My name is Julia Furner. I am a nurse by profession and I live with my partner of 16 years and our two children.
On Tynwald day in July 2020 I am petitioning to improve education for dyslexic pupils in the Isle of Man.
I have gained political support. My local MHK Mr Baker will ‘pick up’ the petition to debate in the Tynwald courts in October 2020.
The family library in Douglas is hosting a professionals coffee evening on 4th May 2020 from 18:00-20:30, and a parents coffee evening at the same time on the following day, 5th May 2020. The purpose of these meetings is to provide a safe and supportive environment to elicit public opinion from professionals and parents to present to Tynwald. Public opinion will be sought by questionnaire and conducting focus groups.
How to help
- Professionals and parents can help by attending the coffee evenings.
- Businesses can help by kindly donating raffle prizes or donations. Raffle prizes will be used to raise money for The Family Library to purchase resources pertinent to dyslexia and donations will go towards the fee for high profile guest speakers.
- Professionals and parents can help by contacting me with their experiences of dyslexia and education to put in an appendix to present to Tynwald. Names can be anonymized.
- Professionals can help by attending Tynwald Court with me in October 2020 to advocate for change.
- Everyone can help by signing and sharing the petition on
http://www.change.org/DyslexiaPetition
- I am also seeking local guest speakers to participate voluntarily. For example a guest speaker who is successful because of their dyslexia, similar how to Orlando Bloom and Richard Branson attribute their own success to their dyslexia (Made By Dyslexia, 2019). The purpose of this is to promote dyslexic strengths: - visualising, imagining, communicating, reasoning, connecting, and exploring - all of which align strongly with main business needs.
I will be doing a lot of publicity throughout 2020 and I will endeavour to mention sponsors. Thank you.