– This is an online event. You will be sent a Zoom link on the same day as the session. Do not worry if you cannot attend on the day, we will send you a recording –

One in ten people in the UK may have dyslexia. It affects people from all cultures and all walks of life.

But the term dyslexia can mean different things to different people. Divisions and disagreements in defining dyslexia create confusion for individuals, parents and teachers, and can make it difficult to put in place much-needed support.

The Delphi definition, published in 2024, reflects current thinking about the nature of dyslexia. It is the culmination of three years of research and consultation. This common definition will allow consistent identification and support to be put in place.

This talk will include:

• A brief history of how dyslexia has been defined
• Why a new definition was needed
• How the new definition conceptualises dyslexia
• How we approach assessment of dyslexia

About Rachael McMullen:

Rachael McMullen is Head of Dyslexia Support at Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity. She manages a large team of specialists who deliver over 1,300 dyslexia assessments and 4,000 hours of specialist tuition a year. She is on the Board of Directors of the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC), which promotes good practice and monitors standards for assessors, and which recognises the new Delphi definition of dyslexia.

Rachael is a qualified specialist teacher and dyslexia assessor, and spent 10 years as Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) in a specialist school for students with dyslexia and other specific learning differences (SpLD). She was privileged to work with a wonderfully diverse community of bright, creative, resilient and determined young people.

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