Dyslexia Action
Encyclopedia
Dyslexia Action is a non profit organisation based in the UK, providing support to those affected by dyslexia
and literacy difficulties, across all sectors and training providers. The organisation also provides specialised training to teachers through a variety of internal and outsourced courses and projects, as well as undertaking research on, and raising awareness of, the various issues surrounding dyslexia and literacy difficulties.
Under its previous title, Dyslexia Action had been providing teaching and support for dyslexic children and adults, as well as specialist training for teachers, from 1972. It was initially founded as the Dyslexia Institute by Kathleen Hickey and Wendy Fisher, as a progression from the Surrey Dyslexia Institute, which had been in existence since 1968.
By 1981, the Institute had acquired 12 centres nationwide, and in 1993, the Institute began to offer its own Postgraduate Diploma
course validated by Kingston University
, and later York University
. In February 2003 HRH Sophie, Countess of Wessex, agreed to become the organisation's Patron. In July 2003 the Countess opened the Institutes current Head Office at Park House in Egham, Surrey.
and providing teaching materials to teachers and pupils alike. Other projects involve working with prison and probation
services, supporting adults and working with employers.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a very broad term defining a learning disability that impairs a person's fluency or comprehension accuracy in being able to read, and which can manifest itself as a difficulty with phonological awareness, phonological decoding, orthographic coding, auditory short-term memory, or rapid...
and literacy difficulties, across all sectors and training providers. The organisation also provides specialised training to teachers through a variety of internal and outsourced courses and projects, as well as undertaking research on, and raising awareness of, the various issues surrounding dyslexia and literacy difficulties.
History
The charity was formed in 2005 when the Dyslexia Institute merged with Hornsby International Dyslexia Centre, and was renamed as Dyslexia Action in March 2006.Under its previous title, Dyslexia Action had been providing teaching and support for dyslexic children and adults, as well as specialist training for teachers, from 1972. It was initially founded as the Dyslexia Institute by Kathleen Hickey and Wendy Fisher, as a progression from the Surrey Dyslexia Institute, which had been in existence since 1968.
By 1981, the Institute had acquired 12 centres nationwide, and in 1993, the Institute began to offer its own Postgraduate Diploma
Postgraduate diploma
A postgraduate diploma is a postgraduate qualification awarded typically after a bachelor's degree. It can be contrasted with a graduate diploma...
course validated by Kingston University
Kingston University
Kingston University is a public research university located in Kingston upon Thames, southwest London, United Kingdom. It was originally founded in 1899 as Kingston Technical Institute, a polytechnic, and became a university in 1992....
, and later York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
. In February 2003 HRH Sophie, Countess of Wessex, agreed to become the organisation's Patron. In July 2003 the Countess opened the Institutes current Head Office at Park House in Egham, Surrey.
Current services
As of 2010, the charity had 26 centres, 37 outposts and 60 school units nationwide, and ran outreach projects in schools across the UK. It provided assessment, education and training as well as developing e-learningE-learning
E-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. The information and communication systems, whether networked learning or not, serve as specific media to implement the learning process...
and providing teaching materials to teachers and pupils alike. Other projects involve working with prison and probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
services, supporting adults and working with employers.