It is estimated one in 10 people are dyslexic. DAVID MILLS finds out about the support offered by the Dyslexia Association of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham.


MOVIE superstar Tom Cruise and multi-millionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson are both dyslexic.

Other famous people who suffered with dyslexia include Sir Winston Churchill, inventor Thomas Edison and artist Pablo Picasso.

Vice chairman of the Dyslexia Association of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham, Lindy Springett, said: "The main problem with dyslexia is it doesn't show.

"People don't believe a person who is intelligent could actually have dyslexia."

Raising this kind of awareness is the key to the association's work.

Based in South Street, Bromley, the charity has been helping people of all ages with dyslexia from across the four boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham since 1974.

Currently, it has around 400 registered members, but many more people use its services.

The association provides help and information about the condition to parents, teachers, adults and professionals.

Some of its work includes giving talks at schools and getting dyslexics the support they need, such as a personal tutor to help with literacy.

Mrs Springett added: "We support parents and adults and give help and information to anyone who needs to know about dyslexia.

"We also want to create awareness of dyslexia among the public."

The association also donates easy-to-read books specifically for dyslexics to libraries across the four boroughs.

But what exactly is dyslexia?

Mrs Springett explained: "It's a problem with literacy. It can also be a memory problem as well and in some cases, maths.

"But this often goes alongside other superb skills, such as creativity, whether in a practical or entrepreneurial sense."

The association does not have any paid staff and relies entirely on its 20 volunteers.

It is always looking to recruit more.

Volunteers help with tasks ranging from serving refreshments at events to working in specialist positions for those knowledgeable in dyslexia.

Mrs Springett said: "Volunteers are crucial, because we run on volunteers.

"We would love to get funding to get a volunteer co-ordinator so we could make even better use of our volunteers."

For further information about the association, visit its website at dyslexiawise.co.uk or call 020 8315 2526.

Alternatively, to find out more about the condition, call the helpline on 07000 50 50 55.



Supporting kids
Ben Harrison-Baker has been a member of the association for five years.

The 14-year-old, who lives in Burnt Ash Lane, Bromley, says the association has been very helpful to him at school.

He said: "I think it's a very important organisation.

"There are kids out there who don't realise they are dyslexic.

"The association helps children come to terms with being dyslexic."

Ben, who attends the Brit School in Croydon, says not enough teachers understand the disability.

He added: "Teachers are unaware of what dyslexia really is and how to deal with it."