Former World Champion racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart today gets a week-long programme of events to mark Dyslexia Awareness Week up-and-running (1-7 November) with a keynote speech at the Edinburgh Central Library's Reference Library on George IV Bridge.
The Scottish racing driver struggled at school as a result of the unrecognised condition and it wasn't until he was in his Forties that he realised that he had dyslexia. Stewart has campaigned for wider recognition of dyslexia. The event is entitled "The impact of unidentified dyslexia".
As well as meeting MSPs Mike Russell and Kenny MacAskill at the Scottish Parliament, during his visit to Edinburgh Sir Jackie will also pay a visit to the award-winning library at HMP Saughton, where he will launch a training facility called 'Motorcraft'.
Another highlight of the events programme will see a Congolese rapper, Arnaud Touango, perform at Craigmillar and Moredun Libraries on Wednesday 3 November. Arnaud's single 'Can't hold me down' is a song about his own personal struggle with dyslexia and how he overcame the obstacles he faced.
Sir Jackie Stewart said: "I congratulate the partners at Edinburgh Libraries who, together with Dyslexia Scotland, have been involved in putting together this programme of events for Dyslexia Awareness Week. This programme will attract the attention of hopefully a great many people in Scotland so that they are more aware of the trials and tribulations that people of all ages suffer from dyslexia. The more people there are who understand the issues, the more hope we have of both the young and mature being given the right help and understanding."
Cathy Magee, Chief Executive of Dyslexia Scotland, promises "an unusual, stimulating and varied programme which both celebrates the strengths of dyslexia and highlights the costs to society when dyslexia is unidentified, unsupported or hidden."
The week also includes art and photography exhibitions, IT demonstrations and talks, dyslexia through a film, a play and rapping workshop.