Mindcraft, the Minecraft map that wants to help detect dyslexia

Dyslexia, dysphasia, dyspraxia: so many cognitive disorders that are not always easy to detect in both children and adults. In France, it is estimated that 6 to 12% of the world population is affected by these problems of written language disorders. which can have consequences both in professional life and in school. And most affected adults would not be aware of the situation due to lack of screening tests after adolescence.

To enable potentially affected people or help their loved ones to identify the symptoms, the Pouvoir Dys association and the BETC agency have developed a playful experience to better understand the situation of dyslexics.

When you know that 82% of girls and 40% of boys with dyslexia are undiagnosed, you better bring the diagnosis to them. And for that, what better than trusting a very mainstream game like Minecraft in an attempt to detect signs of cognitive decline. Power Dys and BETC have thus developed a playground in the form of a maze.

Dyslexia, “an extraordinary power” poorly detected

Entitled Mindcraft, this “map” of Minecraft features 4 areas to navigate with challenges to complete to help the hero, Charlie, pass tests and find his way out of the maze that symbolizes a dyslexic brain with its complications and complexity. Designed in collaboration with the neuropsychologist Béatrice Sauvageot, also founder of the Pouvoir Dys association, but also with dyslexics, the experience is fun and useful. Because, at the end of the game, the player will get a personalized assessment with possible activities to rehabilitate if they show signs of dyslexia and thus better overcome day-to-day difficulties. A fun way to also raise awareness among the general public so that they can better detect the signs in relatives.

But don’t talk to them about illnesses or disabilities. For Béatrice Sauvageot, a great specialist in dyslexia and the origin of a method of detecting and rehabilitating children and adults, dyslexia is above all “an extraordinary power”. It is about restoring the confidence of the people affected. “We’re excited about creating Mindcraft, which will make finding Minecraft players fun and guilt-free,” she explains.

With a creator, Markus Persson, the dis himself and hundreds of millions of active players, Minecraft can be a very interesting field of experimentation. Especially when several studies on players show that 38% of them are affected by dyslexia and that many others are unaware of it. Learning it while playing and understanding its effects will likely have a less guilt-inducing effect for young and old.