Posted: 12th April 2016
The 2016 Dyslexia Awards are the dream come true of Elizabeth Wilkinson, after 10 years of talking about it and formulating a vision, 18 months of planning: finally the dream of celebrating and positively promote local Shropshire Dyslexics has becoming a reality!
Dyslexic herself, Elizabeth or Eli as she is known locally, is on a mission to raise dyslexia awareness and is keen to counterbalance the typically negative portrayal of dyslexics and dyslexia in the media, she feels the awards are a positive way to do this. Elizabeth says:
“its important to me raise dyslexia awareness and understand, we dyslexics have many strengths, skills and talents, that are valuable in the work place and the world of commerce! What better way to honour and celebrate this than with our very own dyslexia awards!”
There are 17 award categories in total, 16 these limited to nominations for people from Shropshire; and just so we are clear this does the whole of Shropshire as a county!
There awards are for all age ranges, the adult and business awards include: Outstanding Personal Achievement, Amazing Art Award, Best Supportive Employer Award, Innovation Award and Entrepreneur Award,
There are awards that are just for our young Shropshire dyslexics. these are the Shining Star Awards: Primary, Secondary, Further Education, Training, Home-School and Apprentice.
And Dyslexia Awards wants to honour and celebrate not just our local dyslexics, but those in education who go the extra mile and work hard to have a positive impact on their dyslexic students learning and achievements, these awards include: Best Head Teacher, Best SENCO, Best Teacher, Best Learning Support Award and Best Trainer.
And finally there is one award that is open to nominations from outside of Shropshire, and that is the ‘Dyslexia information Day Award‘ (DiD) this is open to nominations for DiD exhibitors and volunteers, who come from far and wide to support this Shropshire based event.
The 2016 Dyslexia Awards ceremony will be taking place at the stunning Enginuity venue in coalbrookdale, on Saturday 26th November 2016. Master of Ceremonies will be local dyslexic Paul Shuttleworth and local caricature artist Chris Ryder Wittypics will be there creating unique mementos for people to take away with them.
Elizabeth says:
“I am stunned at the support we have received already, local people are being so supportive and encouraging. Nomination are already coming in and a selection of local businesses have snapped up award sponsorships – even before we have gone public’
Award Sponsors:
Rosie Consulting- Entrepreneur Award,
In The Loop – Best Leaning Support Award,
True Potential – Outstanding Personal Achievement,
Kay Heal HR – Best Supportive Employer Award
In The Shed- Amazing Art Award!
For more information about sponsorship opportunities please email awards@theddc.org.uk.
To find out more about the awards and to nominate please visit www.theddc.org.uk/dyslexiaawards