Melanie Jameson BA, PGCE, Dip RSA, AMBDA DYSLEXIA CONSULTANCY MALVERN, UK [email protected] www.dyslexia-malvern.co.uk

DITT Webinar March 2012 SUPPORTING OFFENDERS WITH DYSLEXIA

WHY?

HOW?

WHY WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DYSLEXIA

1. Research on offenders shows that around 20% have a hidden disability such as dyslexia

SEE The Incidence of Hidden Disabilities in the Prison

Population (2005) UK, Learning & Skills Council 2. People with dyslexia (and related conditions) fare badly in the criminal justice system for dyslexia-related reasons:



inconsistencies imply ‘untruthfulness’



failure to grasp the import of questions seems ‘evasive’



hesitancy suggests you are ‘unsure about your evidence’



a reaction to stress can be misinterpreted as ‘aggression’



the breakdown of coping strategies gives an impression of complete incompetence

HOW TO SUPPORT DYSLEXIC OFFENDERS

1. Be aware that they are largely

visual

learners 2. Teach the

subskills

(as well as the skills) 3. Break tasks into

component parts

4. Use

technology

(to compensate for poor literacy) 5. Include

memory

and

organisational

strategies 6. Organise a

mentoring

or ‘buddy’ system 7. Give frequent

feedback

and encouragement 8. Use materials that

minimise Visual Stress

See www.dyslexia-malvern.co.uk/visualstress

MANY OFFENDERS WILL BE UNAWARE THAT THEY ARE DYSLEXIC

[RESOURCES ON NEXT SLIDE]

1. SOFTWARE: Touch-type, Read & Spell

www.ttrs.co.uk

2. GUIDES from NIACE: E-learning in the Secure Estate

(2009)

Supporting adult learners with Dyslexia: harnessing the power of technology

(2006)

3. WEBSITE:

www.sentencetrouble.info

4. FREE RESOURCES

on www.dyslexia-malvern.co.uk

a) Offending, E-learning & Dyslexia

(revised 2008)

b) KIWIs

(2011)

. K

ey facts about each Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD)

. I

mpact of the SpLD

. W

ays of Working with Offenders

. I

nformation & Networks on SpLDs

c) Good Practice Guide for Justice Professionals on SpLDs

(PDF revised 2012)

d) Probation Information Sheets

(2000)