BeesTheWrongWayRound.com is an innovative dyslexia support service, run by 'dyslexics' for 'dyslexics'.
The aim of our service, as our slogan above points out, is to assist dyslexic individuals who are struggling to overcome the difficulties that they maybe experiencing to re-invent there dyslexia in a more positive way so that they can, if they choose, reach their true potential.
Our views on dyslexia
Our views on dyslexia are slightly different from the norm, and we believe that this is a good thing. We believe this because we feel that by looking at dyslexia differently, it is possible for people labeled as 'dyslexic' to overcome the barriers that dyslexia and the negativity surrounding the concept of dyslexia has created. Often the process of overcoming these barriers requires a lot of self analysis and an eventual change in the way a person views themself. You can read more about this here.
more about our views on dyslexia
We believe that the phenomenon of dyslexia has been inaccurately framed as a condition that exists within the individual and that stems from some form or other of “less than ‘normal’ state of functioning”.
As a result of this framing, many people within society, i.e. those within medicine, education, employment, and within the general population, regard ‘dyslexic’ people as ‘broken’, not ‘normal’, and in need of ‘fixing’ in some way. For instance, some ‘medics’ believe that dyslexia stems from a ‘defect’ or ‘deficit’ that exists within the ‘dyslexic’ individual’s brain, whilst others believe it to be caused by some form of malfunctioning’ within the ‘dyslexic’ individual’s eyes. Some within education, i.e. academics and teachers, hold the view that dyslexia has something to do with the ‘dyslexic’ individual’s ‘inability’ to distinguish between certain letter sounds. Some employers believe that ‘dyslexic’ individual’s have ‘sub-standard’ intelligence and therefore not worth employing as they will be a liability to their company or organisation. And finally, many people within the general population regard ‘dyslexic’ people as ‘uneducated’, not ‘normal’, ‘thick’ or even ‘stupid’.
At BeesTheWrongWayRound.com we do not hold the view that dyslexia stems from some form or other of “less than ‘normal’ functioning”, nor do we hold any of the views of dyslexia stated above. We do not regard ‘dyslexic’ people to be ‘broken’, not ‘normal’ or in need of ‘fixing’ in any way what so ever.
Rather, we simply believe that ‘dyslexic’ people are individuals who have a natural orientation to express themselves using a non-word based medium, such as art, music, dance, mime, sport, etc. Just as some individuals have a natural orientation to use their right hand rather than their left one, we believe that the some individuals have a natural orientation to use one of the mediums mentioned above instead of using written language to express themselves. Just as it is perfectly ‘normal’ to be either right or left handed we believe it to be perfectly ‘normal’ to be ‘dyslexic’. We believe therefore, that ‘dyslexia’ is caused as a result of such individuals being forced to use their non-preferred medium (e.g. written language) to try and express themselves with.
Looking at dyslexia in this way, we can easily say that ‘much’ has been made of ‘nothing’, which is exactly what we are saying! Just as left or right handedness isn’t viewed as an issue then nor should dyslexia be. And yet, at one point in our history, and as ludicrous as this may seem nowadays, left handedness was seen to be just as big an issue as dyslexia is. Many people within society believed that left handed people were possessed by the devil. Within education left handed children were punished and forced to write with their right hands. Left handed children were picked on and bullied and left handed adults were mistrusted within society. (Incidentally, the word ‘sinister’ derives from the Latin word ‘sinistra’ which means ‘left’. Thankfully, being left handed is not seen in this way anymore. Unfortunately though, the issue of dyslexia still is!
However, whilst the phenomenon of dyslexia is being framed in the way that it is, i.e. as outlined at the top of this page, the negative effects of this view on the ‘dyslexic’ individual can be profound. For example, if a ‘dyslexic’ person believe that they are ‘broken’ and not ‘normal’ then this can limit their ability to reach their true potential.
Dyslexia Video
You can also watch a short video, shot on the streets of Bristol it explains some of the BeesTheWrongWayRound.com views on dyslexia.
Dyslexia Community
Rather than just offer a paid for service to 'dyslexic' people, we decided to develop an online dyslexic community, and so we created The Hive. An integral part of The Hive, is the dyslexia forum. Here 'dyslexics' and 'non-dyslexics' can share their ideas and discuss a wide range of subjects - not just dyslexia. (We even have a financial advice section).
The Hive is also a place where we have often light hearted pages such as dyslexic horoscopes and member book and film reviews. Another key part of the Hive community is the notion of giving something back. One way in which our members do this is by offering to review literature such as booklets and leaflets produced by public sector organisations, and try to make them more 'dyslexic' friendly.
Antonio
Our co-founder Antonio Farruggia has had a number of newspaper articles written about him. To read these click here or to read more about Antonio, then click here.
If you would like to speak to us to find out more then please read the Contact Us page, or you can email us at contact@beesthewrongwayround.com or call 0117 935 4488
|
