Roscommon councillor commended for speaking about his dyslexia

A Fianna Fáil councillor has been commended by his colleagues for speaking publicly about his dyslexia at a recent meeting of the council.

Cllr Sean Moylan spoke about his dyslexia during a discussion in the council chamber on the need for extra time to be allocated in secondary school exams for students with learning difficulties.

Independent councillor Laurence Fallon, tabling a motion, proposed that the council write to the Education Minister requesting the introduction of extra time for students with dyslexia, dyscalculia (affects a person’s ability to do mathematics) and other learning difficulties sitting second level examinations.

The proposal received widespread support from his colleagues.

Cllr Fallon said the lack of extra time was a severe disadvantage to such students at a crucial time in their lives.

“One in 10 people will be diagnosed with dyslexia throughout their lifetime. It is a significant condition which affects people in many different ways. The bottom line is that it is more difficult for people to read, more difficult for people to understand what they are reading and to leave more time for them,” he said.

The councillor pointed out that at third level, extra time is allocated for students during exams and “for that reason alone, they are able to achieve their goals at third level”.

Cllr Fallon said that the difficulty was that they are not getting extra time at second level and this was causing many students not to reach their full potential.

“It’s needs to change and change quickly. It is the norm in most European countries that people associated with dyslexia or associated conditions are given extra time to do their exams. It is something that should be introduced immediately in Ireland,” he said.

He outlined that the State Examinations Commission had promised to look at this issue but it could be two or three years away.

“So I am calling on the new Minister for Education to expedite the introduction of extra time for people diagnosed with dyslexia and associated conditions. The time will be decided by the commission but the urgency is to have the decision made before the summer exams. This a time sensitive motion because some of the exams are coming up fairly soon,” he said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Sean Moylan said that as a person who suffered with dyslexia, he fully supported the motion.

“During my time in school, it was a completely unknown condition so you weren’t considered in the same ball park as everybody else. But it has transpired since that it has been heavily studied and we know an awful lot more about it now than we did that time,” he said.

He said that many of the brightest and smartest people in our country and in our business world were dyslexic.

“To get that extra chance, to get that extra 15 or 20 minutes in an exam can make all the difference to bring you back up to the same speed as everybody else in relation to results. It takes that little but longer to get your stuff organised, your thoughts, your spelling checked.”

He complimented Cllr Fallon for bringing the motion forward.

“I wouldn’t have had the courage myself and I do think this is very important, so thank you,” he said.

Fianna Fáil councillor John Keogh said he was very close to a young person who suffered from both dyslexia and dyscalculia.

“It’s difficult to suffer from one or the other but it’s extremely difficult when you are suffering from both. I have seen the stress going into that person’s face going into exams. We do need to make sure there is adequate time provided to cater for the conditions that they have,” he said, Cllr Keogh said that the issue should be examined to see how much time was needed for students and it needed to be addressed urgently.

“I want to commend Cllr Moylan on his contribution here today. It takes courage to bring these matters into the forum and you are to be to commended for that. I have no doubt that what you have said here today, you will encourage others to stand up.

“Perhaps your intervention here today is what is necessary for the Department and the State Examinations Commission to take heed to address the issue one and for all,” he said.

Fine Gael councillor, now senator, Gareth Scahill said that some of the most intelligent and famous people that everyone knew such as Da Vinci, Picasso and Einstein were all dyslexic.

Now that it’s been diagnosed more, Cllr Scahill said it was important to support people with dyslexia and remove the stigma from those who are afraid to come forward to say “I’ve got this”.

He commended Cllr Moylan for his contribution.

Independent councillor Valerie Byrne, welcoming the motion, said she was borderline herself and said it was very important to support people who have dyslexia.

Fine Gael councillor Domnick Connolly said it was an important motion and hoped students could be afforded that extra time in exams.

Independent councillor Tony Ward said that young people were under enough pressure without having added pressure. He said people with dyslexia should get the same opportunity as everyone else and obstacles should not be put in their way. If they needed up to another thirty minutes, so be it, he said.

Sinn Féin councillor Leah Cull welcomed the proposal and commended Cllr Moylan for his “brave words”.

“It’s really important that we have these conversations. It does break down stigma and normalise these kind of things,” she said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Larry Brennan said it was an excellent motion and complemented Cllr Moylan on his heartfelt contribution.

Thanking Cllr Moylan for his intervention, Cllr Fallon said it brought to light that anyone with dyslexia can achieve greatness and work a normal life.

“But there is always a challenge in the teen years when they are doing exams. The message is very clear, the people with dyslexia need a bit of help and extra time. I think is a discrimination not to give them extra time and I ask that the motion be circulated to other counties as well,” he said.

Cllr Moylan thanked his colleagues for their supportive words. Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice, also supported the motion.