Dyslexia Awareness Week 2024 – What’s your Story?

Monday 7th October – Sunday 13th October 2024     

We are counting down to Dyslexia Awareness Week in October. This is the week in the year where we go even further to help people understand what dyslexia is, that there is effective support available and to explain the up and down-sides of having dyslexia. If you can join us, we would love it!

The theme of this year’s Dyslexia Awareness Week is What’s Your Story?

Look out for posts on our social media pages and for ways you can get involved.

Could you help spread the word about dyslexia?   

Dyslexia brings unique strengths. What’s your story of thriving with dyslexia?  We would really love it if you wanted to share your own dyslexia story with us. How about sending a short video no longer than one minute. Look out for others’ films during the week on our social media channels.

You can use your mobile phone and let our community know what makes you a champion for dyslexia!

group of people with hands in the air

Share Your Dyslexia Story!  

Show us how you have overcome your dyslexia or are working to succeed. Send a 1-minute video about your unique journey.

  • Email to: events@helenarkell.org.uk
  • Share on social media: #DAW24, #Dyslexia, #DyslexiaAwarenessWeek, #WhatsYourStory and tag us in!

Be Helen’s Hero!  

Share your story or take on a challenge!

Could you fundraise during #DAW24 week and become one of Helen’s Heroes?

To launch the celebration of our heroes we are asking our supporters to tell us your story or do something challenging for dyslexia.

Have you done something amazing for dyslexia? Have you overcome a battle and feel like you have found strategies to cope with your dyslexia?

Some Fun Fundraising Ideas to get you started:

  • Sponsored run or walk
  • Board game marathon
  • Bake sale
  • Quiz night
  • Skydive or wing walk
  • Treasure Hunt
  • Silent auctions
  • School or office dress-up days!

Your fundraising will help even more people with dyslexia make sense of their life. All our heroes will receive a certificate and a place in our hall of fame on our website. Let’s help people with dyslexia know we are proud to share awareness.

Contact: fundraising@helenarkell.org.uk

Royal Parks Half Marathon

Support our Royal Parks Half Marathon team

Our magnificent Royal Parks Half Marathon runners are taking part in this race on Sunday 13 October, which is also the last day of Dyslexia Awareness Week. A great final flourish to cap off a week of raising awareness and understanding for dyslexia!

Good luck to all who are taking part! Support them here: Royal Parks Half Marathon 2024 – JustGiving

If you have any questions, email the team on events@helenarkell.org.uk.

Thank you!

Watch this space for DAW 24 updates or sign up for our e-newsletter.

By |2024-09-24T11:50:29+01:00September 24th, 2024|Fundraising news, Homepage featured, Latest news|0 Comments

Exploring Reading Experiences in Neurodivergent Adults

An Invitation to Participate in Research

The Neuroscience of Communication Development Lab (N-CoDe Lab) at Royal Holloway, University of London, is excited to announce a new research project focusing on the reading experiences of neurodivergent adults. This research focuses on understanding how the experience of reading grows and changes throughout life, particularly in individuals with a diagnosis of autism, Developmental Language Disorder, and/or dyslexia.

Who are they looking for?

  • Adults aged 21-30
  • With a formal diagnosis of autism, DLD, and/or dyslexia
  • A history of challenges with reading during childhood
  • Raised speaking English in the UK

Please note they are not including individuals without a diagnosis or reading difficulties.

This criteria has been carefully selected to ensure they can accurately explore the nuanced ways in which specific neurodivergent profiles impact the relationship with reading, motivation, and support systems over time.

What Should I Expect?

If you wish you participate, you will begin by completing a short questionnaire, which should take approximately 30 minutes. This can be done online, via email, or over the phone. Should you meet the eligibility criteria, you will then be invited to participate in a one-hour online interview. The interview will delve deeper into your reading experiences, focusing on your personal journey and any changes in motivation and support over the years.

How Can I Participate?

If you are interested you can access an information pack, which includes a video information sheet and an easy-to-read version, and complete the initial questionnaire by visiting this link. This is an opportunity to share your unique experiences and contribute to a better understanding of how neurodivergence influences reading and motivation.

For more information or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Hannah Jones at hannah.jones.2020@rhul.ac.uk or the N-CoDe Lab at ncodelab@rhul.ac.uk.

By |2024-08-08T12:20:33+01:00August 8th, 2024|Latest news, Research news|0 Comments

Dyslexia Research Participants Needed!

If you are over 18 and have a Dyslexia diagnosis, you could help!

The University of Surrey has reached out to us with 2 exciting research opportunities that you may be able to participate in. If you are interested and wish to participate please get in touch with the research organisers using the contact details in the images below.

Thank you for your help!

 

By |2024-07-29T10:07:51+01:00July 29th, 2024|Latest news, Research news|0 Comments

Multisensory Teaching- SEN Magazine Article by Claire Harvey

Enhance Teaching with Multisensory Techniques!

Did you know that engaging all senses in learning can make education more effective and memorable? Claire Harvey, our Head of Education at Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, shares insightful strategies on using multisensory teaching to cater to neurodiverse learners. This approach transforms learning into a whole-brain exercise, ensuring content sticks and knowledge transfers to long-term memory.

Discover the full potential of multisensory teaching in Claire’s article in Special Educational Needs Magazine, July/August 2024 edition.

Read it now: https://senmagazine.co.uk/sen-online/sen131_4y2g/#p=13

By |2024-07-25T16:49:33+01:00July 25th, 2024|Latest news, Research news|0 Comments

Theo Paphitis Charitable Trust Clay Shoot 2024

Fundraising Success at Theo Paphitis Charitable Trust Clay Shoot 2024

On Tuesday, June 25th, 2024, our fundraising team had the pleasure of attending the Theo Paphitis Charitable Trust Clay Shoot 2024, a fantastic event dedicated to raising vital funds for several worthy causes, including Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, British Dyslexia Association, CoppaFeel!, and Starlight Children’s Foundation UK.

The event was a success, bringing together members of the Theo Paphitis Retail Group to support all 4 charities. The collective enthusiasm and generosity raised around £60,000! This amazing total will be shared between the charities, including Helen Arkell, helping us to continue our essential work in changing and improving the lives of people with dyslexia.

We want to say a big thank you to everyone at the Theo Paphitis Charitable Trust for their amazing support and dedication. It was such a memorable and impactful day.

By |2024-07-30T14:09:35+01:00July 18th, 2024|Fundraising news, Latest news|0 Comments

Dyslexic readers needed for an eye tracking study!

Can bolding text benefit reading in dyslexic and non-dyslexic readers?

A team of researchers at the University College London are looking for participants to help in a study aimed at understanding the reading patterns of individuals with dyslexia.

This research will help better understand the cognitive processes that underlie reading. They will use an eye-tracker to do this. By monitoring readers’ eye movements, you can learn a great deal about the moment-to-moment decisions made by readers. Reading is a vital skill in modern society and finding out more about how we achieve this amazing skill can help us better understand how to teach reading or to help those who struggle. Participants will be asked to attend a single session lasting between 1-1.5 hours at 26 Bedford Way, University College London, WC1H 0AP

During the session you will be asked to:

  • Complete several tasks measuring general language skills.
  • Read short extracts of text off a computer screen while your eye movements are recorded.

To be eligible you must:

  • Have a dyslexia diagnosis and be aged between 18-40 years old.
  • Have native-level English proficiency (or spoken English for 15+ years).
  • Have Normal or corrected-to-normal vision (with glasses or preferably contact
  • lenses).
  • Have no history of significant hearing loss or neurological disease.

Participants will be compensated for their time by receiving either £9/hour or 1 Credit/hour and will be helping grow our understanding in how best to help those with dyslexia, learn in the best way possible.

Please contact Haibei Wang if you are interested in taking part in this study:

Haibei.wang.23@ucl.ac.uk

+44 (0)7503986873

By |2024-07-01T11:54:26+01:00July 1st, 2024|Latest news, Research news|0 Comments

Case studies needed!

Author Margaret Rooke is bringing out a book to inspire secondary school students with dyslexia, to show them that life after school can be so much better.

The book will include interviews with young people who’ve left school, aged 17-26, Everyone who takes part will be able to check everything that’s written to make sure they’re happy with it.

Margaret wants to make sure there is a true diversity of contributors to the book, so that readers can relate to it well. She needs to include more young people from a wider variety of ethnic backgrounds, for instance African, Caribbean, Asian, Latin, Greek and Turkish, She also would like to include a few more who have jobs some wouldn’t view as professional or impressive, but they feel satisfied by their work.

The book will be a sister book to Dyslexia is My Superpower (Most of the Time) and Creative, Successful, Dyslexic. It will be published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers and available worldwide.

If you are able to help or have any questions, please do contact her on margaretrooke@btinternet.com

By |2024-06-26T12:41:45+01:00June 26th, 2024|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Farnham Charity Bike Ride

Take part in the 16th Farnham Charity Bike Ride in aid of Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity!

This exciting event is suitable for cyclists of all ages and abilities! Explore stunning countryside, discover charming villages and challenge yourself as you help Helen Arkell raise vital awareness and funds to enable us to continue to support many more people through their journey with dyslexia.

This year’s event will take place on Sunday 15th September 2024, starting on Castle Street, Farnham.

  • Children aged under 16 go FREE when accompanied by a fee-paying adult
  • Free medal for all finishers
  • Four routes to choose from: 16 miles, 25 miles, 50 miles, and 75-miles!

For the full event details and to sign up please visit their website

Contact the Helen Arkell fundraising team on 01252 792400 or fundraising@helenarkell.org.uk for fundraising support.

Please note this event is run and organised by The Hedgehogs and St. Andrews Infant School PTA.

By |2024-07-23T16:58:14+01:00June 7th, 2024|Fundraising news, Latest news|0 Comments

The Department for Education needs your input!

If you consider yourself to have a condition, illness or disability that acts as a substantial or long-term barrier to carrying out day-to-day activities, register your interest to have your say in how government services can be more accessible and inclusive.

Feedback from a range of users is essential and will help identify accessibility issues across the Department for Education to ensure their services are compatible for everyone.

To register your interest please complete their form, that takes approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Thank you for your helping ensure inclusivity throughout the Department for Education.

By |2024-07-23T16:30:54+01:00June 5th, 2024|Research news|0 Comments

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