According to the European Dyslexia Association,
Dyslexia is a difference in acquiring reading, spelling and writing skills, that is neurological in origin.

The cognitive difficulties that cause these differences can also affect organisational skills, calculation abilities etc.

It may be caused by a combination of difficulties in phonological processing, working memory, rapid naming, sequencing and the automaticity of basic skills.

Alongside these issues is the ongoing challenge for people with dyslexia navigating through life in a largely non-dyslexia friendly world.

Researchers acknowledge that there are many possible causes of dyslexia, including genetics.

There is no relationship between a person's level of intelligence, individual effort of socio-economic position and the presence of dyslexia.

Furthermore, across Europe the diversity of languages and the multilingual demands, socio-cultural backgrounds a s well a s educational opportunity, have a significant influence on the life-chances for dyslexic children and adults.

What could be done?

There are many aspects to dyslexia, and many areas in which provision could be improved. Gyorfi and Smythe (2010) set out a series of recommendation, and their justification. Some of the key recommendations are set out below
•    There should be adoption at EU level of a working definition of dyslexia - to allow shared language for productive discourse on the issue
•    Dyslexia should be recognized as disability - to ensure access to legal and financial means of support.
•    Every dyslexic individual should have the right to proper assessment of their abilities and needs - computerised mass screening could help overcome current difficulties in implementing wider availability.
•    Make all aspects of education dyslexia-friendly, as an inclusive approach, by providing anti-discrimination school policy and processes, trained staff and accessible learning material.
•    Employers should develop dyslexia-friendly workplaces  – this would help increase productivity.
•    Community awareness of the issues surrounding dyslexia should be raised – social inclusion is not about helping an individual, it is about an individual being able to maintain their rightful place within society.

For more information about dyslexia, you may wish to consult the following:
British Dyslexia Association www.bdadyslexia.org.uk
Gyorfi A and Smythe I (2010) Dyslexia: Pan-European Report