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Description
Children with reading difficulties go often unnoticed in the school system and it is widely believed that poor reading skills are due to low intellectual abilities and laziness. Although reading difficulty and dyslexia are not related to intelligence, these terms are still associated with false shame in Estonia. This creates a favorable ground for the spread of myths and misinformation.
In order to move towards an open and tolerant society, it is necessary to normalize dyslexia and provide better and more effective support measures for people with dyslexia so that they could reach their full potential. We must pay more attention to the views of parents of children with dyslexia when shaping education policies.
The involvement of parents in the process of educational policies is a resource that has been little used so far. The Reading Association has long-term and unique experience in the field of dyslexia in Estonia, among our members are also parents. With the project, we want to increase our ability to become a respectable partner in the design of educational policies by uniting the parents. To move towards that goal, we think that is necessary to increase the visibility of dyslexia topics and increase the parents’ awareness.
As a result of the project we have formed a parent group under the Reading Association and their activities are based on a long-term strategy. The topic of dyslexia has gained wider coverage in society through speakers and digital information materials. As a result, the Reading Association has a greater potential to be involved in shaping educational policies in the field of reading difficulties. In the final phase of the project, we will carry out an analysis, which will be an input for future activities.
Summary of project results
In Estonia, dyslexia remains a stigmatized condition, often associated with misplaced shame. This stigma not only impedes societal openness but also prevents children with dyslexia from accessing the necessary support to reach their full potential. Addressing these challenges is essential for fostering a more inclusive and informed society.
To address these issues, the project aimed to normalize dyslexia and enhance support mechanisms by actively involving parents in advocacy and awareness efforts.
To address these issues, the project aimed to normalize dyslexia and enhance support mechanisms by actively involving parents in advocacy and awareness efforts. Key activities included:
- Establishing a Parent Support Group: A dedicated group of parents of children with dyslexia was formed within the Reading Association to improve parental knowledge and advocacy. Notable events included a dyslexia-focused discussion at the Paide Opinion Festival in August 2023 and a Dyslexia Awareness Month event at Tallinn Central Library in October, both of which received significant media coverage.
- Empowering Parental Advocacy: The project supported the parent group in articulating their perspectives and developing a long-term action strategy.
- Engaging Individuals with Dyslexia: People with dyslexia were encouraged to share their experiences, fostering greater empathy and public understanding.
- Developing an Informational Website: A user-friendly, science-based platform, www.düsleksia.ee, was launched to provide reliable information about dyslexia.
- Strengthening Institutional Engagement: The project facilitated connections with key education officials to raise awareness and advocate for sustainable policy changes.
By increasing public awareness and equipping parents with the knowledge and tools to advocate effectively, the project has strengthened the Reading Association’s capacity to influence future policy discussions. The parent group has contributed to public awareness efforts through media appearances and the dissemination of digital resources via the dyslexia website. These initiatives have played a crucial role in expanding societal understanding of dyslexia in Estonia, paving the way for a more inclusive and supportive environment.
The website www.düsleksia.ee was among the nominees of the best deeds promoting the learning, teaching, researching and the proficiency of the Estonian language (Aasta Keeletegu 2024).