APPG Dyslexia & SpLD: Meeting Summary

The third and final APPG Dyslexia and SpLD meeting of 2022 took place last week and focused upon dyslexic adults including those within the justice system.

The meeting heard from five speakers:

• Tom Hunt, Conservative MP for Ipswich
• Kath Lambert, Helpline Manager, British Dyslexia Association
• Donna Stevenson, Head of Training, Succeed with Dyslexia
• David Breakspear, Revolving Doors Lived Experience Team
• Dr Kiran Nijabat MBBS, BSc, MRCPSych, Director, Family Wellness Practice.

Here is a short synopsis of what was shared:

Tom Hunt, Conservative MP for Ipswich

Tom shared his experience of struggling at school until a diagnosis at the age of 12 confirmed that he is dyslexic and dyspraxic. Following diagnosis, a support package was put in place, and this changed his journey from one of struggles and feeling “thick” to enabling him to succeed with his academic studies. Tom is quick to acknowledge that he is in a privileged position of having had parents who were able to pay for independent education, and that the same support is not always there in the state system. Tom spoke of his support for the Dyslexia Screening Bill introduced by Matt Hancock and asked for collaboration to ensure that the Bill reflects what is needed in schools.

Tom also spoke about his work on the Education Select Committee, and the Enquiry into prison education which highlighted that many of those entering our prisons have undiagnosed learning needs and feel let down by the education system. He concluded that putting money into early intervention and support would reduce the numbers of people feeling let down and failed by the system, with a positive reduction in the numbers ending up in the criminal justice system.

Calls to the helpline from adults – Kath Lambert

Kath is a helpline manager at the BDA, a former primary school teacher and SENCO.

Kath focused on the growing number of calls to the helpline from adults, which now accounts for almost 50% of all enquiries. Kath acknowledged that dyslexia has a lifelong impact and that many turn to the helpline to understand how to request support from their employer or in day-to-day life. She revealed that dyslexia is often seen as a reading and writing difficulty, but that many dyslexic adults contact the helpline looking for help because their existing coping strategies are not working in a new job, or within a world that is becoming increasingly more automated and online. A world where they need to navigate through complex systems to book a train ticket, or Doctor’s appointment. Where applying for a job usually involves uploading a CV to a website or completing an online application form and selection filtering assessments. The benefit of technology to help with common dyslexic challenges was also discussed, but lack of awareness, difficulty in learning how to use new systems and the cost of many applications are often seen as barriers to use.

A Snapshot of reading in prisons, and the importance of preventative strategies – Donna Stevenson

Donna Stevenson started her professional life as a Nursery Nurse and Primary school teacher. While at the British Dyslexia Association she led a project working with Liverpool Youth Offending Team which included training other Youth Offending Teams across England in the good dyslexia friendly practice that Liverpool YOT had implemented.

Donna discussed the main findings of a review of reading education in prisons in March 2022 which concluded that reading is not given sufficient priority and that those with the greatest need often receive the least support. The review made a number of key recommendations for the education, skills and work offer and for prison governors.

Donna went on to look at the use of the Scanning Pen’s Reader Secure Pen which is now being used in 85% of prisons and is providing a valuable aid to those who cannot read, enabling them to access their own legal correspondence as well as encouraging reading for pleasure and enjoyment.

The final part of the presentation looked at Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System, before focussing on prevention, including examples of best practice in Doncaster and Liverpool.

Time to do different – David Breakspear

David Breakspear has been a member of Revolving Doors’ Lived Experience Team since 2020 and involved in several working groups, which included: NHS Health in Justice, The Probation Service, and Ministry of Justice.

David’s presentation focused on his extensive experience of the criminal justice system. One that began in 1980, at the age of ten, with his first arrest, and subsequent caution, for criminal damage.

His went on to discuss his journey through “the school to prison pipeline,” following permanent exclusion from school, including detention centres, youth custody centres, and the adult prison estate. He was released from his final prison sentence, in 2017, and has lived crime free ever since.

David voiced those experiences, highlighting that prison is a word heavy environment, and inability to read makes people vulnerable and unable to fully access prison life. David described how his love of reading provided him with therapy and calm, and how he was able to use his skills, becoming a mentor to help those who could not read, learn to read.

Dyslexia and trauma in childhood leading to poor outcomes in adulthood – Dr Kiran Nijabat

Dr Kiran is a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist and Director of the Family Wellness Practice.

Her presentation revealed that recent research has shown that as many as 40 -60% of young people with dyslexia have some kind of psychological difficulties including anxiety, depression and ADHD.

Dr Kiran explained that dyslexic children become fearful because of their constant frustration and confusion in school. These feelings are exacerbated by the inconsistences of dyslexia. Because they may anticipate failure, entering new situations can become extremely anxiety provoking. Reading difficulties may lead to stigma, bullying and low self-esteem which in turn can lead to mental health problems such as anxiety or depression.

There is strong evidence of a high prevalence of offenders with dyslexia, ADHD in prison who have increased risk of associated coexisting mental health conditions.

Dr Kiran recommended that early screening of dyslexia, ADHD and other mental health problems can lead to earlier treatment which improves symptoms and outcomes.

Effective intervention has a positive impact on the offender and society and leads to increased productivity, decreased resource utilisation, and reduced rates of re-offending.

To view speaker presentations and speeches from the session, visit our APPG page here.

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