Ryan Edward: From “Dumb” Labels and a Failed Education System to Building UK Dispatch – A Dyslexia-Friendly Voice in British News

At 26, Ryan Edward describes his life as “somewhat normal.” He’s right-wing, interested in politics, and passionate about fixing cars. But behind that ordinary label lies an extraordinary story of resilience against a system that repeatedly let him down — and his determination to make sure others don’t face the same barriers.

The Classroom Betrayals

Ryan’s dyslexia was never properly supported in school. In primary school, he wasn’t even allowed to sit his SATs. The deputy head teacher called him “dumb” several times — sometimes in front of the whole class. Secondary school was little better. Fortnightly 1-to-1 sessions with a teacher who spotted his struggles never led to real, lasting help. He passed a few exams but never achieved the results he was capable of.

“I passed a few of my exams but because of the failed education system that failed me I didn’t get the results I wanted,” Ryan says. The sense of being written off still burns. If he could go back, he says he would walk into that school and “slam it on the desk of the teacher who educationally signed me off.”

College, Apprenticeship and a Glimmer of Hope

After school, Ryan went to college to study car mechanics — something he already knew how to do in practice but wanted on paper. Because of his earlier failures, he had to take Level 1 Maths and English (primary-school level) as part of the course.

A kind English teacher at college finally recognised his dyslexia and put proper support in place. Ryan passed Levels 1, 2 and 3 in both subjects. He then began a Level 3 apprenticeship in light vehicle motor mechanics. The theory was hard because of his dyslexia, but he was making progress — until 2020.

COVID hit. Learning moved online. Ryan passed everything he could do remotely, but when colleges stayed closed it became impossible to continue. Then in 2021 he caught COVID himself. It “knocked me off my feet.” He lost strength, balance and mental clarity. The apprenticeship ended. Since then he has fought every day for answers about what happened to his body and mind. He believes the vaccine played a role and, given the money, would sue the NHS or government for what he sees as the destruction of his health and future.

Family Struggle and Political Anger

Ryan’s parents both worked full-time from a young age. In 2025 his dad was diagnosed with cancer and needed major surgery. Applications for Universal Credit and PIP were refused because his mum “earns too much” — even though her wages don’t cover the bills. She now works overtime while they wait months for a decision on his dad’s claim.

What angers Ryan most is the contrast he sees with how quickly he believes some migrants receive support. “Seeing my mum struggle working overtime and then reading about migrations getting it easy angers me,” he says. His dad’s Universal Credit form could take six months; he feels others get answers far faster.

These experiences have shaped his politics. He supports Reform UK even though he knows their policies might reduce benefits for people like him. “They may but there isn’t any support for those suffering with the aftermath of Covid/the vaccines,” he explains. Without that support, he feels the current system has abandoned people like his family — and like him.

Why He Created UK Dispatch

The final spark came from his own daily frustration with the news. “As soon as I see a BBC article I switch off and can’t read it some days.” Even writing his own story, he says, “I’m starting to switch off.”

So Ryan built UK Dispatch (originally called Reform Media, then Reformed Media). He changed the name because people kept assuming it was connected to the political party Reform UK — it isn’t. The platform exists to simplify news so people with dyslexia and other learning disabilities can actually read and understand what’s happening in the world.

His ambition is big: grow UK Dispatch until it forces mainstream outlets to change how they present information. He is open to working with any news organisation that wants to make content genuinely accessible. “I am hoping that one day UK Dispatch will be big enough to challenge mainstream media and other news sources into changing ways to help people with dyslexia and other learning disability to be able to access news.”

Still Fighting — and Still Building

Ryan Edward didn’t get the education he deserved. He didn’t finish the apprenticeship he worked for. His health was taken from him at 21. His family is struggling while he watches what he sees as unfair treatment of others. Yet instead of giving up, he created something that helps people who face the same reading barriers he does every single day.

He lives with the consequences of a system that failed him at almost every turn. But he refuses to let that failure define what comes next — for himself or for the thousands of others who switch off when they see a wall of text.

UK Dispatch isn’t just a news site. For Ryan, it’s proof that the education system, the health system and the benefits system may have written him off — but he is far from finished.