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This paper presents the findings of a comparative study using data from questionnaire surveys carried out in England (n 5 57) and Ireland (n 5 72). The researchers examine how teachers and teaching assistants who are currently teaching pupils with dyslexia in primary schools describe dyslexia and what may have influenced their conceptualisation. The paper examines teachers' responses both in terms of how they view their pupils presenting difficulties in the classroom, and how far they link these to underlying differences in cognitive processing. The researchers suggest ways in which this might influence their teaching in terms of methodology. Findings have been mapped to the Morton and Frith causal modelling framework. The implications of these findings for the training and support of teachers are discussed in the light of recent national initiatives to improve the teaching of dyslexic pupils in both countries.In recent years there has been a growing international body of research and information on the identification and education of children with dyslexia, or specific learning difficulty (Miles, 2006;Reid & Fawcett, 2004). In the light of this, in both England and Ireland there has been concern over how to conceptualise this barrier to learning and what may be the most important and useful model to understand dyslexia. This debate sits within the wider context of inclusion for pupils with a wide variety of special educational needs.This paper describes a comparative study of identification and intervention for primary pupils with dyslexia in Ireland and England, linking teachers' responses to theoretical frameworks and discussing how this might influence their teaching in practice. The focus of this article is on teachers' understanding of dyslexia in both countries. Two separate surveys are described, reporting findings from samples of teachers in England and in Ireland. This is followed by a discussion of the overall findings relating to both countries.

Internationally there are increasing numbers of young people on the ASD spectrum attending higher education. Early transition planning is essential and students with ASD often require support to articulate their post-school educational goals and actively participate in transition planning meetings. Services within higher education are primarily designed to provide academic supports however, non-academic supports may be an even more crucial factor in enabling successful transitions for young people on the ASD spectrum who often experience heightened anxiety within an unfamiliar environment. Within this paper, the results of a small-scale exploratory study of the transition experiences of six young people on the ASD spectrum to post-secondary education will be shared. There was limited evidence that transition planning had been initiated as a formal process for the six students. Accessing support in higher education proved to be a complex process for some students who required sustained input from parents to ensure that they would utilise the supports available. Encouraging the development of selfdetermination skills, a key predictor of success in higher education, needs to begin in secondary school. It is anticipated insights from this study can contribute to the development of an embedded infrastructure to support effective transitions for students with ASD to post-secondary education.

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In this paper, the results of an investigation into the training needs and expectations of participants of professional development training1 for specialist teachers and assessors of learners with literacy difficulties and dyslexia are discussed and analysed. The methodology includes both qualitative and quantitative data which were collected over a period of 2 years from participants (N = 75) at the beginning of their courses of study. Current literature is reviewed, and an in‐depth analysis of the findings illuminates the rationale and content of the available training. The author discusses these findings and demonstrates the importance of the training. The conclusions offer research‐based reflections that are important to all those involved in the design and funding of this and future professional development.

This paper draws on a naturalistic research study into the experiences of six adults with dyslexia, to examine issues arising from their past transitions from the context of compulsory and post‐16 education to the world of work and within their career trajectories. A discussion of literature and documentation in relation to dyslexia in adults is discussed, to place the findings in a theoretical background. The emerging themes discussed in this paper were extracted from the analysis of transcripts from in‐depth interviews, which illuminated the experiences of these individuals. The traditional English board game ‘Snakes and Ladders’ is proposed as a metaphor to illustrate how dyslexia has affected employment stability in the lives of these individuals and their employers. The implications of these findings are discussed, and recommendations made, which inform stakeholders and policy‐makers in the inclusion and employment of adults with disabilities.

Dyslexia support is likely to be in place for students within educational establishments in England. However, there are a significant number of adults with dyslexia in the English workplace who are no longer involved in education and for whom ongoing support is necessary to enable them to reach their potential in a world of increasing literacy demands. Legislation has led to significant moves towards inclusion in the English workplace, but there has been a lack of public recognition of the concerns and needs articulated by adults with this invisible disability. The formation of local voluntary groups provides one model of support for adults with dyslexia. This article examines the setting up of one such group and highlights issues involved in this process. The nature of the group structure and the support offered is discussed, including its impact on the individuals concerned. Finally, the author makes recommendations for stakeholders in the inclusion of adults with dyslexia.