Being a Neurodiversity Advocate with Akua Opong

What if it was possible to beat dyslexia?Maybe Neuro Linguistic Programming can help?In this episode, host Matthew Head sits down with Lou Barnes as they explore how Lou’s experience as a teacher led her to seeking alternative ways to help children (and adults) with dyslexia.As a primary school teacher for 20 years, Lou loved teaching, being in a classroom, and watching children flourish. However, Lou always met children who simply couldn't get to grips with reading, writing and spelling branded as ‘lazy’ or ‘naughty’. Not satisfied with this narrative and accepting that these children were lost causes, Lou knew there had to be a reason for their behaviour.Lou shares how, even after praise for hard work and highlighting their strengths, these children who have been left behind, still called themselves 'stupid', thick or 'rubbish' which simply wasn't true.Lou believed that something had to change because the current system wasn't helping.After trying all sorts of different approaches to teaching children with dyslexia, and other neurodiversities, Lou came across Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and became instantly fascinated. Lou decides to delve deeper into NLP seeing the potential this could have for people with dyslexia.Lou then spent the next few years training in NLP and incorporating what she had learnt into her lessons. The impact for children with dyslexia was so profound that she decided to take it full time and leave full time teaching.So what is NLP? And how might it help me with my Dyslexia? Listen to this episode and see if NLP can help you!Key Topics:Neuro Linguistic Programming,Problems with education system for people with dyslexiaFine Lou at:LinkedIn WebsiteFor more hacks tip and tricks for dyslexia and full show notes please visit Dyslexia Life Hacks.Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

“Life was dance, and dance was life…”Telling your story of life with dyslexia isn't always expressed through the written word. Our guest in this episode, Aakash Odedra, shares his experience of the challenges with dyslexia through dance. In Aakash’s currently touring production ‘Little Murmur’, he shares his story of never fitting in at school, being cast aside by teachers and being moved from school to school, never finding his feet and never getting the support with the challenges of dyslexia. Diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, Aakash found school very challenging, dance became his outlet to fully express himself and enjoy his strengths of dyslexia.Combining visual design and technology with dance and humour, Little Murmur explores the warped and exaggerated realities of living in a world you struggle to process. For Aakash, dance was his way of escaping into another world away from the challenges of his dyslexia. Today, ‘Little Murmur’ is his way to help others with dyslexia to see that they can, and have permission to lean into their dyslexic strengths and live a fulfilling life.Aakash’s Dyslexic Life Hack is to ‘Just Dance’ which is a way of saying ‘do what you love’ which is a great lesson for everyone with dyslexia to learn.Key Topics:Not being accepted and supported in education Dancing to escape Finding your rhythm with dyslexia Find Aakash at: Website  YouTube Link Tree-Proudly sponsored by neurobox. Working together with organisations and employees neurobox  builds neuroinclusive workplaces. They do this by creating awareness, improving wellbeing, and breaking down barriers through their tailored end-to-end support programmes.For more hacks tip and tricks for dyslexia and full show notes please visit Dyslexia Life Hacks.Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

35% of entrepreneurs have dyslexia. Up to 50% of people in prison have dyslexia.  It's clear that, for people with Dyslexia, the path between success and ending up on the wrong side of the law can be narrow. So what's different between these groups of people and what's the thing that sets them head on the right path? For entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author, Jamie Waller, it all comes down to the support from people in your early years of your life. Jamie is a serial entrepreneur and the author of the book ‘The Dyslexic Edge'.Growing up in the west end of London, Jamie’s teachers had written him off from the start and didn't give him the support he needed at school. If it hadn't been as a result of a motorcycle display team and a supportive mother, Jamie believes he could have ended up in the wrong group of dyslexic people, being let down by society and living a life in prison.Having been given the chance to join the Imps Motorcycle Display team with help from a supportive mum, Jamie turned his back on education and followed a life into entrepreneurship. Despite leaving school with no qualifications he started multiple businesses, became a multimillionaire in his twenties and featured in a prime-time TV show that followed him starting his first business.The idea for the book ‘The Dyslexic Edge' came from a conversation with one of the most famous dyslexics on earth, Sir Richard Branson during a cycle ride in early 2022. The Dyslexic Edge challenges the narrative that views dyslexia as a deficit or impediment to success, presenting compelling research and case studies from interviewing some of the worlds most successful dyslexics (Paul Orfelia, Theo Paphitis, Duncan Bannatyne and Kelly Hoppen to name a few), to demonstrate quite the opposite. By delving into the lives and experiences of some of the best-known dyslexic minds worldwide, Jamie and Dr Helen Taylor highlight the distinct advantage that dyslexic thinking brings.Jamie wants to change the perception of dyslexia and help everyone see the great value and strengths dyslexia has.Find Jamie at:WebsiteLinkedInBook - The Dyslexic Edge -Proudly sponsored by neurobox. Working together with organisations and employees neurobox  builds neuroinclusive workplaces. They do this by creating awareness, improving wellbeing, and breaking down barriers through their tailored end-to-end support programmes.For more hacks tip and tricks for dyslexia and full show notes please visit Dyslexia Life Hacks.Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

If you're an adult just having been diagnosed with dyslexia, if you're a parent whose child has been diagnosed with dyslexia, there is often a lot of confusion and questions that need answers. It can also feel so isolated and lonely.Where do you turn? How do you know the advice you're getting is legitimate? Who can you trust to talk to to seek answers? Our Guest in this episode of the podcast is that person who, as a person with dyslexia, has seen it all. He was written off at school and at work and through grit and determination and lots of self-belief, he completed a Masters Degree and went from a failing child in school to advising businesses how to grow. He managed this through leaning into his dyslexic strengths.Our guest is the brilliant Philip Long!Having his own success story with dyslexia, Philip wants to share his story so that no child can go through the trauma he did through school and early career. Now Philip shares this with the community he set up to ensure parents and children got all the support in the early days/weeks/months and years of a dyslexic diagnosis.Philip has set-up a free dyslexic community ‘Success with Dyslexia’ as a safe space for parents, children and adults to come to get answers they desperately need by utilising the power of community to support one-another.As well as offering support, Success with Dyslexia also contains resources and coaching so that everyone can find support in a way that works for them.In this episode you will hear an inspiring story from being discarded by school and and discriminated at work, to achieving a masters degree, leaning into your dyslexic strengths, and creating a community to support other people with dyslexia!Key Topics:Struggling at SchoolBullying Early days of a career and the discrimination Getting a masters degree Founding a dyslexic community Helping others to thrive with dyslexia Find Philip at:SkoolXYoutubeWebsite-Proudly sponsored by neurobox. Working together with organisations and employees neurobox  builds neuroinclusive workplaces. They do this by creating awareness, improving wellbeing, and breaking down barriers through their tailored end-to-end support programmes.For more hacks tip and tricks for dyslexia and full show notes please visit Dyslexia Life Hacks.Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

7 Marathons, 7 Continents, in 7 Days! This is the World Marathon Challenge, the ultimate endurance running competition! Our guest in this episode, Jared Blank, shares with us his amazing journey with dyslexia and how running became his outlet for escaping and coping with the stress and challenges from dyslexia at school and college.Jared completed the World Marathon Challenge in aid of raising awareness and money for Dyslexia charities. What goes into preparing for the ultimate running challenge? How does it work? And, Why would you do it!? Jared tells us all in this episode, and how he used his dyslexic strengths to complete the world's hardest running challenge.Jared was diagnosed with dyslexia aged 5. Like many people with dyslexia, Jared had that person in his corner backing him all the way. For Jared this was his mum! With this support, nothing stopped Jared from being able to achieve academically at school and university, achieving two masters degrees! Sports has always been a big part of Jared’s life and through his career he has worked with athletes and American Football teams. Today Jared is the Football Chief of Staff for University of Texas, Austin. Jared shares what this career entails and how he managed to find his way into an area he is passionate about.Having completed the World Marathon Challenge, Jared shares his story around the globe to continue to support the dyslexic community and inspire young people struggling with dyslexia in demonstrating that EVERYTHING is possible if you work hard at it!This is a story of true grit and determination, using strengths of dyslexia to complete the hardest running challenge in the world! Key Topics:American Football - Working for an American Football team in the statesInternational Dyslexia Community - Engaging with the community and rising awareness and money through runningRunning - Using running as an outlet for stress from school/workWorld Marathon Challenge - Training and running the World Marathon Challenge, 7 marathons, in 7 continents, in 7 days. Find Jared at:WebsiteHis book - Running the Distance-Proudly sponsored by neurobox. Working together with organisations and employees neurobox  builds neuroinclusive workplaces. They do this by creating awareness, improving wellbeing, and breaking down barriers through their tailored end-to-end support programmes.For more hacks tip and tricks for dyslexia and full show notes please visit Dyslexia Life Hacks.Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Have you ever been on a ‘digital detox’? Do you think you could do it? Would you know what to do?Well, in this episode of the podcast, Host Matthew Head is joined by Neil Jones, a coach from Lincoln, UK.Neil has had a varied career over his life and has spent some of that living abroad in Switzerland. Throughout Neil’s career, Neil has become specialised in Mental Health, and more so Mental Fitness, describing mental fitness as something you do with intention so that you don’t have to treat the symptoms of mental health by preventing them occurring in the first place. More recently, Neil has started coaching people in Digital Detox helping people to break away from a dopamine fueled connection to our smart devices. Neil tells us about the time he was diagnosed with dyslexia (though it wasn’t called that back then!) and at the time was told to keep it secret so as not to get bullied about it. Though that didn’t stop the bullying! To cope with the vigorous bullying, Neil found an outlet through Judo and learning about Japanese culture, which introduced him into the concept, and life long love, for meditation. Neil is a Psychologist and a Chartered HR professional with extensive experience of industry and commerce. Currently assisting companies serious about Mental Health to make the right changes to improve the mental health of their staff as well as boost the bottom line.If you want to know more Mental Health/Mental Fitness, or a Digital Detox, this is the episode for you!Neil's - LinkedIn-Proudly sponsored by neurobox. Working together with organisations and employees neurobox  builds neuroinclusive workplaces. They do this by creating awareness, improving wellbeing, and breaking down barriers through their tailored end-to-end support programmes.For more hacks tip and tricks for dyslexia and full show notes please visit Dyslexia Life Hacks.Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

“I’ve been helped and supported so much through my life, I want to give and help as much as I can to give back.”We’re going to share with you a story of a person who is so incredibly willing to want to help others with so much drive,  enthusiasm, empathy and passion it is infectious.This story is about Akua. Akua is a Senior EUC Engineer at the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and whilst she is a very accomplished Engineer, this is just one of the many things that Akua does and is involved in inside and outside of her professional work! It was through researching methods of support for neurodiverse people in her organisation when she recognised some of the common dyslexia and ADHD traits in herself. The more she read about Dyslexia and ADHD, she decided to be tested to discover she does in fact have dyslexia and ADHD!Now she shares her story with as many people as possible to help others find support for themselves.Outside her primary role at LSEG, Akua is a keen Diversity & Inclusion advocate, LSEG WIN Network Head of External Partnerships, WIN Tech Network Community Lead, UK Accessibility Lead, Mental Health Champion and UK Coordinator for the outreach programmes/fundraising activities at LSEG. As a STEM ambassador, she is passionate about raising the profile of Women in STEM. And if all that wasn't enough, Akua is also a Non-Executive Director, Neurodiversity advocate, Cajigo Technology Mentor, charity ambassador, fundraiser and a keen sports volunteer for Netball England and British Athletics.This is an absolutely amazing story that you do not want to miss!Key Topics:STEMNeurodiversity AdvocateEngineering and ITVolunteering,  Neurodiverse friendly theatre. -Proudly sponsored by neurobox. Working together with organisations and employees neurobox  builds neuroinclusive workplaces. They do this by creating awareness, improving wellbeing, and breaking down barriers through their tailored end-to-end support programmes.For more hacks tip and tricks for dyslexia and full show notes please visit Dyslexia Life Hacks.Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Meet Roxanne Varzi, an Anthropologist, Artist, writer, Professor, filmmaker, playwright, and this episode's guest on the Dyslexia Life Hacks Show!Roxanne's interest in anthropology started when she wanted to study something that would pay and still allow her to enjoy her passion for writing. What she found was that she had this huge passion for people and what made people tick.Now a professor in Anthropology, Roxanne shares her passion with her students.Alongside being  a full time Anthropologist, Roxanne also writes and publishes books with her Armchair Anthropology series Whodunit books.Discovering Roxanne has dyslexia after her son was diagnosed, Roxanne shares with us that her dyslexia strength is visual thinking. Roxanne says that the more she leans into her strength by using visuals to present her research, it means that she can thrive because of her dyslexia.Roxanne is incredibly passionate about lots of different topics and she shares how her way of wanting to do things, like writing a book series or making films doesn't fit into ‘normal’ and so her mantra is ‘to do things in your own way’ a lessons we can all take away from this episode.Key Topics:Anthology Doing things your own wayDyslexia running families Books and book writingRoxanne's WebsiteLinkedInDeath in a Nutshell: An Anthropology Whodunnit: An Anthropology Whodunit: ONE (Armchair Anthropologist) -Proudly sponsored by neurobox. Working together with organisations and employees neurobox  builds neuroinclusive workplaces. They do this by creating awareness, improving wellbeing, and breaking down barriers through their tailored end-to-end support programmes.For more hacks tip and tricks for dyslexia and full show notes please visit Dyslexia Life Hacks.Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

In this episode of the podcast, we’re talking again about Assistive Technology, this time about mind mapping and how it can help people with dyslexia organise and make sense of all the ideas flowing through their heads. People with dyslexia typically have lots of great ideas and can sometimes link  seemingly unconnected topics or themes to one another. The challenge that we face is getting those ideas down in a coherent way which makes sense. Mind mapping those ideas can help get those thoughts down on paper and visualise how they link up so that you can then organise them into written text or a presentation.A couple decades ago, developments in assistive technology meant that mind mapping could be undertaken on a PC. In its infant stages of development, it was great to help get things down quickly electronically, but it didn’t go much further! Today, with the power of AI (Artificial technology) there are no limits to how mind mapping can help get those ideas from head to paper!In this episode, our host Matthew Head is joined by Chris Collier, an Assistive Technology and DSA (Disabled Students Allowance) Advisor and Director of Assistive Technology at OpenGeniusIt wasn’t until Chris started his career as an English Secondary School Teacher in South Africa when he first started to learn about Dyslexia and other neurodiverse conditions. Chris became familiar with DSA and assistive technology for his students. From here, Chris grew his expertise in DSA and assistive technology and became a freelance advisor.Chris is now Director of Assistive Technology at OpenGenius, the world’s leading experts in the application of Mind Mapping via there product Ayoa in real-world situations, where he got up close and personal with the power of mind mapping technology and AI, and the many applications it has in school/education and in the workplace for everyone.Key Topics:What is Mind Mapping,How Mind Mapping can help people with Dyslexia,How to take mind maps to develop presentations, programmes, and even reports!-Proudly sponsored by neurobox. Working together with organisations and employees neurobox  builds neuroinclusive workplaces. They do this by creating awareness, improving wellbeing, and breaking down barriers through their tailored end-to-end support programmes.For more hacks tip and tricks for dyslexia and full show notes please visit Dyslexia Life Hacks.Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

If you’re a person with dyslexia and had assistive technology you will have had at some point a scan pen. In this episode we meet the Founder and CEO of Scanning pens and Empowering Technology Group, Jack Churchill OBE.Jack’s story is not unlike most people’s stories who have dyslexia. During the school years, Jack felt that dyslexia was holding him back from keeping up with his peers. It was a relief when, at 14 Years Old, Jack got assessed and diagnosed with Dyslexia so that he could access all the support to level the playing field so that he could start to flourish. After losing his first job during the dot.com bubble burst in the late 1990’s, Jack and his university friend Toby started what became the Scanning Pen business.After first discovering a basic version of a text to audio pen, Jack instantly saw the benefits of this technology for people with Dyslexia. Today, after a lot of hard work, the technology has developed and there are many varieties of Scanning Pens including pens which have been approved to be used in exams in the UK. Scanning Pens is only a game changer for many people in the UK but it is exported across the world. In 2023, Jack and his business partner were presented with an OBE or ‘services to international trade, and to the dyslexia, and special educational needs and disabilities community’.In this episode you get to hear how Scanning Pens started, how they’ve developed over the years, the variety of pens which are available, and what the future looks like for Assistive Tech.Key Topics:Struggling with dyslexia at schoolFinding support when diagnosed The beginnings of the Scanning Pen The Development of Scanning Pens andThe future for Scanning Pens-Proudly sponsored by neurobox. Working together with organisations and employees neurobox  builds neuroinclusive workplaces. They do this by creating awareness, improving wellbeing, and breaking down barriers through their tailored end-to-end support programmes.For more hacks tip and tricks for dyslexia and full show notes please visit Dyslexia Life Hacks.Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter