Dyslexia Awareness Week runs from October 7 to 13, and we’re looking back on the condition and efforts to help those who suffer from it.


Ten per cent of the population are believed to be dyslexic, but it is still often poorly understood. With the right support, the strengths and talents of dyslexic people can really shine - and this is what the week aims to highlight.
Dyslexia is a neurological difference and can have a significant impact during education, in the workplace and in everyday life. As each person is unique, so is everyone’s experience of dyslexia. It can range from mild to severe, and it can co-occur with other specific learning difficulties. It usually runs in families and is a lifelong condition.
There is a misconception that dyslexia just affects the ability to read and write when in fact it can have an affect on areas such as coordination, organisation and memory. General symptoms include slow spoken and/or written language, poor concentration, difficulty following instructions and forgetting words.
Our main picture is of BAE Systems contractor Stephen Mackenzie, who had dyslexia and, as part of Dyslexia Awareness Week, wanted to illustrate that it hadn’t held him back.

(Image: John Story)

Above is Anne Mackenzie from St Bees on West Cumbria Dyslexia Association.

(Image: Newsquest)
In 2015, Jonathan Lee from the Evening Mail donated £1,000 from the Lake District Farmers Armstrong Family Charitable Fund to the South Cumbria Dyslexia Association. Pictured with him are association student Naomi Nugent, 11, former student and dad Chris Nugent and tutor Elayne Woodend. 

(Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)

Snakes and books about them proved invaluable in helping Toby Lomas, of Wigton, with his dyslexia. He is pictured with his dad Mike and his piebald and spider royal pythons wrapped around his neck.

(Image: Newsquest)
In 2013, University of Cumbria students created a dance performance and workshop focusing on dyslexia to help local schoolchildren suffering from the condition.

(Image: Newsquest)

Contemporary applied art student Mary Carol Souness devised a card game to help people with dyslexia called Celtic Hart Story Telling Cards.

(Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)

Our final two images show cheques being presented - £100 to the Food and Behaviour Research Charity by the North Cumbria Dyslexia Association and £600 to the West Cumbria Dyslexia Association by the Cockermouth Lions.