The Learning People

"Honour Dyslexia" Petition: Downing Street's Response

Earlier this year, we submitted the following petition to Downing Street:

“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to reclassify dyslexia as a thinking style, not a disability.”

Details of Petition:

“Dyslexia is currently classed as a disability by law. This is intensely damaging to the self-esteem of dyslexics. In fact, dyslexics are strong visual-spatial thinkers and often have heightened intuition. While some find the world of work difficult, many excel in areas such as architecture, engineering, design, entrepreneurism and other fields requiring visual, intuitive and/or lateral thinking. There is also mounting evidence that dyslexics can succeed at all academic tasks when instruction is appropriate to the dyslexic thinking style. As a society, our focus needs to be on catering adequately for all thinking styles, not writing some of them off as disabilities. We urge the Government to submit new laws to Parliament to reframe dyslexia as a thinking style, not a disability. Care must be taken to ensure that the rights and protections currently afforded to dyslexics under the Disability Discrimination Act are transferred to a new Equality of Thinking Style law. The dyslexic way of thinking deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Note: the term “dyslexics” instead of “people with dyslexia” is used here intentionally. Dyslexia is not an affliction.”

Here is the Government’s response

Thank you for your e-petition concerning dyslexia.

The Government is committed to ensuring that everybody has the opportunity to participate fully in society and anti-discrimination legislation supports this aim. 

The Government considers that the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is the most suitable vehicle for protecting dyslexic people from discrimination based on dyslexia.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995, as amended, does not define every dyslexic person as disabled. It is the effect that the dyslexia has on the individual, rather than their being dyslexic, which determines whether they are a disabled person. In general, for the purposes of the Act, a person is a disabled person if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Where dyslexia has this effect on an individual, that person is a disabled person for the purposes of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and thus is entitled to the full protection from discrimination that is provided by the Act, including from discrimination that arises from a failure to make a reasonable adjustment.    

The Act requires reasonable adjustments to be made for disabled people not just in employment and access to goods, services, facilities and premises, but also in access to education, the functions of public authorities and private clubs. A disabled person who considers that they have been subject to disability discrimination, including as a consequence of a failure by an employer, service provider or other duty holder to meet their duty of reasonable adjustment, may take enforcement action through civil procedures. 

Consequently, the Government considers that the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 provides appropriate levels of protection from discrimination for people who have dyslexia and it has no plans to enact legislation specifically for protection against discrimination based on dyslexia.

Sourced from: http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page16509

Dyslexia is a Thinking Style, not a Disability!

The closing date for signing up to our "Honour Dyslexia" Downing Street petition - a bid to put dyslexic thinking on the map-has gone past now.

Imagine a world in which people are excited to know you are dyslexic.

   

Imagine a world in which dyslexic thinking is free from any stigma.

   

Imagine job advertisements containing the text, "The successful candidate is likely to be a dyslexic thinker, as this will be a real advantage in this position."

   

Imagine educators who, liberated from the "disability" philosophy of dyslexia, are finally free to harness dyslexic thinking as a learning tool.

   

Imagine dyslexic rights being protected, not by the Disability Discrimination Act, but by an Equality of Thinking Styles Act.

   

Imagine dyslexic students applying, not for a Disabled Student's Allowance, but a Thinking Diversity Grant.

   

At The Learning People, we believe in a culture where every thinking style is treated with dignity and respect. We have seen the great things that happen to our clients as soon as dyslexic thinking is honoured in the learning process.

   

That's why we've launched a Downing Street petition to reclassify dyslexia as a thinking style, not a disability.

   

You can still view the petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/honourdyslexia . When we hear anything about the outcome we will posy the details here to let you know.

   

You may have comments or ideas you want to share with us about the campaign, so please feel free to post them below.

   

Whether you gave us support, comments, or ideas - thank you. If you haven't yet signed up to our "Gifted With Dyslexia" newsletter, click here to sign up and we'll keep you posted as to how the campaign develops over the spring.

   

Richard Whitehead

and The Learning People team