As it is Dyslexia Awareness Week, Rafan House is delighted to announce that we will shortly be opening a new Dyslexia and Neurodiversity Centre.

Understanding Dyslexia

Dyslexia is still widely misunderstood. It can cause many frustrations for parents, teachers, lecturers and managers who are trying to help. Those with dyslexic thinking are also left frustrated as they cannot engage with the space and support offered. Everyone is left feeling like they are trying their best but nothing is working. This continual process of failure can be emotionally distressing for all.

The problem is in the failing of all parties to understand that they do not see the same thing conceptually and physically. A teacher telling a child to practice more, will make no difference if they are not perceiving the same material in the first place. To overcome this frustration, there needs to be a realisation that you are looking at something differently. You also need to have the vocabulary to ask the right questions to create that common understanding of what each other is engaging with.

Case Study

For example, take a young boy who is struggling to read a book in class about a bee looking for flowers to make honey. The teacher tries to help him by asking questions about what he sees in the pictures. But his response is always different to all the other children. He talks about the flowers blowing in the wind and the clouds moving in the sky. The teacher begins to get frustrated as the child cannot comprehend the words or the images in the book. The young boy is also getting frustrated as he cannot seem to get it right. He is dyslexic, so the letters and pictures are moving on the page. What the teacher does not know, is the pictures are moving so much that the boy cannot see there is a bee on the page at all. However, if the boy was to be asked, “What do you think would happen if there was a bee in the picture?” he would be able to respond correctly. It is not that the child is stupid or cannot comprehend information. It is about understanding that dyslexic thinking means processing information differently. It is realising you need to ask different questions to figure out what the child is seeing or not seeing, then together you can engage in the same space. This story can be translated across many situations at home, school, university or the workplace.

Advantages of Dyslexic Thinking

Tapping into the remarkable things that make dyslexic thinking can make an assignment or a workplace project phenomenal. Those with dyslexia have amazing skills in strategic thinking, storytelling, thinking in 3D images, problem-solving and visualising concepts. However, they have difficulties in reading, writing, spelling, navigating directions, telling the time and organisation. So how do we tap into these strengths and work on the areas of struggle?

Our Offering

Rafan House can help in this space. We are experienced specialists who understand the dyslexic state of mind.

Seminars for parents, teachers and organisations on:

Understanding dyslexia

Avoiding the homework clash

Transitioning from school

Getting through exams (11+ and others)

We can also support with:

A study mentor

A professional exam companion

Consultations for your child’s tutor

Get in touch to find out more.