Free drop-in sessions are to be held at Newtown Library next week to help people with dyslexia or their family and friends as part of Dyslexia Awareness Week.
Dyslexia Awareness Week 2015 takes place from Monday 5 to Sunday 11 October and the campaign will shed light on what dyslexia is and how people affected by dyslexia can be supported at school, at work and in their day-to-day lives.
During the week, the Powys County Council’s Library Service will be showing what they can offer to people with dyslexia.
Newtown Library and others in Montgomeryshire have a range of resources in various formats that are suitable for people who find reading a strain and these include:
• Audio books: available as e-audio downloads or on CDs and great for long car journeys
• Ebooks: make it easy to choose a font size and screen contrast to make the text easier to read
• Graphic novels: highly popular in their own right. Can be suitable for dyslexic readers because so much of the story is carried by the graphics
• Dyslexia-friendly books: from award winning publishers Barrington Stoke, these feature shorter length, tinted paper for reduced visual stress, with dyslexia-friendly font and layout, and lots of chapter breaks so that readers can take a rest.
As part of the week, the Powys Dyslexia Support Group will be offering free drop-in sessions at Newtown Library on the following days:
• Monday 5 October, 2-4pm
• Thursday 8 October, 10.30am-1pm
• Saturday 10 October, 10.30am-1pm.
Cllr Graham Brown, Cabinet Member for Library Service, said: “People don’t necessarily think of libraries when they talk about dyslexia but dyslexic readers enjoy a good story as much as anybody else.
“Our library service is committed to supporting people of all ages in the community to fulfil their reading potential. New technology, combined with well-designed reading resources, help dyslexics to enjoy books and stories more easily, allowing them to open up a world of imagination as well as improving their vocabulary and reading comprehension.
“Dyslexics are now recognising that the public library can provide them with helpful reading resources.”
Cllr Barry Thomas, Leader of Powys County Council, has a long association of raising dyslexia awareness. He said: “One-in-five children leave primary school with below national expected levels in reading, writing and mathematics. It affects people in later life too – many are either unaware, embarrassed or have lived in silence with dyslexia.
“Libraries offer everyone a good choice of reading materials that are age appropriate and this can have a positive impact on reader confidence and literacy levels. The library service has shown that its resources can be used to help minimise the disadvantage to dyslexic readers, allowing them to enjoy their own reading journey.”
More information about books for dyslexic readers and the service’s eBook and eAudiobook service, is available from www.powys.gov.uk/libcat