Y&R London Launch Dyslexic Sperm Bank

Y&R London is behind a new campaign for new Dyslexia charity, Made By Dyslexia, which sees the opening of a Dyslexic sperm bank to highlight the misconceptions of the condition. 

The charity, supported by Sir Richard Branson, who is dyslexic, aims to change perceptions, so that dyslexia is seen as a different way of thinking rather than as a disadvantage. Working with experts and successful dyslexics, it will develop campaigns, tools and tests to explain dyslexic thinking.

The 'sperm bank', while not accepting actual donors, was chosen as a theme and setting for the launch because some sperm banks have not let dyslexics donate until very recently, and have even described dyslexia as a 'neurological disease', highlighting how far peoples’ understanding of dyslexia still needs to change. One in 10 people are dyslexic, accounting for more than 6.5 million people in the United Kingdom. 

Exclusive research from Made by Dyslexia and YouGov highlights the scale of the task at hand: 

• Only 3% of people think dyslexia is a positive trait 

• 58% believe that someone with dyslexia will do worse at school; only 2% think they may do better 

• 19% of people associate dyslexia with creativity whereas, according to Made by Dyslexia research, 84% of dyslexics say they are above average in creative skills 

• 13% of people associate dyslexia with lateral thinking whereas 84% of dyslexics say they are above average in lateral thinking skills 

• 12% of people associate dyslexia with good problem solving skills whereas 84% of dyslexics say they are above average at problem solving 

• 9 out of 10 dyslexics say their dyslexia made them feel angry, stupid or embarrassed