Learning success for Alun (From Free Press Series)

Learning success for Alun

When Alun Rhys Jones went back to college last year it was as big a step personally as it was professionally.

That's because Alun, who has been a taxi driver for the last 12 years, also suffers from dyspraxia, a condition that had impaired his learning.

Now studying for his City & Guilds in ICT at Pontypool College, Alun is also doing an evening course in PC maintenance as well as planning a degree in multimedia web design.

Alan, of Pontnewydd, said: "Dyspraxia means having poor hand and eye coordination and that learning is slow. This wasn't recognised at school so I did badly, left with no qualifications and little belief in myself. Thankfully that has changed now."

Alun realised that he suffered from dyspraxia when his 13-year-old daughter was diagnosed. He was searching the internet for information about it when he saw a list of symptoms and recognised them in himself.

"It was a shock but a big step forward. Now that I know why I have had problems learning I can work around it.

"It's the best thing I have ever done," he says. "I am so proud of myself. I also use the drop-in centre at the college to brush up my English and maths. I am finally taking control of my life."

Alun is also helping promote the NIACE Dysgu Cymru (National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) Sign Up Now campaign 'Taking Control' which encourages adult learners to get back to learning.

Sign up Now is funded by ELWa, the European Social Fund and the National Assembly for Wales.

ELWa chairman Sheila Drury said: "People throughout Wales are enriching their lives and improving their prospects through learning. With learning comes confidence which leads people to go on to develop a regular habit of signing up for more courses and reaping even greater rewards."