Teen ambassador shines for dyslexia

THIS October, the national dyslexia network Code REaD will celebrate a decade of its annual awareness campaign, Lighting it Red for Dyslexia.

More than 100 locations across Australia will be illuminated in red, with the majority of sites located in Queensland.

The campaign continues to shine a light on the challenges faced by people with dyslexia and the importance of early recognition and support, aiming to reach families, schools, and communities nationwide.

This year, Code REaD has appointed an inaugural youth ambassador, George Rowland, a year 8 student from Hervey Bay who received a dyslexia diagnosis when he was 8.

George has a simple message for kids who are struggling at school with a potentially undiagnosed specific learning disorder.

"I want kids to know that it gets better when you have teachers who understand you and what you need to succeed. I used to struggle to get C and D grades but when I get the adjustments I need and have teachers who understand me, I can get A and B grades in some subjects.”

“Kids also need to know that they are not alone and must not give up, there is help out there."

His role as youth ambassador will see him share his experiences at schools and community events during October, encouraging other young people to seek support early and reminding them that dyslexia does not define their potential.

A focus of this year’s campaign for Code REaD is to break open the myth that young children routinely require six months of specialist intervention before being assessed for dyslexia.

Awareness initiatives will include school presentations, online resources, and local community events, all designed to educate teachers, parents, and students.

Marshall Roberts, Chairperson of Code REaD, said for too long, the official or unofficial policy is that kids can’t be diagnosed until grade 2, for example.

"That’s simply not good enough because it only compounds the ‘wait-to-
fail’ model and reduces the opportunity for remediation.”

By raising awareness and providing practical advice, Code REaD hopes to see earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for children with dyslexia across Australia.

To learn more please visit https://codereadnetwork.org/