Thursday 25th November 2010. We had arranged for an ex-teacher of the WDBA who is also a qualified Speech and Language Therapist to come and do a talk on Speech and Language Difficulties in Children with Dyslexia. In order for the WBDA not to close, we asked pupils and parents to write a little bit about how the WBDA has helped them and some ex-pupils were contacted too for their comments; all comments were put on display.
Although, we did not have a huge number of people, the evening was a success. Lyn Hunter talked about Speech and Language Difficulties in Children with Dyslexia. One young lady (Clare) who attended WBDA for a number of years and is still being taught by one of the Dyslexic teachers privately, listened to the talk intently. After the talk, Clare spoke to her Dyslexic teacher and asked if she could say some things about being dyslexic; she felt the talk was about her. Her teacher and other members of WBDA agreed.
Clare bravely stood up in front of everyone and this is what she said:
‘I want to talk to you about what it is like being Dyslexic. The talk we have just listened to makes me feel it was me you were talking about. This leaflet (the Blue one from BDA – 1:10 are Dyslexic) I didn`t realise there were so many dyslexic people out there. School has been my biggest nightmare. I didn’t get any help in Primary School and never felt part of the lesson or part of the class. I often had to go and work with Year 5 instead of Year 6, sometimes sitting outside the classroom, and working on my own. This was often in Maths which I still find very hard to do. I was always thinking ‘Why am I the one left out?’ I was only allowed to learn the 2x, 5x and 10x times’ tables. I had lots of people come to see me (External Agencies, Educational Psychologist, etc) but no help came.
By Upper Key Stage 2 my confidence began to drop. I did SATS in English and Science but I wasn’t allowed to do the Maths one – once again I felt left out because I was the only one not doing that test. I used to go to Brownies which I enjoyed but when I had to move up to Guides there were no places available and my confidence dropped again and I started to have friendship problems. My mum kept asking for a statement for me but I never got one which I think was wrong. As the leaflet says ‘Dyslexia is a Hidden Disability’, so if your disability can be seen, you get help, if it can't been seen you don't get the help! Teachers weren't helpful at school, they focussed on the more able children. I would've liked to have gone to a Private School for Dyslexic children but my parents couldn't afford it because I think children get the right help there for each child.
I wanted to go to a different Secondary school to get away from my friendship problems. I wanted to make a new fresh start; I knew it was my choice and I had to make new friends. Year 7 was hard because I had to introduce myself to everyone and found it hard to make new friends. I asked lots of questions because I needed reassurance that I was doing the right things. One good thing about Year 7 was that I moved up a Maths group. I found projects really hard to do because I couldn't organise myself and the work I needed to do, it felt like an ‘overload of learning’. I was very reliant on my parents and there was a lot of shouting in our house. I wish I could have been more independent. My parents tried to get another statement for me but this was turned down, so they went to a Tribunal but it was turned down again. I think it was because Secondary School said I was doing well.
I felt more comfortable in Year 8 and I was making progress in all subjects, especially English and Maths. But by the end of year 8, I was told our school was taking part in the pilot scheme to study GCSE's a year early, therefore, this ruined my learning. I didn’t know which options to choose and I felt I was being pushed. I was advised not to do History, Geography and Drama because there would be too much writing for me! I loved History! I was put into a lower ICT group; it was assumed that I wasn't capable of a higher group.
In year 9, I lost a lot of confidence. I enjoyed some new subjects like textiles but would've liked to have carried on with others. I believe a support teacher for Maths would have been really good. I needed reassurance all the time in all my subjects. Things didn`t get any better in Year 10; I just had lots of work to try to organise and try and cope with school every day.
In Year 11, I still find Maths hard to learn and remember. I feel I am always being pushed. Assembly is always about doing your best and your grades. My best is not good enough to get good grades. There is no place to hide, no support and no proper guidance in schools. I just wanted to tell you what it is like being dyslexic!’
Needless to say, everyone had a lump in their throat after Clare's talk, she was extremely brave to stand in front of everyone and say everything she did. Clare feels very let down by the Education system and does not want other children to struggle with school life the way she has.
Clare’s tutor commented that Clare has a lot of strengths as well as weaknesses. The tutor admitted that Clare does find English and Maths difficult, especially Maths but she has made good progress in both subjects and is continuing to do so. She asked Clare to tell everyone what subjects she is studying at school for GCSE, she replied, ‘Textiles, photography, Health and Social Care’. Her tutor then asked her to tell everyone what grades she is predicted for the end of the GCSE's. Her reply was ‘Health and Social Care B, Textiles A and Photography A’. This was met with a huge round of applause.
Clare's tutor also commented that Clare has overcome many difficulties and come an awfully long way in her learning. She needs to be proud of what she has done with her life so far, in the same way we are all proud of her. Clare is currently making a garment in GCSE Textiles related to Dyslexia.