We are asking for Dyslexia Rights to be respected -  including the rights to assessment, identity and support

WHAT a year 2023 has been for Irish sport. GAA and camogie finals that sizzled with summertime skill. The women’s soccer team digging deep Down Under. Shane Lowry setting fire to fairways in Rome. And the rugby lads daring us to dream on the green fields of France.

Makes you proud, doesn’t it? For our size, we really do some amazing things on the playing field. We plan with clarity; execute with agility; and deliver our best efforts.

In the world of education, however, the field looks much less rosy, where people with disabilities and learning differences continue to need to fight for and defend their basic rights.

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month and the Dyslexia Association of Ireland is calling on the Government to address the barriers which prevent many dyslexics from accessing the supports they need in education.

We are asking for Dyslexia Rights to be respected and for the Government and its agencies to properly recognise dyslexia in both words and actions, including the rights to assessment, identity and support.

Earlier this year the Dyslexia Association launched a petition calling on the Government to finally introduce ‘extra time’ into the scheme of reasonable accommodations in Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate exams.

Doing so would give dyslexic students a little additional time to read and write their papers. It would help to level the playing field for them and allow them to better demonstrate their potential after 14 years of schooling.

It would also finally bring the Irish state exam system into line with practice in other countries, and at third level here in Ireland.

The petition attracted an unprecedented response - 23,000 signatures to date - much of which expressed disbelief that this accommodation wasn’t already in place.

The media interest was huge too, with flagship radio programmes questioning how soon this change could happen.

National newspapers highlighted that dyslexic students were being denied assistance routinely available elsewhere. Younger dyslexic students and their families are counting forward in years, in the hope that such a change might be in place in time for them.

So what has been the response from government and its relevant agency - the State Examinations Commission (SEC)?

The Dyslexia Association of Ireland was given a meeting with the SEC in late May where we demonstrated the current unfairness, highlighted the overwhelming public demand for change, and presented cogent solutions as to how this could be implemented without further delay. And we engaged with officials mindful of the fact that an expert advisory group, commissioned by the then Government, had already recommended back in 2009 that additional time be introduced for dyslexic students without delay.

And so, 15 years on from this expert recommendation, and four months on from this meeting, what of a clear plan? What of speed and agility? What news of best efforts?

The Dyslexia Association of Ireland has been recently informed by the State Examination Commission that there will be no further engagement in terms of reforming the scheme for 2023/24, and only the vague talk of future review in the future.

After months of waiting, and heightened expectations, this was a clear message for the 10% of the population with dyslexia – there appears to be an unwillingness to address this issue with speed and agility, respecting the rights of those most affected.

Unfortunately, this is Ireland. We might move quickly on the rugby field and the GAA pitch with an accompanying soundtrack of triumphant cheering. We might battle with tenacity on the soccer field and golf greens accompanied by hearty applause.

But when it comes to levelling the playing field for the 10% of Irish students who are dyslexic, and making positive educational reform, the soundtrack seems to be one of disinterest and heel-dragging from our public officials and legislators.

Surely, in 2023, we can and should do better!

For more, see https://dyslexia.ie/