SID Project

The SID Project. The SID (Social Inclusion & Dyslexia) Project is a not for profit project run by Right 2 Write Limited.

Supporting adults who may experience social exclusion as a result of dyslexia, promote use of free assistive technology to overcome barriers of disability. The project coordinator is Joanne Youngson and the project is run from our base in Sunderland. SID in Sunderland is a ground-breaking project that aims to tackle the issue of social exclusion because of dyslexia by:

• Breaking the generational

cycle of failure and deprivation, which can be perpetuated in families affected by unaddressed dyslexia
• Training professionals working with socially excluded groups to identify the issue and present information in an accessible way
• Helping dyslexic adults develop the confidence to tackle and overcome their difficulties, promoting the uptake of literacy, skills and employment

In particular, the SID project will address the following key questions:

• What motivates socially excluded people to engage with literacy initiatives? What’s in it for them?
• What methods and approaches work in exciting interest and in developing the skills and confidence of service users?
• What should every provider of services to socially excluded people aim to provide to help them improve their literacy? We aim to set out a multiagency framework in order to promote literacy as a mainstream activity for providers of support and related services.

30/05/2026

Why Being Dyslexic Can Make Poverty Harder to Escape

When people think about dyslexia, they often think about spelling mistakes or difficulties with reading. What they don't see are the financial barriers that can follow someone throughout their life.

Modern society runs on forms, applications, contracts, policies, emails, online portals, and written instructions. From applying for a job to claiming benefits, finding housing, accessing training, or managing finances, success often depends on navigating large amounts of written information.

For a dyslexic person, these systems can take longer to understand, require more effort to complete, and create a constant fear of making costly mistakes. A missed deadline, a misunderstood letter, an incorrectly completed form, or an overlooked detail can have real financial consequences.

Many dyslexic adults work incredibly hard to overcome these challenges, yet the systems around them are rarely designed with different ways of processing information in mind.

The result is that some people spend their lives paying a hidden price simply because the world expects everyone to read, write, and process information in the same way.

Dyslexia does not cause poverty. However, inaccessible systems can make it much harder for people to access opportunities, build confidence, improve qualifications, and achieve financial security.

Creating fairer systems isn't about giving people an advantage. It's about removing unnecessary barriers so everyone has an equal chance to succeed.

Assistive technology doesn't cure dyslexia — it removes the barriers. The question is whether society is willing to remove them, too.

26/05/2026

For many adults with , a job application form is not just paperwork — it can feel like walking into a pressure chamber. Every text box, spelling correction, timed assessment, and “attention to detail” requirement can slowly build anxiety and self-doubt.

What many employers see as a simple online form can become mentally exhausting for someone who already spends extra energy processing written information. The fear of making mistakes, being judged, or appearing “not good enough” often stops talented people from applying at all.

Dyslexia does not reflect intelligence, creativity, or potential. Sometimes the real barrier is the way systems are designed.

Assistive technology doesn’t cure dyslexia — it removes the barriers. And when barriers come down, confidence, talent, and opportunity finally have room to grow.

18/05/2026

Assistive technology isn’t a luxury for many people with dyslexia — it’s a lifeline.

Tools that read text aloud, convert speech into writing, improve spelling and grammar, and help organise thoughts can make a huge difference in everyday life. They help people study, work, communicate, and navigate a world that is still heavily built around reading and writing.

For many dyslexic adults, these tools reduce stress, anxiety, exhaustion, and the fear of getting things wrong. They can open doors to education, employment, and confidence that many people take for granted.

But here’s the problem.

Too many people are expected to pay for the support they need just to keep up.

Accessibility should not depend on income. Support should not be seen as a privilege. And people should not have to struggle in silence because the right tools are out of reach.

Assistive technology doesn’t cure dyslexia — it removes the barriers. The real challenge is creating a society where everyone has an equal chance to succeed.

10/05/2026

Living With Dyslexia: The Everyday Challenges People Don’t Always See

05/05/2026

You might sometimes feel like you’re facing this on your own—but you’re not. Dyslexia is shared by millions of people across the world, forming a vast, diverse community of thinkers, creators, problem-solvers and innovators.

Research suggests that around 10–15% of the global population shows traits of Dyslexia. That means in an average classroom, workplace, or community, there are always others who experience the world in a similar way—even if it’s not always visible.

Dyslexia doesn’t reflect a lack of intelligence; it reflects a different way the brain processes language, sound, and information. Many people with dyslexia develop strong skills in areas like creativity, big-picture thinking, storytelling, and problem-solving.

You are part of a global network—a quiet but powerful one. And with the right understanding, support, and tools, that difference becomes a strength.

You are not alone. You never were.

01/05/2026

Digital exclusion in the NHS is something many people don’t see, but if you’re dyslexic, you feel it every time you try to access basic healthcare. So much of the system has moved online, yet very little of it has been designed with neurodivergent users in mind. What should be simple—booking an appointment, checking results, filling in a form—can quickly become overwhelming when the digital journey is full of barriers.

For many dyslexic patients, the struggle starts with the appointment portals. Long pages of dense text, unclear instructions, and multiple steps that must be completed perfectly can turn a five‑minute task into a draining challenge. When you’re already unwell or anxious, that extra cognitive load is exhausting. Instead of feeling supported, you’re left feeling as though you’ve done something wrong.

The language used across NHS websites and digital letters often adds to the pressure. Medical terminology, formal phrasing, and tightly packed paragraphs make it hard to pick out the important information. Dyslexic readers often rely on clear structure, plain English, and visual cues, yet these are rarely offered. Even checking test results can feel like decoding a puzzle rather than receiving helpful guidance.

Forms are another major hurdle. Many time out quickly, reject answers without explanation, or require exact spelling to progress. For someone with dyslexia, this creates unnecessary stress and increases the risk of mistakes. It also chips away at confidence, reinforcing the idea that the problem lies with the person rather than the design.

Communication can be equally challenging. Appointment reminders, follow‑up instructions, and medication guidance often arrive as long blocks of text with no audio option, no simplified summary, and no visual support. Important details can be missed, not because someone isn’t trying, but because the format simply isn’t accessible.

What makes all of this so frustrating is that the solutions are straightforward. Clearer layouts, dyslexia‑friendly fonts, audio alternatives, plain English, and more flexible search tools would make NHS digital services far easier to navigate. These changes would support dyslexic people, but they would also improve the experience for everyone.

Digital healthcare should open doors, not close them. Until accessibility becomes a core part of NHS design rather than an afterthought, dyslexic patients will continue to face an unfair and unnecessary struggle just to access the care they deserve.

24/04/2026

Dyslexia in the workplace can be challenging enough on its own, but many people also carry a heavy pressure to get everything absolutely perfect. This perfectionism often comes from years of being judged on spelling, writing, or speed, and those early experiences can follow you into adulthood. When you’ve spent your school years being told to “try harder” or feeling embarrassed by mistakes, it’s no surprise that you grow into an adult who double checks every email, rewrites documents over and over, or hesitates to share ideas until they feel flawless. It isn’t about being fussy or difficult. It’s about wanting to avoid the criticism you’ve already heard far too many times.
For many dyslexic people, perfectionism becomes a kind of protection. If the work is perfect, no one can question your intelligence. If you check it enough times, maybe you won’t be caught out. But the truth is that this level of pressure is exhausting. It slows you down, chips away at your confidence, and makes everyday tasks feel far heavier than they need to be. It also hides the strengths that dyslexic thinkers bring to the workplace, such as creativity, problem solving, visual thinking, and the ability to spot patterns others miss. These strengths are valuable, but they can be overshadowed when perfectionism takes over.
Letting go of perfection doesn’t mean lowering your standards. It means allowing yourself to be human. A first draft is allowed to be messy. An email doesn’t need to be rewritten five times. Sharing ideas early can actually make your work stronger. Setting time limits, breaking tasks into smaller steps, and focusing on progress rather than flawlessness can make a huge difference. Many dyslexic adults find that once they stop chasing perfection, they finally have the space to work in a way that feels natural, confident, and sustainable.

18/04/2026

Living with dyslexia can make everyday tasks feel heavier than they should be, especially when work involves constant reading, writing, or processing information quickly. Many people try to cope alone for years, not realising that support actually exists to make working life easier. In the UK, Access to Work can be a real turning point. It’s a government scheme that provides practical help based on your needs, not a one‑size‑fits‑all approach.

For someone with dyslexia, this might mean funding for assistive technology, coaching to build confidence and strategies, or adjustments that make your job more manageable. What matters most is that you don’t have to struggle in silence. Asking for help isn’t a weakness; it’s a step towards working in a way that suits your brain.

When the right support is in place, you can focus on your strengths rather than fighting the same barriers every day. Access to Work exists to level the playing field, and for many dyslexic people, it opens the door to a working life that feels fair, achievable and far less exhausting.

14/04/2026

Daily life with dyslexia often means navigating systems that weren’t built with your thinking style in mind. Yet with the right strategies, it’s entirely possible to move through each day with more confidence and far less friction. What makes the biggest difference isn’t theory — it’s practical, repeatable habits that genuinely lighten the load. This guide brings together everyday approaches that help communication feel clearer, organisation feel achievable, and daily tasks feel less draining.

Written correspondence can be one of the most challenging parts of modern working life. Slowing the process down can make it far more manageable: reading once for the overall message, again for key details, and finally for any actions you need to take. Text‑to‑speech tools can ease the pressure of decoding dense paragraphs, and drafting replies in a separate space gives you time to think without the worry of sending something prematurely. Many people also find it helpful to keep simple templates for common messages, reducing decision fatigue and saving valuable time.

Managing appointments and schedules becomes much easier when everything lives in one reliable place. Digital calendars with colour coding, voice input, and layered reminders can be transformative. Saying appointments aloud as you add them helps reinforce memory, and setting two reminders — one early, one close to the time — creates a dependable safety net. Some people also keep a visual weekly planner at home, using bold colours and minimal text to make the week ahead feel clearer at a glance.

Public transport can be stressful when signage is cluttered or timetables feel overwhelming. Planning routes in advance, using apps that provide step‑by‑step directions, and saving regular journeys can make travel feel far more predictable. Screenshots of maps or instructions mean you don’t have to rely on memory, and asking staff for verbal guidance is often the quickest route to clarity. Allowing a little extra time removes the pressure of rushing, which is when mistakes are most likely to happen.

Forms and paperwork are another area where dyslexia can turn a simple task into a mentally exhausting one. Reading aloud, using a ruler or screen overlay to guide your eyes, and completing forms in short bursts can help maintain focus. Digital versions are often easier to manage, allowing you to zoom, highlight, or copy text into tools that support comprehension. And asking for help — from a colleague, friend, or support service — is not a weakness. It’s a practical step towards accuracy and peace of mind.

These strategies aren’t about striving for perfection. They’re about building a daily rhythm that works for you, reducing cognitive load, and giving yourself permission to adapt the world to your needs. Dyslexia doesn’t disappear, but life becomes far more manageable when your systems support you rather than drain you.

09/04/2026

SID Project adult phonics training course, Growing up without being able to read confidently because of dyslexia can have a devastating and long‑lasting impact, shaping everything from your sense of self to the opportunities you feel able to pursue. In school, the struggle often begins quietly: lessons move faster than your brain can decode the words on the page, teachers mistake difficulty for lack of effort, and classmates progress while you’re still wrestling with the basics. Over time, this can chip away at your confidence, leaving you feeling behind before you’ve even had the chance to show what you’re capable of. As you move into further education or employment, the effects don’t simply disappear. Job applications, workplace systems, training materials, and everyday communication are still overwhelmingly text‑heavy, and without the right support, the same barriers reappear in new forms. Many people end up masking their difficulties, working twice as hard to keep up, or avoiding opportunities altogether because they fear being judged. Beyond employment, the impact continues into adulthood, influencing how you navigate finances, healthcare, digital services, and even social situations where reading is expected. Dyslexia doesn’t limit intelligence or ambition, but the world often isn’t designed with dyslexic minds in mind. When reading becomes a daily battle, it can shape your confidence, your choices, and your sense of belonging far beyond the classroom. That’s why awareness, understanding, and accessible design matter so deeply — because with the right support, dyslexic people don’t just cope, they thrive.

Address

15 Norfolk Street
Sunderland
SR11EA

Website

http://www.sidproject.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when SID Project posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to SID Project:

Shortcuts

Want your organisation to be the top-listed Non Profit Organisation in Sunderland?