[SENco-forum] A call for thoughts: headings

The dyslexia label has been much debated over the years.
It worries the non-dyslexics more than the dyslexics,
and there is no agreement, but individual preferences!

Yesterday my daughter had a questionnaire
from the Local Authority about the quality of
my grandson's last fase of education
as he is about to transfer.
(Seemed a bit odd anyway, as Dominic is rising 5
and has not been in compulsory education yet.)
I asked her whether the form was available
in electronic format for dyslexic parents,
or in other languages.
No, but it did ask if Dominic had a long list of
disabilities, including dyslexia.
I said I was pleased it said 'dyslexia' not
Specific Learning Difficulties.
My daughter (ex-teacher) agreed,
as no parent would know what SpLD meant.

SpLD is not a good term, even if u change the D
into Differences.
Dyslexia does not go away when u stop 'learning'.
An adult, unless he is a mature student,
is no longer a 'learner', but he is still dyslexic.

We went along with SpLD because it was in the
1981 Education Act, and dyslexia was not in the Act.
If u use SpLD, u have to say what kind of SpLD.
And yes, if u say dyslexia, u have to say
what kind of dyslexia, as there is such a range
of characteristics, causes and severity.

People concerned with Assistive Technology
(another difficult frase) make this mistake too.
Those who are orientated to students,
persist in saying 'dyslexic learners'
rather than 'dyslexic users'.
A group of dyslexic adults, attending
a talk and demonstration about spellcheckers,
are not 'dyslexic learners';
they are 'dyslexic users'.

Jean
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Jean Hutchins, SE Surrey DA.
RSA Dip SpLD, AMBDA, retired.
E-mail: jeanhutchins1 at ntlworld.com
British Dyslexia Association Web: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk
Also into spelling reform. Web: www.spellingsociety.org
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