About Us

DRT Aims

• To support research into why so many children find it so difficult to learn to read.
• To offer free assessments at DRT clinics to any child who struggles with reading.
• To develop effective methods for helping children, and adults, to overcome their reading problems.
• To provide unbiased information about dyslexia, its causes, and treatment.
• To train professionals in dyslexia research and practice.
• To raise awareness of current research through scientific and media publications, lectures, conferences etc., for dyslexics, carers, professionals, academics and policymakers.

1 in 10 children have dyslexia. Dyslexia is the most common cause of childhood loss of self-esteem, leading to profound misery and even suicide, or vandalism, violence and criminality. 50% of convicted criminals are thought to be dyslexic.

Since 1995, the DRT has been helping to improve the lives of many thousands of young people with dyslexia. The DRT exists wholly to support, and promote, scientific research into the nature and causes of dyslexia and related conditions, and to provide clinical services to children and adults with these conditions.

The DRT was founded in 1995 by Professor John Stein, a professor of Neuroscience at Oxford University, and Dr Sue Fowler, a Senior Research Orthoptist. 30 years ago the two started a research clinic to study visual causes of reading difficulties; their collaboration has led to the development of the magnocellular theory of dyslexia together with highly effective treatments for visual reading problems ranging from monocular occlusion, the use of yellow and blue glasses, to treatment with fish oil omega 3s.

The difficulty of raising money for research into dyslexia led John and Sue to set up the DRT as a charity. It has been able to support research leading to nearly 100 publications in high impact peer reviewed journals such as Nature, Lancet and Brain. Randomised controlled trials have achieved the gold standard of proof of effectiveness. For more information on DRT research, go to Research or contact info@dyslexic.org.uk.

The DRT exists thanks to the tremendous support of its donors, volunteers and patrons; it is entirely dependent on your donations and we are enormously grateful to all of you who have kept us going.

Please support the DRT and help us to continue our vital research so that we can continue to help thousands of young people.

The easiest and quickest way to help the DRT is by making a single, or monthly, donation today.

DRT Patrons

Lord Walton of Detchant.
Ex President BMA, RSM, GMC

Baroness Susan Greenfield
Director, Royal Institution

Rick Stein OBE,
Celebrity Chef

Colin Dexter, OBE
Creator of Inspector Morse

Prof. Richard Pring
Prof Emeritus Oxford University Dept. Education

Anthony Smith CBE
Ex President Magdalen College