The earlier on in life that children and young people are identified with dyslexia, the better their long-term outcomes.
Between 2023 and 2024, Dyslexia Scotland undertook Scotland’s biggest-ever survey of its dyslexic population. With help from the University of Glasgow, the results have been analysed and published as Towards a dyslexia-friendly Scotland?
Dyslexia Scotland and Youth Scotland have recently collaborated to create a free guide for youth practitioners working with young people. This guide has three key sections to support youth workers:
- Recognising and identifying dyslexia – background and context information.
- What you can do as a youth worker – how to support young people you work with.
- FAQ’s and useful links – common questions and further resources.
The guide is available to download below.
Katie Carmichael, Lead for Creative and Digital at Dyslexia Scotland and Co-author of ‘Towards a dyslexia-friendly Scotland?’ said:
‘The earlier that young people are identified as dyslexic, the better their long-term educational, career and wellbeing outcomes. Our recent research showed, however, that many aren’t identified until they are in secondary school or later, so they’re not getting the support they need to help them thrive. We’re delighted that we’ve been able to collaborate with Youth Scotland to raise awareness among youth workers, as these educators are primed to make a key difference in the lives of young people with dyslexia.’
Mike Strang, Youth Scotland Chief Executive said:
‘Youth Scotland is proud to collaborate with Dyslexia Scotland on this essential guide designed to help youth workers better understand and assist young people with dyslexia.
We believe in engaging with young people on their terms, recognising their unique strengths and challenges. Dyslexia is one of many potential factors that make each young person’s journey distinctive. Youth workers, as trusted adults, are instrumental in creating safe spaces and offering meaningful opportunities for all young people, including those with neurodiverse needs.
By equipping youth workers with the insights and resources outlined in this guide, we take an important step towards building an inclusive environment where all young people can realise their full potential.’