This week is Dyslexia Awareness Week, and the British Dyslexia Association is calling on us all to “Raise the Volume.” The
campaign is about amplifying the voices of dyslexic people – past, present, and future. The internet and social media have made that easier than ever. They allow people from every walk of life, in every corner of the globe, to share their stories and connect with others who understand their experiences.
Dyslexia was first identified in the late 1800s, yet very little was known about it. It wasn’t formally recognised in the UK education system until 1987, almost 100 years later. Since then, progress has been made, but often in slow steps and unevenly across schools. Too many young people are still left struggling without the support they need. The good news is that we may be entering a more hopeful climate of change. With growing awareness, better understanding of how to teach dyslexic learners and national campaigns like Raising the Volume, there’s real potential for the next generation to have a very different experience in education.
How Common is Dyslexia?
When we talk about positive role models for dyslexia, the same few famous names usually appear in the spotlight. That recognition is brilliant, but it can also mean that only a handful of individuals are celebrated again and again. In reality, dyslexic people are everywhere, in every walk of life. Depending on the research you read, estimates of dyslexia range anywhere between 3–20% of the population. The figures vary but the most widely accepted estimate is around 10%.
That means in a classroom of 30 children, at least three are likely to be dyslexic, whether they have a diagnosis or not. Yet many of those students still face the daily challenges of language processing, working memory and organisation in classrooms
designed for neurotypical learners. To put it into perspective: dyslexia is more common than having hazel eyes or red
hair and about as common as being left-handed. (If you happen to be ginger-haired, hazel-eyed, left-handed and dyslexic, you’re probably one of a kind!)
Despite these numbers, the idea persists that dyslexia only affects a small proportion of people. As a result, support in schools is still patchy. Too often it depends on your postcode, or your parents’ ability to pay for private help, rather than being standard practice for every dyslexic learner.
Voices from the Past
Dyslexic people have always made extraordinary contributions to the world around us. The difference now is that many are willing to talk openly about being dyslexic and how it shaped their lives. Here are some of my favourites to share with students at Toucan:
● Pete Conrad – the third man to walk on the Moon. School was tough for Pete, but his fascination with mechanics led him to join the US Air Force, become a test pilot and eventually an astronaut. Nicknamed ‘Mr Fixit’, he was one of only 11 people in history to set foot on the Moon.
● James T. Russell – inventor of the CD. Russell, who identified as dyslexic, believed his ability to think visually and manipulate ideas in 3D was a direct strength of his dyslexia.
● Ingvar Kamprad – founder of IKEA. Dyslexic himself, he used names of towns and people for his products because numbers were difficult to remember. That personal strategy went on to shape a global brand.
● Anita Roddick – founder of The Body Shop. Roddick often described being dyslexic as a strength that fuelled her creativity and innovation.
These are only a handful of examples from history, but there are countless others — business owners, doctors, engineers, sports people, teachers and many more — dyslexic people succeeding every day in every field of work and interest.
Voices of Today
There are countless dyslexic people shaping our world right now.
● Jamie Oliver – chef and TV personality, known for his food campaigns, is now using his platform to raise awareness about dyslexia and call for better understanding and support.
● The British Dyslexia Association has a team of ambassadors proudly speaking about their experiences. These include Rory the Vet from CBBC, athlete Adelle Tracy and Radio One presenter Mollie King. They show young people that dyslexia is not a barrier to success. Whether your passion lies in science, sport, media, or the arts, there are role models to look up to.
● Dame Margaret Aderin-Pocock – award-winning space scientist and BBC presenter of The Sky at Night. She has spoken openly about being dyslexic and credits it with helping her think differently, which has been an asset in her scientific work.
● Stampy Longnose (Joseph Garrett, pictured below) – YouTuber famous for his Minecraft videos. He has shared his experiences of being dyslexic with millions of young viewers, showing them that creativity and dyslexia go hand in hand.
Organisations like Made By Dyslexia also play an important role. They regularly share films and stories from dyslexic people in every walk of life. For families with young people who are struggling to see the positives, this can be a good place to discover just how many successful dyslexic voices are out there.
Raising the Voices of the Future
Seeing what dyslexic adults achieve today is powerful. But just as important is encouraging the voices of tomorrow — the young people growing up now, finding their strengths, and learning to speak up with confidence. The young people growing up today will be the dyslexic role models of tomorrow. Here at Toucan, we encourage young people to find strategies that work for them and to steer their own learning journey. We help them find the courage they need to advocate for themselves in school, so they can achieve their full potential. We acknowledge their strengths – creativity, curiosity, and imagination – while also supporting them with their difficulties. Most importantly, we show them they are not alone. There are other people who think like them, face similar challenges and have managed to work through them.
As well as our flexischools in Newcastle and Gateshead, we run a monthly weekend workshop called Sparks Club. It’s a place where young people with dyslexia can feel part of a community of like-minded people, share their experiences and try out activities that play to their strengths while building strategies for the things they find challenging.
I asked some of our students if they could give voice to their thoughts about Toucan:
“You can get up and move around and stuff that you’re not allowed to do at school.”
“You learn in a fun way.”
“Sometimes at school you feel left out because you’re the only one that’s neurodiverse but at Toucan everyone is the same.”
“You might get bullied at school but at Toucan everyone knows how you feel.”
It feels like an exciting time for dyslexic people. More voices are being raised, stories are being shared, and change is being pushed for. The hope is simple: that the young people growing up now won’t have to fight the same battles as previous generations. That they’ll grow up with support as standard, not as luck. That their creativity, problem-solving and imagination will be valued just as much as their reading and spelling. If we keep raising the volume together, we can make sure those future voices are not only heard, but celebrated.