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Dyslexia Australia |
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An assessment for high school has at last given a label to this elusive something that has prevented him achieving his goal of reading. When we left the assessment we were both very emotional and I assured my son that it was OK, now we know we can get some help. To my surprise he said "Mum, you have no idea how happy I am - I just thought I was stupid". This is despite my telling him that once he gets the hang of reading everyone will know how smart he is. This little boy, like so many others, has put up with being overlooked by busy teachers, dismissed as being a lovely boy but not academic and humiliated in the classroom for years. Needless to say I have spent the last few days reading everything I can on the subject of dyslexia and it appears to me that I have never been asked the questions that may have alerted all concerned that he was at risk of this condition. He was a very late talker, needed speech therapy, took years to learn to write his name, would only read aloud to me....and so on and so on. Why was this diagnosis not applied earlier? The symptoms were always there. His low self esteem and lack of confidence have not been assisted by normal classroom management of such things as spelling tests that are marked by classmates and not by a teacher and the likes of basic skills tests that depend upon a child's ability to read to assess their ability. Our experience of the education system is that it does not set out to identify children at risk of failing but waits until they are - and even then the real cause of the problem can be missed. I'm sure that a few questions asked of carers could significantly improve the likelihood of identifying children at risk of dyslexia. My son and I know that we have a lot of work in front of us but we have renewed energy and optimism now we know what we are dealing with and, more important than anything, he knows he's not stupid! (J.B.)
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We are trying to build up a listing of local or national contacts in Australia and New Zealand. So far our list is a bit short, but if you know of any other organizations, groups or contacts (including your own), please send details on the form below.
I
am a lecturer in
psychology at the Australian National University. My speciality is dyslexia -
particularly understanding how the brain may be constructed or wired that might
make it difficult to read. I am currently doing some brain imaging research in
England, however, I know how few resources exist in Australia, so I am happy to
be a resource for information - particularly scientific info. I can be contacted
at kristen.pammer@ncl.ac.uk I
am a psychologist
in private practice on the Gold Coast, Australia. I specialize in working with
children with learning difficulties, particularly dyslexia. I am also nearing
completion of a PhD at Griffith University looking at links between the brain
and behavior in dyslexic children. I am happy to be a contact for information
regarding current research into dyslexia and also issues related to assessment
and remediation of dyslexia. Turkey
Tracks Press - I have researched and developed
a series of literacy and numeracy stepped, multi-sensory, all ages, humorous kits
for dyslexics. They are 'A boodle of doodles' and 'The big fat beaut book', after
a teaching career in primary, secondary, tertiary and special needs. Class sets
of 'Zany' a 100-page, 70-lesson stepped literacy book for VAKT multi-sensory holistic
spelling, reading, writing and written expression derives from the literacy sector
of TBFBB. It was made at the request of Centrelink case managers for dyslexic
adults who had left school without adequate 3Rs and were permanently injured on
manual work so needed desk work and 3Rs. As class sets they are very reasonably
priced and comprehensive.
All my children have been assessed by SPELD and also by DETE psychologists. SPELD identified learning strengths and weaknesses provided information that could be used by their teachers to assist in my children's learning this was not used by the professionals involved in my children's education. At times not even looked at. The DETE psychologist also recognize learning gaps and at times suggested this was by choice that the child chose not to learn and with other psychologists reports advised on strategies to use however the teachers told me that there is not enough time or lack of resources to follow these recommendations as my children were not assessed in the category of being eligible for assistance. My eldest left school at 17 completed year 11. She had experienced a feeling of failure and loss of esteem. A teacher and myself had recognized her learning difficulty in her junior primary years. The response of the DETE advisers was to encourage her to try harder and for me to be firm with her and the penny will drop. The penny hasn't dropped but her expectations of achievement have. My 17 year old has struggled on and with my knowledge of the process of education from the first child I have been more actively involved in her education and has meant many meetings at school to educate her teachers to her learning needs. This has had a successful outcome following our persistence against some adverse advice. She will be in her final year of high school in 2003 and aims to try for a University entrance. This daughter has earned the support of her teachers, peers and community. She had to prove herself to earn this. My third child is 13 about to enter high school, has a great personality as all my children have all their reports remark on what lovely children they are. Doesn't help with their learning. This young person is going into high school not knowing how to spell his address and afraid that his friends will find out that he can't spell and read at a level consistent with his peers. We still have a long road ahead. I have met with the teachers involved in special education at the school and intend to keep in close contact and demand action to assist my son to achieve to his best ability. I have found a few wonderful teachers who understand and are able to encourage and have the skills to develop students with their various learning challenges. I have also found others who lack this understanding and even willingness to learn. Where is the accountability for these professionals engaged to teach our children? An education system that advises us that these children do not have a recognized learning disability. Why then are so many of these children fronting up at TAFE for literacy programs as adults? Great to have an opportunity to express the frustration and success that so many families experience. (rasriv@riverland.net.au)
If you know of any other organizations, groups or contacts suitable for listing on this page, (including your own), please send details to this email address. Please title your email: Dyslexia Australia
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I
have an eleven year old boy who just two days ago was identified as dyslexic.
He has been in a remedial reading class at school since he was in year 3. Despite
the fact that he is highly motivated and has had home tutors and enormous support
from his family, his progress has been slow. 
I
too have a daughter (7 ) assessed as dyslexic via SPELD, and if it wasn't for
her teacher who has a dyslexic daughter as well, I would of been still battling
with the NZ Education System, trying to get someone to recognize her learning
difficulties and to address them. So why are we as parents having to bend over
backwards to prove that our children have problems, and why is the NZ Govt. not
addressing this problem? I think as it is Election year we as parents should be
standing up and voicing our concerns. Dyslexia is not a disease, but a medical
condition, just as much as other mental health syndromes which are currently funded
under AURAS within Schools. Fortunately our daughter is receiving help from a
RTLB at her School, and we are paying for her to be tutored by SPELD, but again
why should we have to pay for an assessment and tutoring Thank you for allowing
me to vent my concerns as a parent, and it would be great to talk to other parents
out there battling with the same problems. (pcartw@paradise.net.nz - New Zealand)
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