A web site for a new project

Unique Dyslexic Project: Web Brief 1. Project Profile and Background Research indicates that many dyslexic children are leaving school without achieving academically according to their potential. In fact many dyslexic young adults are leaving school without being assessed as being dyslexic. The struggles many dyslexics face at school can negatively impact on their self-confidence, self-esteem, resilience and mental health as well as their life opportunities. This project fully embraces the social model of dyslexia which challenges the current deficit, medical models of dyslexia that says dyslexia is a disability in favour of a social model that maintains that we are not ‘disabled’ by our dyslexia. “We would argue that dyslexia is an experience that arises out of natural human diversity on the one hand and a world on the other where the early learning of literacy, and good personal organisation and working memory is mistakenly used as a marker of ‘intelligence’. The problem here is seeing difference incorrectly as ‘deficit’. We believe that dyslexia is not a disability, that it is society which disables us. This disabling starts begins primary school where we are not taught in ways that enable us to access the learning that takes place within the classroom. This disabling can carry on throughout the whole of our schooling and on into employment, training for work and higher education. As a result many dyslexics fail to achieve according to their potential and leave school with either low level qualifications or no qualifications what so ever. This can negatively impact on the self esteem and self confidence of many dyslexics. This is not only a waste of potential of many dyslexics and their lives it is a waste to the Scottish economy. Dyslexics can, and do, succeed in many different fields from architect to artist to author and actor, scientist to doctor. Studies indicate that around 30% of entrepreneurs are dyslexic. Many successful dyslexics succeed in spite of their education not because of it. But for every one that succeeds there are many who don’t simply because the education system fails to meet our leaning needs from the first day at school to the last. Our mission is to enable dyslexics themselves to change the current negative perceptions on dyslexia and promote a more positive, can do, profile of dyslexia. Our vision is to enable and empower every dyslexic to overcome existing barriers in education, employment and training and to achieve according to their unique abilities and talents. It is well known that many dyslexics are also creative individuals. So the basic premise of the project is using this link to bring creative dyslexics together by providing free creative workshops. These workshops are open to anyone from beginner to expert, to anyone who has never thought of themselves as being creative in any way to professional creative people. Research indicates around 10% of the UK population are dyslexic. As a result many dyslexics feel isolated and there is no real tangible dyslexic community. The Unique Dyslexic project seeks to redress this by bringing them together in these workshops where they can share experiences of being dyslexic, form friendships and a peer support group. A number of creative workshops will be held in 2014 across Fife to encourage dyslexics to develop their own creative talents. and take part in this project through the sharing of their works either on the Unique Dyslexic website, Facebook Page or in locations in Fife. These workshops open who is dyslexic or thinks they are dyslexic to anyone who is interested in finding out more about being creative from beginner to expert. 2. Project Team & Responsibilities Project Manager: Steve McCue Web Development: TBC Content: Steve McCue, Anne McCue, Carolynn Cruickshank Grey 3. Website Purpose and Objectives The project seeks to develop a hub/community for all things creative and as a result build a dyslexic community where dyslexics can share creative works and share their stories of being dyslexic and support each other. The website is to be developed in three stages. The first stage will be a site which showcases the work of dyslexics. That provides a forum where people can share and chat. There will be links to social networking sites. I would like to be able to sell my products here if possible or a link to a small shop front where they can be sold. Links to various free sites where people can share their work such as Soundcloud, Instagram, Blogger and Youtube etc. Some work form creative dyslexics is to be shared on the site also. I would like to see the site have accessibility options such as changing background colour and dyslexia friendly fonts. On the second stage I would like to see some dyslexia friendly games added and a shop front where people can sell their works. Some games will be free or have the first few levels free and then an option to buy full games etc. At this stage we would be looking for revenue from advertisements. I would like to see a video link room here so provide dyslexia support over the internet. A means of payment has to be added here. The final stage is to develop a dyslexia neuro diverse version of Facebook one which fits around the users of the site needs as much as possible. I would envisage more game and advertisement to be added at this stage. 4. Target Audience The website has to be accessible anyone who is dyslexic or may be dyslexic and so has to be dyslexia friendly. At the first stage I am focussing on dyslexics or people who think they may be dyslexic. The target audience would also include people who live with or support dyslexics in employment, education and training. Or anyone interested in creativity. I would like to encourage dyspraxics and autistics etc to the site as well. To make the site more neuro diverse Some might think dyslexia is a niche market but it is far from that. There are 66 million dyslexics in the USA and 6 million in the UK. There is a huge potential market as well as a need for this site. 5. Key Issues and Challenges The site needs to be dyslexia friendly It needs to be very visually driven with as little text used as possible. If text is used there has to be an audio link provided for anyone who struggles to read text. I am looking for a mind map structure and the use of mind maps to navigate around the site. Visitors to the site should be able to change the background colour of the site and an option of three or four dyslexia friendly fonts should be provided. The site has to promote a positive social model of dyslexia profile and challenge the prevalent medical model of dyslexia. The site has to use an easily updatable software package so that I or a volunteer could act as moderators / webmasters. Finding the right web developer is paramount. One who understands and has some experience in accessibility issues. I am prepared to offer guidance and advice on this 6. Branding & Marketing Messages A logo has already been designed but it needs to be looked at and developed further. The logo looks ok as it is but needs more oomph and to look more dynamic. The main message is all about promoting a more positive profile of dyslexia. The main marketing message needs to be dyslexia positive and focus on creativity in all its forms. About breaking through barriers and challenging misconceptions of dyslexia.