Understanding dyslexia
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Contents

  • Introduction and guidance
  • What is a badged course?
    • How to get a badge
  • Introduction
  • 1 Our changing views on disabilities and dyslexia: a journey through time
    • 1.1 Disability rights movement
    • 1.2 The myth of dyslexia
  • 2 Exploring different perspectives on disability
    • 2.1 Medical model of disability
    • 2.2 Social model of disability
    • 2.3 Assessing the two models
    • 2.4 Invisible disabilities
    • 2.5 Intersectionality
  • 3 Dyslexia defined
    • 3.1 Tracing the transformation: how the definition of dyslexia has evolved over time
    • 3.2 The Rose Report and the BDA: unpacking the definition of dyslexia
    • 3.3 Criticism of the Rose Report
    • 3.4 Further criticism
    • 3.5 New definition of dyslexia by the SASC (2024)
  • 4 This week’s quiz
  • 5 Summary of Week 1
  • Introduction
  • 1 Screening and diagnosis of dyslexia
    • 1.1 Screening
    • 1.2 Diagnosis
      • 1.2.1 Why the need for a diagnosis?
      • 1.2.2 What does the diagnosis involve?
      • 1.2.3 Mood after the diagnosis
  • 2 Signs and indicators
  • 3 Children, young people and dyslexia
    • 3.1 The role of parents in a diagnosis
    • 3.2 Progressing to further education and/or university
    • 3.3 Challenges in identifying dyslexia
  • 4 This week’s quiz
  • 5 Summary of Week 2
  • Introduction
  • 1 Biological, cognitive, and behavioural perspectives
    • 1.1 Biological explanations of dyslexia
      • 1.1.1 Lateralisation
      • 1.1.2 Functional resilience
      • 1.1.3 The brain structure
      • 1.1.4 Genetic explanations: heritability
    • 1.2 Cognitive explanations of dyslexia
      • 1.2.1 The phonological deficit (PDD) hypothesis
      • 1.2.2 The ‘Visual deficit’ hypotheses
      • 1.2.3 The ‘Automaticity’ and ‘rate of processing’ hypotheses
    • 1.3 Environmental factors
      • 1.3.1 Biochemical
      • 1.3.2 Social
  • 2 Neurodiversity
    • 2.1 Neurodivergent conditions
    • 2.2 Neurodivergent: overlaps and co-occurrence
      • 2.2.1 Dyspraxia
      • 2.2.2 Dyscalculia
      • 2.2.3 Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
      • 2.2.4 Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
    • 2.3 Diverging terminology
  • 3 This week’s quiz
  • 4 Summary of Week 3
  • Introduction
  • 1 Comorbidity: dyslexia and emotions, self-esteem, and mental health
    • 1.1 The school years: social barrier
  • 2 Succeeding with dyslexia
    • 2.1 Testimonials
    • 2.2 Me, an ordinary person
    • 2.3 Living or working with someone that has dyslexia
  • 3 Introducing three case studies
    • 3.1 Amaka
    • 3.2 Ben
    • 3.3 Chandru
    • 3.4 Your initial impressions
  • 4 This week’s quiz
  • 5 Summary of Week 4
  • Introduction
  • 1 Dyslexia-friendly teaching and learning
    • 1.1 Delivering content
  • 2 Learning through preview and context
  • 3 Learning through episodes and events
  • 4 Learning through experience
  • 5 Learning through exploration
  • 6 Learning through setbacks, failure and metacognition
    • 6.1 Failure
    • 6.2 Metacognition
    • 6.3 Growth mindset
  • 7 Learning through multisensory methods
  • 8 Technology
    • 8.1 Assistive Technology (AT)
    • 8.2 Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • 9 This week’s quiz
  • 10 Summary of Week 5
  • Introduction
  • 1 Supportive study strategies: big picture thinking
    • 1.1 The Jigsaw Technique
    • 1.2 The 80/20 technique
    • 1.3 The 5-minute mind jotter
    • 1.4 Set goals and objectives
    • 1.5 Key words and key themes
    • 1.6 Read actively
    • 1.7 Dual reading
    • 1.8 Use a guide
  • 2 Using the ‘big picture’ in writing
    • 2.1 How to structure a 2000-word assignment
  • 3 Mind mapping
    • 3.1 Hand-drawn or digital mind maps?
  • 4 Review
    • 4.1 Chunking time
    • 4.2 Additional tips
  • 5 Memory techniques
    • 5.1 Different types of memory
    • 5.2 Other memory techniques
  • 6 Confidence and self-belief in your ability to learn and study
    • 6.1 Metacognition
    • 6.2 Failure
    • 6.3 Growth mindset
  • 7 Organisation
    • 7.1 Time management
    • 7.2 Procrastination
  • 8 This week’s quiz
  • 10 Summary of Week 6
  • Introduction
  • 1 Dyslexia: the secret ingredient for workplace innovation
    • 1.1 Dyslexic strengths in the workplace
  • 2 To declare or not to declare?
    • 2.1 Workplace assessment
  • 3 Specific workplace challenges and adjustments
    • 3.1 Reasonable adjustments for workers with disabilities
    • 3.2 Assistive technology for people with dyslexia – auxiliary aids
      • 3.2.1 Technology
  • 4 Disability discrimination regarding dyslexia
  • 5 This week’s quiz
  • 6 Summary of Week 7
  • Introduction
  • 1 Key concepts – the threads
  • 2 Practical strategies – linking the threads
  • 3 Concentration
    • 3.1 Why is it so difficult to concentrate?
    • 3.2 How can we improve our concentration?
    • 3.3 How to manage distractions
  • 4 Mindfulness
    • 4.1 Formal and informal mindfulness
  • 5 Revisiting the case studies
  • 6 Action plan
  • 7 This week’s quiz
  • 8 Summary of Week 8
  • Tell us what you think
  • References
  • Acknowledgements

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