This blog post tells you 10 things about the Dyslexia Scotland Adult Network, and 10 ways I benefit from it.
10 things about the Adult Network
1. What is the Adult Network?
A network of 3 support groups for dyslexic people in Scotland aged 18 and over. The groups meet in Stirling, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
2. Who coordinates the groups?
- Stirling and Glasgow: a Dyslexia Scotland volunteer.
- Edinburgh: a Dyslexia Scotland staff member.
3. When and how often do the groups meet?
- Stirling: Saturdays 11am – 4.15pm, 4 times a year.
- Glasgow: Monday evenings 6:30 – 8:30pm, 10 times a year.
- Edinburgh: Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons, 4 times a year.
4. Are meetings confidential?
Yes. Network members are asked to value everyone’s right to privacy by not disclosing personal details of others outwith the meetings.
5. Who facilitates meetings?
The network coordinator, guest speakers, or Network members.
6. How many people attend meetings?
Usually between 10 and 20.
7. What happens at meetings?
Presentations, workshop activities, group discussion, informal chat and drop-ins.
8. What are the learning aims of the Network?
- Learn about dyslexia
- Improve your self-confidence
- Develop belief in your potential to learn more
- Share dyslexia experiences with others
- Evaluate your own dyslexia experiences
- Change your attitude to dyslexia to focus on your own strengths
- Build on positive dyslexia strategies and transfer these to new situations
9. Do meetings cost?
No. Dyslexia Scotland has funding to cover the cost of room hire.
10. Do all 3 groups ever meet up?
Yes, there was a meeting in June in Stirling for all 3 groups. Another all-network meeting is being planned for June 2018.
10 ways I benefit from the Adult Network
- I enjoy it! It always makes me feel positive and uplifted.
- It gives me a safe space to articulate and share experiences with people who have had similar experiences.
- I learn things that help me self-manage my dyslexia. (To me, the term ‘self-management’ means doing everything I can to manage my dyslexia.)
- It gives me a fuller understanding of dyslexia and other Specific Learning Difficulties. This lets me see where I fit in the context of the adult dyslexia community. It also helps me understand and support my dyslexic adult peers better. And it means I am better informed for talking to others about dyslexia.
- It makes me feel stronger and more confident in my ability to cope as a dyslexic adult.
- I can attend without signing up publicly because the communications are distributed by blind-copied mailing list.
- It makes me feel normal because everyone else in the room is a dyslexic adult.
- It lets me help other dyslexic adults by sharing tips and my experience. This gives me confidence.
- It’s good to talk to other dyslexic adults because they make adjustments without me having to ask. For example, if I forget what I was going to say, they help me remember and understand if I don’t manage to.
- It makes me feel hopeful and confident about dyslexic adults’ ability to support themselves and each other.
Final word
The Dyslexia Scotland Adult Network provides a unique form of support for dyslexic adults in Scotland. It has let me grow personally and professionally in ways that nothing else has. I warmly recommend it to dyslexic adults as a chance to learn, feel part of a group, and help others.
More information and upcoming meeting dates
Please visit https://www.dyslexiascotland.org.uk/our-adult-networks.
By an anonymous adult member of Dyslexia Scotland.
A life less ordinary 