Sir Jackie revs up for dyslexia website launch

WORLD champion racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart was today set to back a new website that will help teachers support pupils with dyslexia.

Sir Jackie, who is president of Dyslexia Scotland, was due to launch the new online resource along with education secretary Michael Russell at Edinburgh University's Moray House.

Sir Jackie, who was not diagnosed as being dyslexic until the age of 41, was set to speak about his experiences and how the new website might help others.

The Assessing Dyslexia website has been designed by educational technologists at Moray House, with the backing of Dyslexia Scotland and the Scottish Government.

One in ten people in Scotland is thought to be dyslexic.

Mr Russell, said: "Good foundations for learning start in the early years, which is why Curriculum for Excellence places literacy and numeracy at its heart and makes these skills the responsibility of every teacher.

"This means that every teacher must be alert to literacy difficulties such as dyslexia.

"This toolkit will help teachers identify the signs of literacy difficulties and dyslexia early."

Sir Jackie added: "The frustration and the humiliation that a young person experiences can drive them to negative behaviours."