BDA, Cass Business School and Dyslexia Scotland Mentoring Scheme

Pilot Scheme Closure

The BDA’s mentoring scheme, in conjunction with Cass Business School, City University London, and Dyslexia Scotland, was launched in March 2009. Its principal objective, to link adults with dyslexia with successful dyslexic people to share the benefit of their experience and knowledge, has been well received all those involved.

The BDA and Dyslexia Scotland believe that one of the key ways we can help people who are dyslexic is to provide role models who have excelled. This will demonstrate that being dyslexic does not have to be a barrier, an important message for the people involved in the programme as well as the world at large. Mentoring has had a great positive effect on both mentees and mentors.

While developing mentoring relationships has always been the primary function of the scheme, providing assistive technology training, networking opportunities, and events have all provided further support to our members. By supporting the research into entrepreneurship by Professor Julie Logan at Cass, the scheme has also contributed to the wider dyslexia literature. Through the project we have also successfully brought together the leading assistive technology companies, who have gone on to work on collaborative projects themselves. The scheme is now at the end of the pilot phase in the target areas of London and Scotland. Following a review of the scheme’s outcomes the BDA management board has decided that the next phase of the scheme will move to support corporate clients in establishing their own schemes in-house. This does mean that no further individual mentees or mentors will now be accepted on the scheme directly at the BDA. However by engaging with large employers in the public and private sectors, the scheme will be far better placed to support many individuals with dyslexia at work.

Ongoing support where required, for those already on the scheme, can be accessed through our National Helpline as well as our many Local Dyslexia Associations (a full list of these can be found on our website: http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/membership/directories/lda-directory.html ). The mentee and mentor networks and email groups, as self-contained entities, will also continue providing additional opportunities.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved over the last two years. The organizations that have supported us in a variety of ways have made many of the opportunities possible and we are immensely grateful. Special acknowledgment is due to our dedicated mentors who have helped support, guide and enthuse their mentees. Without them none of our hard work would have come to fruition and certainly our mentees would not have enjoyed such a worthwhile experience.

Chris Rossiter