CHANGING THE STEREOTYPES AROUND DYSLEXIA

Emily Keys (Year 11 O'Reilly) is on a mission to change the stereotypes around dyslexia. To help portray her thoughts and feelings, Emily recently produced, starred in and edited a short film titled 'But Is It A Gift' as part of WA Theatre Company's (WAYTCo's) Act Belong Commit Loungeroom Project. Emily's video has since won the People's Choice Award in the Junior category and her video has been shown to two primary schools in the United Kingdom!

Emily said the following about her submission:

"With dyslexia, there has always been a wealth of stereotypes around being 'dumb' or 'unintelligent'. Growing up with it can really affect your confidence and the way you perceive yourself. I wanted to share my experience with it, to help educate on the multitude of positive aspects that often aren’t discussed with dyslexia. Being passionate about drama really helped me to express that within the Loungeroom Project. The competition entailed the creation of a five-minute video, recorded at home on a mobile phone, choosing a subject of your choice. The top five entries were chosen as Finalists in both the Junior and Senior categories and the winners were selected by a panel of judges. I was fortunate enough to win the Junior People’s Choice Award and was overwhelmed with the positive feedback that came from it. The video was shared via multiple social media platforms, and I received some heartfelt messages from parents of dyslexic children and people with dyslexia who expressed that it encapsulated how they felt about their dyslexia, as it is so much more than the stereotypical view."

Please watch Emily's short video below.

Well done, Emily!

Miss Natasha Camilleri

Community Relations & Marketing Coordinator