World Dyslexia Day
World Dyslexia Day occurs every year on Thursday during Dyslexia Awareness Week. It is a part of Dyslexia Awareness Month, October. The event was founded by the European Dyslexia Association to raise awareness of dyslexia in Europe. World Dyslexia Day is also a day of joy in many ways, not only for its purpose of engaging people but also for uniting us, regardless of who we are. The European Dyslexia Association is a non-governmental umbrella organization. It works like a platform and a voice of the people with dyslexia and so-called ‘Specific Learning Difficulties’ in Europe. Representatives of ten national dyslexia associations formed and legally established the organization under Belgium law in 1987 in Brussels.
World Dyslexia Day 2023 is on October 8th, and the theme this time is Uniquely You. There are worldwide organizations and companies that run different campaigns during October every year.
The mission of Dyslexia Awareness Month is to join the world of dyslexia with united campaigns. Everyone can take part in this challenge by promoting awareness in so many different ways. One way can be highlighting the support available for both individuals and organizations to partners you work with. There is now an opportunity to be part of the #GoRedForDyslexia Campaign available all over the world without limits. There are other ways like spreading awareness by choosing to wear read clothes on World Dyslexia day. This action, which is taken both by individuals and entire companies, show their support for people with dyslexia. Anyone can join in with the #GoRedForDyslexia!
C-Pen is a partner of the Go Red global community. C-Pen offers a technical solution that solves reading difficulties among different target groups. There are solutions both for children and students and adults as well. Read more about C-Pen products.
The purpose of World Dyslexia Day is to bring awareness and raise understanding of dyslexia, what it is, and how it works. Based on these several associations throughout Europe create events, produce resources and share information with teachers, employers and the general public to highlight different dyslexia-related issues. For example early identification of dyslexia and reasonable adjustments. World Dyslexia Day, week, and month often get support from schools and businesses. This draws the media’s attention to what dyslexic people face every day.
World Dyslexia Day and Different events
On World Dyslexia Day, different events and campaigns take place initiated by each association in Europe. Looking back, every year was dedicated to the different theme. The theme of the year 2019 was Everyone can become a reader.
England was asking schools and workplaces to take a moment during a breakfast or lunch break, assembly, or class to discuss how to empower dyslexia in the organization, maximizing the value it brings. Also to share information and invite relevant people to give their thoughts about dyslexia, for example, a dyslexic pupil or coworker.
Another example is Sweden, celebrating the day with the campaign #formadinbokstav, or ‘shape your letter’ on social media. The campaign aims to entice everyone to play with the letters’ shapes and sounds. Play strengthens children’s linguistic abilities and makes it easier for them to learn to read and write. The campaign is also a way to dramatize reading and writing difficulties. This is how it’s done: make your funniest, nicest and best letter the way you want, shoot or film it, post to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and use the hashtag #formadinbokstav and #EDADyslexiaday.
Dyslexia was identified for the first time in 1881 year by German psysician Oswald Berkhan. Read more about Dyslexia history.
