Episode: Reading Between the Lines: Dyslexia, Education, and Real Systemic Change Guest: Rosie Bissett — CEO of Dyslexia Ireland, national advocate for literacy, access, and equity in education. With decades of leadership, Rosie brings systemic insight, lived empathy, and policy-level experience into the conversation around dyslexia, co-occurring conditions, and structural change.

Host: Peter O'Brien Producer: Ian Lawton

Episode summary

In this honest, wide-ranging conversation, Rosie Bissett breaks down the complex realities of dyslexia in Ireland today—from assessment bottlenecks to shame around reading, and from leaving cert reform to AI's limits in education. Rosie reflects on personal sensory challenges, the roots of her advocacy, and the importance of seeing people beyond diagnostic labels. This episode is rich in lived experience, strategic insight, and grounded hope for long-term change in education, health, and access systems.

Key takeaways

• Dyslexia is widespread but often unsupported—at least 10% of the population, with many undiagnosed adults.

• There's no public route for adult dyslexia assessment in Ireland, creating inequality and vulnerability.

• AI tools can support logistics (like Zoom assessments) but cannot replace clinical expertise or lived conversation.

• Adults often develop compensatory strategies that mask difficulties; testing must account for this.

• Reading challenges may not be inability—but effort fatigue, attention interplay, or environment issues.

• Co-occurrence of ADHD and dyslexia is common; diagnosis should consider overlaps, not siloed categories.

• Shame around reading persists into adulthood; alternative literacy (audiobooks, podcasts, live performance) should be equally valued.

• The State Exams Commission's accommodations (e.g. 10 extra minutes) are wholly inadequate compared to international standards.

• Exam structures need overhaul: shorter papers, fewer subjects, realistic workloads, and holistic timing.

• Representation and inclusion must include all neurodivergent profiles—not just autism.

• Self-identification is valid—formal assessment isn't always necessary to understand and support yourself.

• We must reject toxic positivity and the pressure to be "exceptional" to be accepted.

Topics & timestamps

• 00:00–02:21 — Opening; climate extremes; introducing Rosie Bissett and dyslexia prevalence in Ireland.

• 02:21–04:57 — Rosie's path into dyslexia advocacy; early organisational resistance to the word itself.

• 04:57–07:15 — Personal sensory sensitivities; exploring her own neurodivergence.

• 07:15–11:03 — Assessment bottlenecks; lack of trained professionals; decades-long gap to fix.

• 11:03–12:57 — Online assessments and limits of AI in diagnosis.

• 12:57–16:45 — Adult dyslexia: reading fatigue, not inability; shame, masking, and co-occurrence with ADHD.

• 16:45–20:04 — School structures: classrooms, forest school, and the need for movement and flexibility.

• 20:04–23:40 — The structural inertia in education; behemoth systems resistant to change.

• 23:40–26:54 — Leinster House lobbying; current campaigns for exam accommodations.

• 26:54–31:12 — Leaving Cert reform: shorter exams, more individualised extra time, reduced burnout.

• 31:12–33:27 — Fear of "unfair advantage" reveals lack of understanding of real disadvantage.

• 33:27–38:38 — The Education Convention; risk of exclusion for less-visible neurodivergences.

• 38:38–41:46 — Vulnerability in private assessment space; regulation and trust are key.

• 41:46–47:26 — Self-identification vs. formal diagnosis; connect with others; see beyond the label.

• 47:26–49:33 — Beware the pressure to be the "super" neurodivergent person; be human, not heroic.

• 49:33–50:28 — Closing thoughts: be kind, be real, advocate for change.

Resources mentioned

• Dyslexia Ireland – Resources, support, and assessments

• State Exams Commission – Reasonable Accommodations

• Forest School Ireland – Outdoor learning model

• Neurodivergent Ireland – Cross-profile advocacy

• Neuroconvergence.ie – Inclusive events and conversations

Pull quotes

• "Reading isn't the problem—it's the effort required that wears people down."

• "AI can't hear your life story or read your exhaustion."

• "You don't have to be the 'best' ADHD or dyslexic person. You just have to be you."

• "Being kind to yourself isn't weakness—it's survival."

• "Systems love regularity, but people aren't regular."

Credits

Host: Peter O'Brien Guest: Rosie Bissett Producer: Ian Lawton Recorded for the Neuroconvergence Podcast