dyslexia | Page 2 of 10

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

Farnham Charity Bike Ride

Take part in the 16^th 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 Marcy Rice|2024-10-29T10:19:26+00:00June 7th, 2024|Fundraising 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 Marcy Rice|2024-07-23T16:30:54+01:00June 5th, 2024|Research news|0 Comments

New! Personalised learning 1-2-1 tuition in the summer holidays

We have summer dates for our personalised learning one-to-one tuition sessions!

Book as many or as few as you like and give your child a boost in study skills, literacy, writing, spelling and memory and learning techniques. Maths sessions are also available.

Find out more.

By Marcy Rice|2024-07-23T16:31:05+01:00May 28th, 2024|Course news, Homepage featured|0 Comments

A new definition of dyslexia

A new definition of dyslexia has been released following three years of research and consultation. The definition has been agreed across a broad range of expertise and is applicable across the ages. We are delighted that many members of the Helen Arkell community have contributed to this important work which will help us to support more people with dyslexia in the future.

You can view the definition here. The new definition identifies many of the same or similar underlying cognitive indicators of dyslexia, and how it impacts individuals. This means that everyone who was identified as dyslexic under the previous definition continues to meet the criteria for a diagnosis.

By Marcy Rice|2024-09-02T09:43:54+01:00May 24th, 2024|Research news|0 Comments

Opportunities to take part in dyslexia research

We have had a flurry of requests from top universities to help recruit for various dyslexia research projects. Supporting dyslexia research is an important part of what we do here at Helen Arkell because the more that is known about dyslexia, the better we can be at understanding it and providing support.

All the research projects we promote have been approved by the appropriate university ethics committees and, in turn, by us at Helen Arkell.

We have three research projects. If suitable, we would love for you to take part. Some of the projects offer a small financial reward for taking part:

Christina at London South Bank University is asking for adults aged 18 to 40 with and without dyslexia to complete a series of questionnaires and verbal and non-verbal cognitive tasks. The study takes place in a lab at London South Bank University (Elephant & Castle campus), and takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. The purpose of the study is to compare the performance of people with and without dyslexia on tasks and questionnaires relating to the executive function of planning. Executive functions enable us to pay attention, plan, organise and set goals, for example they enable us to plan a holiday. Christina wants to find out whether individuals with dyslexia have any strengths or difficulties when it comes to planning, organisation and time management. If difficulties are identified, future research can explore interventions and other adjustments that can be made to help the individuals. Find out more.
Jovana at the University of Surrey is looking for adolescents with reading difficulties, their parents and teachers to create a panel of experts by experience to help design a research project. Find out more.
Manon at the University of Cambridge is running a study into music perception in dyslexia. This study aims to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying speech and music processing (and their potential interactions) in people with and without reading difficulties, with a view to paving the way for new methods of remediation. To carry out this project, he is looking for volunteers aged between 18 and 40 with developmental dyslexia, who are native speakers of English and who are not musicians. Find out more.

By Marcy Rice|2024-07-23T16:31:40+01:00May 13th, 2024|Research news|0 Comments

New Spotlight: AI and Dyslexia/SpLDs – How can AI support learners?

As advances in Artificial Intelligences continue, how can it help learners with dyslexia and other learning difficulties? Join Alastair Brown, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer at AI First Talent to find out.

The Spotlight: AI and Dyslexia/SpLDs – How can AI support learners? will be held live online on Monday 10 June at 6 pm with a recording available afterwards. The live webinar will include a Q & A session. Tickets are £10.

You can find out more and book here.

See you there!

By Marcy Rice|2024-07-23T16:31:50+01:00May 13th, 2024|Course news|0 Comments

Book a Touch Typing course – Summer holiday dates

Our Touch Typing courses are aimed at children aged 6 to teens and get booked up quickly!

The course is held at our Centre in Farnham, Surrey and comprises three 90-minute sessions over three days during Summer holiday from Monday 29 July to Wednesday 31 July

Book in age ranges to suit your child:

Age 6 to 11
Age 10 to teens
Mixed ages

Being able to type quickly and accurately can make all the difference in class – especially if hand writing is a struggle.

Book here.

By Marcy Rice|2024-07-23T16:31:59+01:00May 13th, 2024|Course news|0 Comments

Level 5 and Level 7 Diplomas in Teaching Learners with Dyslexia/SpLDs and Teaching and Assessing Learners with Dyslexia/SpLDS

Join our Level 5 and Level 7 courses!

At Helen Arkell we have been successfully delivering the Level 5 and Level 7 Diploma courses for many years. Our next courses begin September 2024 and are running from the Centre in Farnham.

These are a nationally recognised qualifications and we have consistently been recognised by CPD External Verifiers as being one of the ‘gold standard’ centres for delivering these qualifications.

Our Level 5 and Level 7 courses are accredited by the CPD Standards Office and our Level 5 course is approved by Patoss (Professional Association for Teachers of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties).

We are unique in providing a very high proportion of tutor-to-candidate contact time to ensure that each candidate achieves to the very maximum of their ability.

The tutor group system at Helen Arkell encourages candidates to share their wealth of knowledge and experiences during their weekly contact with each other.

Please note that you do not need a university degree or to be a qualified teacher to attend our Level 5 course. Those looking to do Level 7 need to hold a Level 5 qualification.

Find out more:

Level 5 Diploma in Teaching Learners with Dyslexia/Specific Learning Difficulties – with teaching practice in KS2-KS1

Level 5 Diploma In Teaching Learners with Dyslexia/Specific Learning Difficulties – with teaching practice in KS2-KS3

Level 7 Diploma in Teaching and Assessing Learners with Dyslexia/ Specific Learning Difficulties

By Marcy Rice|2024-09-11T13:05:10+01:00May 13th, 2024|Course news|0 Comments