Comments on: Looking for a school focussing on Dyslexia

By: B

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:28:47 +0000

Hello there,

Firstly, my heart truly goes out to all the families and little ones who are struggling with a learning difficulty every day.My brother struggled all through school without anyone that could really help my family and it is so sad that he is now 30 years old and families are still going through this. I know that each child is unique and therefore requires a unique approach. However, if you are in Perth and are feeling like there is no where that will help your little one then check out West Coast Steiner School as I personally have found that they are truly in it for the long haul and they genuinely want to see your child thrive holistically. Don’t be dismayed if they have a waitlist as positions come up all the time as peoples circumstances change. Its not for everyone but it may be for you.
Thanks for reading. Best of luck

By: Carissa

Carissa — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 02:42:00 +0000

My 10 year old boy has just been diagnosed officially with Dyslexia. He has been using purple tinted glasses for just over 6 months and while he tells me the letters don’t shake any more or try to run off the page, he is still struggling at school. His counsellor has done some class room observations for me and advised that he still starts each lesson positive and ready to join in and learn. But as he gets more frustrated and starts to answer wrong, he begins to switch off and find ways of getting out of the classroom. I see that this positivity isn’t going to be there soon and really need to help him but cannot find anything other than more remedial programs to work with him at home. His school was supposed to create an individual learning plan for him but he has never seen the Special needs coordinator even after constant pushing from us. We are now in term 4 and we are moving interstate at the end of the year. so the school is loathe to put in place anything for him. It’s just so frustrating.

I got a hold of Liz Dunoon’s book and she had a section on how to choose a school for your child so now I have to spend a fortune on phone calls to interview schools in Adelaide in preparation for next year.

I have noticed a lot of Adelaide people on here and would love to contact them or set up a support group amongst us. Please feel free to email me on acrgrcarson@hotmail.com if you are interested, just put in Dyslexia support in the subject matter so I know that it’s not spam.

I look forward to talking with you all and supporting each other through educating our children.

By: Julianne Gepp

Julianne Gepp — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 07:18:41 +0000

Hi, my son Harrison has been diagnosed with dislexia,he is in year 4 and has a significant working memory weakness along with spelling, reading comprehension and mathematical skills are low to average. Could you please recommend a tutor in Adelaide who could help, we live in Plympton Park. His school has a multilit program, but I feel he will respond well to one on one tutoring.

By: caroline

caroline — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:42:15 +0000

I have just read 3 years of posts on your site. I have a 12 year old daughter who has struggled at school since year 1 with reading and writing. In year 3 she was tested by the Educ dpt psych and we were told she was average. Her Spelling age is at least 4 years below where it should be and she struggles with writing. She is able to read but not as well as others. She too does not receive any assistance through her school. However 2 years ago she had a fantastic teacher who came from Canada and knew a lot about learning difficulties. She recommended that she be tested for Irlen Syndrome as well as dyslexia. She tested positive to both and has been wearing specially tinted glasses to do her work for the last 2 years. She still struggles with her work everyday, however we try to keep up her self-confidence. I do worry about her going to High school as she may be lost in the system. For those of you with children with dyslexia who have children who complain constantly about headaches, look up Irlen syndrome.

By: Denise

Denise — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:48:49 +0000

Hi everyone – just reading through the stuff about everyones educational problems and dyslexic kids. I have a 14 year old daughter who displays symptoms of dyslexia (ever since she was very young) etc however, cannot get her properly tested. I do have a suggestion however that seems to have helped her… She presently attends an agricultural school (boarding) and it does appear to have made a huge difference in her schooling outlook in general. Basically, she attends “class” 3 days a week for normal school work (english, maths, etc) and then 1 day a week they do hands on at the farm (milking, shearing, horticulture, etc) and another day doing a “trade” ie, automotive, metal work, woodwork, etc. Now this child did not grow up on a farm, however, has adjusted really well to living and learning in a really different environment, and although she still struggels with her basic educational stuff (reading, writing, spelling etc) she is not so upset and stressed because she can still do pretty ok in other areas. Realistically, she will probably always struggle with reading/writing, however with the other alternative subjects, she quite happily can contribute in a positive way to her education. We live in Western Australia, and we have had problems for years with teachers and her education. There are several agricultural schools in this state and maybe there are some in other states around the country which parents may consider are worth looking into as an alternative to mainstream educational facilities. Good luck to everyone.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:12:06 +0000

What has been said resonates so deeply. My Mr 10 is going to a catholic school in Eastern Subs Melbourne and has been struggling since he started school ( in my opinion). He was been assessed by a psychologist at school last year and only now had an Educational assesment. Still waiting on an Independent Learning Plan – hopefully this term. My Mr 10 is a Twice Exceptional Learner – he has above average verbal and reasoning skills but is a beginning speller, below average reader, has writing that I cant read , reverses letters and numbers, counts on his fingers and finds maths tables a struggle. My sons reports have stated that he is “at standard” until this year ??? I have been stonewalled about his literacy and I am at a loss to understand how his teachers could grade him as “at standard”.

At the beginning of the year Mr 10 told me that he was Sad, just really Sad. After watching a report of housing afordability he told me that he would have to live in a caravan. This was because he would not be able to get a good job as he was not good enough at reading and maths. I really fell apart at that.

He goes to a caring school with but his teachers are unable to recognise learning difficulties and are ill equiped to address them in the class room. I realise I am going to have to fight for my son his whole educational life. Thank you all for what you have shared. Count me in for any action

By: Anna

Anna — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 13:05:54 +0000

A mothers intuition is always right. That’s all I have to say for now because l’m too angry to get started or should I say don’t get me started. Damn schools and damn the government.

By: Antonia Canaris

Antonia Canaris — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 15:01:30 +0000

It is great that so many people are getting the word out there about dyslexia. We must not be afraid of its name. The name gives power for education and rights.

I have been busy setting up a dyslexia charity in NSW. It is called DARE.

Please send in your stories to me and take part on my web forums. My site has Browsealoud on it which will read out text and highlight it.

There is lots of interesting stuff about dyslexia on it from all around the world. We need as many people contributing as is possible.
Just fill in the “subscribe” box it is FREE.

We have just put in our first funding applications so here goes… We want to fund multi-sensory education to families on pensions etc.

check us out on http://www.learninghelp.org.au

By: Dani

Dani — Sun, 01 May 2011 10:25:27 +0000

I am so pleased have finally found this site. All that l have read so far, – are experiences that l can completley relate to. I have an eight year old dyslexic son…and undersand all the frustrations we have with the huge lack of support here in Ausralia. I have spent hours pouring over websites such as http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk and ww.dyslexiaafoundation.org.nz. and l recommened googiling Neil mackay. I have cried many many tears nursing the frayed esteem of my son and spent lots of time in giving him extra support at home with his learning. We are working through a program called ‘reading reflex’ which is a explict phonics program and was recommended to me by speld. Reading reflex is a very affordable book (under $40) I do believe it is helping. I have felt quite alone in my continual worry about my son and l am so grateful to find you all and and read your stories. Australia must change their policy (or non policy ) on dyslexia to help our bright wonderful kids that are ‘picture thinkers’ (as opposed to word..verbal thinkers).
Here is to dyslexia awarness in this country.

By: Ange

Ange — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:51:56 +0000

To Susie, make your son do the naplan, the only reason the school has suggested he does not do the test is so that it does not bring down their score overall and if they have a good score in makes them look good. It has nothing to do with your sons best interest.