Adam Dance MP calls for national action on dyslexia at British Dyslexia Association event in Parliament

Adam Dance, Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil, spoke at a powerful event in Parliament hosted by the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), focused on improving support for young people with dyslexia.

The event followed the launch of the BDA’s report “Set Up for Somebody Else: Young people with dyslexia in the education system”, released during Dyslexia Awareness Week 2025. The report highlights how many dyslexic students feel frustrated, misunderstood, and left behind by a system that too often fails to meet their needs.

Only 18% of young people surveyed said they had access to assistive technology in school, and nearly eight in ten (78%) believe others assume they are “not clever” because of their dyslexia. The research also revealed deep inequality in access to diagnosis, with 90% of children from households earning over £100,000 having a formal diagnosis, compared with just 43% from families earning under £30,000.

During the event, Adam spoke about his own experiences of dyslexia and the urgent need for national reform. He has previously introduced a Ten Minute Rule Bill in Parliament calling for mandatory teacher training on neurodiversity, national data collection on specific learning difficulties, and fairer funding for SEND support.

Adam Dance MP said:

“It was inspiring to hear young people share their experiences so openly. No child should feel that the education system isn’t built for them. We need early screening, teacher training, and proper investment in dyslexia support so every young person has the chance to thrive. I’ll keep working in Parliament to make that happen.”

The event was supported by Ryman and introduced by entrepreneur Theo Paphitis, the BDA’s Dyslexia Empowerment Patron. Their partnership has helped fund dyslexia assessments for young people from low-income families.

For more information, visit www.bdadyslexia.org.uk.