The 50-year-old celebrity chef is calling for more education for students with dyslexia, encourages early screenings, and raises awareness of neurodiversity.
Jamie Oliver described filming a new dyslexia documentary as the “most viscerally painful” thing he’s ever done. The celebrity chef, 50, will host a one-hour documentary called Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution for Channel 4. He has struggled with learning throughout his life.
The programme will explore the challenges and difficulties that children with dyslexia encounter in Britain and question whether the Government could enhance the education system. “I’m unpacking quite a lot of stuff,” Jamie said in an interview with The Sunday Times.
It’s hitting a nerve, even though I thought I had buried it. This documentary is the most viscerally painful of all the things I’ve ever done, in my opinion. He continued, “I’ve seen so many high-flying, gifted, grown men cry about this — I’ve just done it to you,” noting that the idea of being unworthy when you’re young is real. It really triggers.”
READ MORE: Doctor’s two easy habits to stop you feeling ‘tired all day’
The NHS describes dyslexia as a ‘common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing, and spelling’. Estimates indicate that as many as one in ten people in the UK may experience some level of dyslexia.
Dyslexia can present daily challenges because it can affect everyone. However, dyslexia frequently leads to better mental health, particularly through problem-solving and creative thinking.
This was cooking, Jamie thought. He claimed that the kitchen “saved” him despite a number of challenges after graduating from school with two GCSEs. He also described feeling “stupid, worthless, thick,” developing “a hatred of words, and total resentment for education.”
He was called a “stupid dunce” by other kids, which heightened his sense of abandonment. There were no strategies, just a little extra tutoring assistance, Jamie continued, “I didn’t have any extra time for my exams.” Then, there was no robust dyslexic knowledge.
He continued, “I didn’t tell my mom, dad, or the teachers.” I simply kept it a secret inside. I was saved by the kitchen. I was aware of what I could offer. I was aware that I wasn’t a pointless piece of crap.
READ MORE: BBC’s Romesh Ranganathan makes major career announcement
The Essex-based chef and author is well known for producing cookbooks, including Jamie’s 30-Minute Meals, as well as his cooking shows and documentaries like The Naked Chef and Jamie’s Kitchen.
He has actively fought for more government funding for healthier school lunches throughout his career and helped to pass a sugar tax on soft drinks.
He is now calling for earlier screenings and greater awareness of neurodiversity in order to promote increased support for dyslexia in schools. The 50-year-old explained that only a small portion of the course’s two to three-year teacher training program is dedicated to neurodiversity.
He said, “We need to appreciate teachers more than we love them. However, they want to be educated, to have the tools to notice, comprehend, and act.
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply