Thank you to everyone at Dyslexia Scotland who organised a very memorable conference this November. Caroline attended and loved every minute of it.
The 2025 Dyslexia Scotland Education Conference, ‘Dyslexia: Empowering Educators' blended research and evidence with practical application and rich and profound expressions of the lived experience of those with Dyslexia.'
Keynote: The Science of Reading
The keynote on the Science of Reading and associated latest evidence was delivered by Dr Jeremy Law of the University of Glasgow. The presentation delved into the rationale for teaching using evidence-based strategies for early reading and for teaching reading to the dyslexic learner. Dr Law also shared experiences of his own dyslexia through school, further education and beyond leading to his career in research. Participants had the choice of a wide range of workshops covering Inclusive Practice, Understanding more about ADHD, AI in the Classroom, Understanding living with dyslexia and Morphology.
Final Session: Moved to Tears
The delegates were treated to a final session in the form of a conversation between Wildlife Cameraman and Dyslexia Scotland Ambassador Hamza Yassin and Julie McNeill, poet and author.
Hamza recounted his experience of how his dyslexia manifested in his participation in Strictly Come Dancing, and instructions like ‘move left’ or ‘move right’ were impossible for him. Once his dance partner understood she worked with him to come up with strategies to make it all possible - ‘move towards the audience’ or ‘move towards the panel’, repetition and memorisation of the patterns of the moves - and the rest is history! Hamza described his dyslexia as a ‘superpower’. Once teachers and others around him understood more about how he learns and what can be put in place to help him thrive, he was able to soar.
His talk was so moving that some in the audience were in tears. More than one audience member shared that they had been so touched and relieved by Hamza’s stories that they could now see a way forward for their own children and those they work with.
We met a range of dedicated and passionate teachers and parents at the Dyslexia: Empowering Educators Conference who are striving to make Dyslexia the gift that it can be. We will look forward to more fabulous events from Dyslexia Scotland.
Thank you for having us, Dyslexia Scotland!
