Saudi Arabia launches initiative to empower individuals with learning disabilities on World Dyslexia Awareness Day

Saudi Arabia launched a new initiative dedicated to supporting and empowering individuals with learning disabilities, specifically dyslexia, in conjunction with World Dyslexia Awareness Day. The project aims to tackle the challenges faced by individuals with dyslexia, providing additional tools to families, educators, and healthcare professionals to enhance their support. This is reported by Arab News.

Mohammad Bahareth, the project leader, highlighted that "70 per cent of history’s most groundbreaking inventions came from minds shaped by dyslexia." He stressed the importance of creating a more inclusive environment for those with dyslexia, noting that many individuals with this condition possess average or above-average intelligence and excel academically.

To receive additional support in the Kingdom, individuals must provide a medical diagnosis and disability certificate from institutions accredited by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

The initiative also underlines the importance of emotional support, with early diagnosis and intervention being crucial for optimal outcomes. However, dyslexia often goes undiagnosed until adulthood, and there is a link between dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which can further complicate concentration and impulse control.

Dyslexia, typically diagnosed by a neurologist or psychiatrist, affects a person's ability to read, write, and learn. Recent research has identified abnormal brain activity in dyslexic individuals, particularly in the left hemisphere, which is responsible for processing language and visual signals.

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