106 Comments Add your own

• 1. sara holton  |  June 22nd, 2009 at 1:49 pm

  We dont need one school we need a school in every area – this is not an isolated problem. There are thousands of children throughout Western Australia with these problems who are struggling though life and who could be so much more if they were given the chance. It annoys the hell out of me that if you search on the web in just about every other country in the world you can come up with schools for Dyslexic children it seems Australia is unprepared to help our children.

• 2. Donna Bowey  |  June 25th, 2009 at 12:54 pm

  I myself am a parent of a dyslexic child and i am frustrated by the lack of help that is available for these children. I would love to know which state this school will be located in and for what age group will it cater .

• 3. Bailey Smith  |  June 25th, 2009 at 6:05 pm

  Im in year 9, and I go to saftey bay high school in wa and im also dyslexic.
  the only reason i found out that i was dyslexic because of dawn matthews.
  i would love to go to a school just for dyslexic.
  it would help so much for every one, not just me.
  the school that i go to dont know nothink about dyslexic. which is very hard for me to learn, and thier not trying to learn any think about it.
  im on a conract but none of the teacher fallow it at all, which suck because i need that extra help.
  if us made school just for dyslexic it would help me so much.
  i could be able to learn thing that i don’t learn at the school i go to now.
  please make a school for dyslexics it would help a lot.

• 4. Hagan Smith (:  |  June 25th, 2009 at 6:27 pm

  Heyyy

  i’ve got dyslexic and my school won’t help me. i’ve wrote a letter to 10 different top people and no one has helped me out :/
  i would love a school that will KNOW what dyslexic is no one at my school knows what is it so they can’t help me.
  i’ve had over 3 meetings with my school and nothink has really happen. i am sick off it!!!

  I hope this school does end up happen it will be awesome and it will help all off us dyslexic.

• 5. Amyyy Lamberrrrrrrt :D  |  June 25th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

  im in year niiine,
  & i have dylexia, i was diasignosed with dylexia and i have een goin to tutoring ever since.

  the school i am currantly going to hasent helped at all and just think dylexia means im dumb? well they ovisiously dont no everything do they?
  every school my mum has looked at none of them help with dylexia,

  me & my dylexic mates have sent letters to the 10 top education department people. and none of them have really helped at all they have just sent us all on a goose chase,

  when we handwrite it can take us ages, and we cant gett all our thoughts on the peice of paper, but if we go on a laptopwe can do anyythiiiing but our school we not allowed laptops?

  we are smarter then people thinkkk …

• 6. Amyyy Lamberrrrrrrt :D  |  June 25th, 2009 at 7:33 pm

  i forgot to put i haveee been going to tutoring since yearrr 3
  my badddd ^.^

• 7. Coral  |  June 27th, 2009 at 2:06 am

  I think this is a fantastic start. Thank you so much for all your hard work and patience in dealing with so many parents, schools and teachers. It would mean so much to be able to access training for myself and my son.Teens are often left out of the equation and the educational system is like a ticking clock from about year 5. I get the strong impression that they are fully aware of the ticking clock and are relieved when they no longer need to be concerned. As a concerned parent, I am often labelled an over-protective mother.It would be wonderful to have a school where parents and teachers can work together for the child’s benefit . God bless you and keep you. Would petitions help? We need to work together. A number of individual families fighting the system will always be ignored. We should make it a talking point and ensure them that we will not walk away. Coral

• 8. Corey  |  June 27th, 2009 at 4:42 pm

  Yes we really need a dyslexic friendly school because of all the problems with a lot of the others schools and teachers because of all the problems with these problems like teachers telling you to read out loud, writing off the white/black board, Handouts, Exams and many more.

• 9. Grae Kenworthy  |  June 27th, 2009 at 4:51 pm

  at my school they always make us copy off the board this is really difficult to do. they also hand out lot of photocopy pages for us to do and they don’t teach anybody anything. but the worst thing is when they make you stand up and read out in front of the whole class. this is really hard with reading difficulties. after the teacher has heard you read once they seam to always pick on you.

• 10. Corey  |  June 27th, 2009 at 5:02 pm

  Yes we need a dyslexic friendly school because there are so many problems at school like teachers telling you to read out loud, reading off the white/black board, handouts and exams and many more. I beleve that every school needs to be dyslexic friendly school and they should talk to dawn about how to make their school dyslexic friendly.

• 11. Donna Bowey  |  June 28th, 2009 at 8:50 am

  Thank you Dawn for you help and advice, we are desperatly trying to find a school that would cater for dyslexic children but to date have been able to find anything,although some schools do cater for learning difficulties dyslexic children are different in the way that they learn and i would consider relocating if that was the only way i could guarantee that my son would have the chance of an education that would understand his needs and assist him to get through life,he has ambitions of wanting to be a vet but in the current education system for him that looks like a far off dream.

• 12. hagan, Amy, Bailey, Nicola  |  July 2nd, 2009 at 7:03 pm

  Our school ideas for the dyslexia centre Australia school.

  1. As well as of decks we have bean bags and small tables or flat board’s.

  2. Playground, balls, lot of big tree to sit under, tables.

  3. Have crunch and sip (fruit, chips, water, and colour free cordial.)

  4. Worm farm and veggie garden.

  5. Pet dog or cat.

  6. Lockers and Foxtel in common room.

  7. Lap top, music. (First and final drafts.)

  8. If you wag you do community service.

  10. Televisions.

  11. Soap in toilets.

  12. NO double periods.

  13. Common rooms.

  14. Ties optional.

  15. Have a chance to say hello, 30 mins

  16. NO random sheets.

  17. Old style desks.

  18. Each class has there own class and the teacher comes to us.

  19. A 50 min lesson and a 10 min break between classes.

  20. Hand in $20 at the start of the year and at the end get it back if the locker in still in good condition.

  21. 15 -20 kids in a class

  22. If you break anything you replace it.

  23. If you fight you get in school suspension and don’t get the same recce, lunch, breaks as other kids.

  24. More good things than bad things.

  25. Worker of the week for each class.

  26. Students pick a student of the week. ( each class for being helpful, polite and friendly.)

  27. Have a bubby that gets changes every two weeks.

  28. Teachers need to right in diaries.

  29. Rewards as fake money that you get for doing good things and good work.

  30. At end of each term we have games were you use your fake money.

• 13. dawn Matthews  |  July 2nd, 2009 at 8:21 pm

  Hi, Thanks girls. your ideas sound great and are very much along the lines we would be thinking of running the school.
  We’ll try hard to this.
  Dawn

• 14. Melanie North  |  July 4th, 2009 at 11:19 am

  Being a mother of 2 dyslexic children is a wonderful experience for me, they are unique children and a pleasure in my life. If only the education department and the school that they attend would think that way it would be more of a wonderful experience. It has been very difficult for my kids and myself to go through interviews with blank and confused looks on their teachers faces. If we could send our kids to a dyslexic school that isolation and feeling unworthy would disappear.

• 15. belinda nuttall  |  July 8th, 2009 at 4:10 pm

  I have three dyslexic children and one is dyspraxic as well as dyslexic. They also have Auditory processing problems. I am also dyslexic and dyspraxic.

  When I left school I felt I was dumb. My spelling etc was at year 3 level and I felt embarrassed and ashaimed and was scared of filling in forms etc at banks.

  This sent me to search out answers as to what was wrong with me. I discovered that I was dyslexic at age 21. I knew in my heart that I always tried to do my best but teachers always wrote me off as being naughty and dumb or too hard basket. I got my eldest daughter tested for dyslexia at year 2 and then I found Dawn. I did not want my kids going through the same insecurities that I did.

  My second daughter was helped in a small language unit for 4 years but then put back into mainstream and it felt like she was being thrown to the wolves. She was still way behind the rest of the class. For the first 4 years she was in a class of 12 kids with 3 teachers and then thrown I to a class of 30 with just one teacher. She just closed up and became very angry and stressed and I tried every type of therapy.

  Dawn has been the missing link in my kids learning and I do not understand why the schools do not take on Dawns system of teaching.

  My eldest daughter in now at a high school and doing really well but she is bored and not challenged she says it’s a waist of her time and life.

  The overall picture of my other two daughters going to high school frightens the shits out of me. There is not dyslexic school and no school that is open to the different needs of learning that my daughters need. I am hoping that Dawn gets the school sorted soon if not I will be pulling out my second daughter in a year and half and home tutoring. My husband typed this up for me because if wrote this letter you not even understand it.

  Please fund this new school as I believe that if my kids don’t get this now they will end up being held back so much like I was. They are smart kids and without this missing link in their education they will just slip through the cracks like I did.
  I will be willing to do anything to hep with this school. If I win lotto I will buy the school.

  Belinda

• 16. Donna Malane  |  July 11th, 2009 at 9:37 am

  My husband and daughter both have dyslexia. Even though we are in a small, friendly country school we have still had some bad experiences – being told by an Ed. Dept psychologist that she has no learning problems; myself being shouted at by the teacher that my daughter has no hearing problems, etc. She lost years of learning time by the teachers and Department denying that she has a problem.

  I wake in the night worrying about the day my daughter is thrown in the deep end at boarding school – how does a kid cope in a system set up for her to fail?

  Meeting Dawn was so easy – I did not have to explain to her why my child is the way she is. She knows how children with dyslexia learn and can recognise their strengths. And dyslexic people have so many strengths that are not being recognised by the education system.

  If this dyslexic school was established we would be the first to sign up for boarding or summer school.

  Good luck and thanks for going in to bat for our children, Australia’s future.

• 17. Rebecca Lewin  |  July 13th, 2009 at 4:56 pm

  I only found out that I was Dyslexic 6 months ago.
  I was 21 and in my second year of university. As a school student I sliped through every net there was, as a future primary school teacher myself it would be a unique oportunity to teach students like me, and learn more ways to help students with dyslexica learn.
  A Dyslexic school would be fantastic addition to our education system nation wide.

• 18. Kerry Moylan  |  July 17th, 2009 at 8:11 am

  I am married to an Australian, but we currently live in the States. Our daughter is disphonetically dyslexic .We are thinking of returning to Australia and I have had no luck finding a school that she could thrive in – we would be very interested should you set up a school.

• 19. Betty Kap  |  July 18th, 2009 at 9:49 pm

  Would be interested, where abouts will the school be set up? We are from Adelaide

• 20. Keith North  |  July 21st, 2009 at 5:27 pm

  My children are in the private school system,unfortunatly even though they attend a good school it consistantly fails to take thier learning difficultys serious, either through a lack of understanding or acceptance of thier learning difficuties,the development of a school that accepts that we all learn differently and allows our children to develop life and learning skills,in away that they not only undestand but can also see they have amaizing potential as individuals or as a member of the community.

• 21. Timothy Tan  |  July 21st, 2009 at 11:31 pm

  I’m considering moving to Australia with my family who are all Australians. One of my sons (aged 6) is dyslexic and I’m looking for educational support for him. My wife is trained in the OG method. If you are starting a school, firstly, I would be interested to find out more for my son and secondly, my wife might be interested in teaching too.

• 22. Sunny Grace  |  July 29th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

  I have two dyslexic children and am struggling with the school system. Despite all my attempts to make the schoo understand the boys and to try to teach them in a different way they are not equipped to do it. I just don’t want my boys to lose their self-esteem due to the pressure on them to read. They are both bright, talented and loving boys. i want them to stay that way – if this school was open now I would send them tomorrow.

• 23. Timothy Tan  |  August 7th, 2009 at 1:16 am

  I think it’s a great idea to open such a school. To be honest, I was quite surprised to learn that there isn’t already such a school in Australia. I’ve been in Singapore for 16 years now and although I wouldn’t say they are advanced, but they’ve come a long way – most teachers in schools know about dyslexia and there are even special needs teachers in most schools to help.
  I’ve got a son who’s dylexic and would be interested in sending him to the school.

  My wife took a course in OG and I’m interested in doing the same (especially since I have a degree in Psychology and have been in training for the last 16 years). Can you recommend what course I can do in Australia (or anywhere else) to develop my skills in teaching dyslexic children too?

• 24. Kim Plummer  |  August 11th, 2009 at 12:24 pm

  Yes, we certainly need a school as you have proposed.

• 25. Lara Matheson  |  August 21st, 2009 at 7:32 pm

  I would move to Australia if you opened this school!!
  My 8 year old severely dyslexic son is home schooled because there is no school in NZ or Australia that can offer him enough.
  Best of luck with this proposal!!!

• 26. lisa steensma  |  August 24th, 2009 at 12:04 pm

  I would be very interested in sending my boys to this school!!!! as all 3 of them have been diagnosed with dyslexia. My 14 year old struggles so much with high school and has low self esteem.

• 27. Karla  |  August 27th, 2009 at 9:11 pm

  Go hard. I have a 10 year old that is dyslexic and he is going backwards. I’m beside myself. I took him to Brisbane In May to a wonderful dyslexic lady called Brenda who has helped us. It is working, trouble is that the school aren’t that interested and when he gets his 30 mins of “Learning Support” (I hate those words!!) it isn’t enough to catch him up. The Education system badly needs this recognised. I wish every politician and teacher in the world had a dyslexic child and then something might happen. These kids need to be recognised as PICTURE THINKERS not WORD THINKERS!! Phonics needs to be blown away!!

• 28. Julie  |  August 31st, 2009 at 9:48 am

  Hello, So great to find your website. I have a 6 year old son who is really struggling with his reading and writing. He has all of the symptoms that a lot of the other parents have talked about ie frustrated, low self esteem, can’t concentrate, does not retain information etc. I have just enrolled him in KUMON with the hope that this will help. Hes has not been officially diagnosed and I have been told he is too young for this. His father is dyslexic and my gut feeling is is that our son is too. We live in Melbourne, the school is no help at all – what would you reccomend we do – ie tuition – your workbooks? The school sounds wonderful, i would move to Perth for my son to attend! FYI he also does speech theropy and has done for 3 years due to not hearing for 2 years (he is now on his 3rd set of grommets). Thanks again for this fantastic website and I look forward to your resonce. Kindest Julie

• 29. admin  |  August 31st, 2009 at 9:49 am

  hi,
  Obviously I recommend my own books and teaching materials. I did not write them to get rich as I have already done that, I wrote them to help people like you. They will available spoken word format soonish.

  There is SPLED foundation in Melbourne who may be able to help you at least with assessment. Glad to hear that you are pleased about the school. Its going to be a mammoth amount of work. However it has to be done.
  If he has had grommets and blocked ears for years then he most probably has AUditory Processing Disorder. I have a freebee sheet on it. You should get him tested for this at your local hearing centre. I explain all this in detail in my book Dyslexia How to Win. However 6 is the youngest they can test for this and you might be better waiting a few months.

  It is now thought that any kid a dyslexic has stands 65-70% chance of being dyslexic. so if his dad is dyslexic he is more likley dyslexic than not. Ypu can also see from this that the condition is getting more common.

  Hope this helps
  Cheers
  Dawn

• 30. Chloe  |  August 31st, 2009 at 10:19 am

  Dear Dawn

  Congratulations on all your work.

  Ever since I came accross the proposal for a School for Dyslexia in Australia, I have passionatly been speaking to WA mothers who have Dyslexic children, and would love more than anything for one to be open in WA. I am on a search for as many people as I can who are interested (in person), and also people who support the idea (via facebook). I myself am Dyslexic and had some tough times in my childhood. I was let down by my school and in highschool approached the curriculum council 4 times, they both turned their back on me.

  I truely struggled, and I was afraid to go to school. It was humiliating at times, and if I can’t change that I would love to make this happen for someone else! This has always been a dream! I cannot express how passionate I am about it, so can only share my support in an e-mail for the time being. I have also notified my local irlen clinic, which I am aware they have many clients who are children, with dyslexia. I hope to hear back from them soon.

  Wishing you and your family well, I am so proud to hear of someone like you helping to make this happen!

  I just had to give it my support in a big loving E-Mail!

• 31. admin  |  August 31st, 2009 at 10:20 am

  Hi,
  Thank you so much for your support. We need to prove by numbers that there is the need for a dyslexics school. Although there is not one in Australia this in itself is not enough to prove the need, so thank you for rallying behind us.

  We have set up Dyslexic Centre Australia inc and are having our opening at Rockingham City shopping centre on 3rd 4th and 5th of October during the school holidays. It would be great if you could come and see us. Anyone interested in being screened should turn up. Cheers

  Dawn

• 32. Megan Johnston  |  September 3rd, 2009 at 4:45 am

  My son is 12.5 years old. He went to a language development school until end of year 3. There is no help after this. He got told to try harder. Teachers are not specially educated and do not have the time. My son is now in London and starting at a specialist school that has 10 in each class. Thank goodness for Britain. Australia needs to have a specialised school in each city. Perth has many small private schools, we need to start another for Specific learning disorders from Grade 3 to Year 12 as this is not provided for. I am willing to be on a committee.

• 33. sara holton  |  September 6th, 2009 at 5:35 pm

  Hows it going Dawn? We have been in Australia for 8 years and are so frustrated at the lack of support for Dyslexia and other learning problems we are now looking at moving to another country to get support – it shouldnt be like this…

• 34. Nicki  |  September 9th, 2009 at 6:49 pm

  Well done you, Dawn!
  I heard you on Richard Glover’s program this afternoon and I salute your pioneering spirit!!
  I wept as I read your plans for a school for our unique dyslexics. How can I help?
  I feel impotent in assisting my son through school and have decided that the best way I can help is to keep his self esteem high and to engage him in activities outside of school that he CAN succeed at and feel a sense of achievement ! Cubs has been very good for this……
  There seems to be a real reluctance to diagnose dyslexia here in NSW and my son, although displaying all the ‘traditional’ signs, has been labelled with a number of processing, visaul and auditory disorders instead…..OT and the MULTILIT program has helped….
  My offer of help is serious!
  Bless you

• 35. Anne-Marie Nicholls  |  September 9th, 2009 at 10:42 pm

  Hi Dawn,
  WOW – your website is terrific – I, too, I heard you on Richard Glover’s program this afternoon on ABC 702 Sydney radio, however, I only caught the last few minutes of your talk. Hence, checking out your website has been invaluable (I think my youngest met about 20 of the 35 Dispraxia signs!) Also, I am a primary trained teacher – VERY interested in what you are all about, and would love to know more about how to help in your mission.

• 36. Megan  |  September 28th, 2009 at 3:45 pm

  I fully support a school in Perth, the government will fund some money per student, and parents pay fees for the rest. We need a school following on from the Language Development Centres which cease at Grade 3. The school needs to go to Year 12. I am a registered nurse, who now wishes to become a teacher specialising in this area. The lack of support is appalling. My son is in London being educated but what about all the other children who cannot get help.
  Regards
  Megan

• 37. Dawn  |  September 28th, 2009 at 3:46 pm

  Hi Magan,
  Thanks for your support. Its an immense task, getting a school and once we got one here then everywhere else needs one!…. and we need as much help as we can. We are now beginning to fund raise. Hopefully we can get the government to understand that there is a need and that no actual school is teaching these properly so any support you can find would be great.
  Cheers
  dawn

• 38. Emma Anderson  |  October 1st, 2009 at 9:06 pm

  We need schools like the one you propose all over Australia. There is an amazing school in London (private with incredibly high fees) called Fairley House school which is for students with dyslexia and dyspraxia – what we need is schools like this but with access to everyone.
  There is one school run by NSW health called Palm Avenue school – kids from the country and bush get to go to this school for 4 wks (they board there) for intensive literacy help. My 9 yr son is lucky enough to be tutored by one of the amazing teachers from there.

  See what Kate Griggs has achieved in the UK – she basically stood for parliament against an MP who had withdrawn her child with special needs from state school to send this child to a private school. As a direct result of Kate’s campaigning the UK government commissioned Sir Jim Rose to undertake a review into how dyslexic children are supported in school. Sir Jim Rose’s report is now out – CHECK IT OUT!!! As a result of this report in the UK they are spending 10million pounds on training specialist teachers. The report is really interesting and explains clearly a lot about learning difficulties and strategies to help them in the classroom.

  Dawn – I heard you speak to Richard Glover on 702 recently. I thought you explained things really well.

  We need to organise ourselves and advocate for these students and indeed adults. I am going to the NSW SPELD conference next week which has got some excellent key note speakers. To produce change we all need to lobby the government together.

  One last thing Dawn I see from your comments that you are completely against medicating for ADD. We thought long and hard before putting my son on it. We have monitored him very closely for side effects, he is on the lowest possible dose and only takes it when he attends school and sees his tutor. It has helped. He can concentrate and learn and this has helped his self confidence. He takes a good fish oil supplement at the same time too and eats well.

  Regards
  Emma

• 39. Emma Mace  |  October 4th, 2009 at 7:08 am

  Hi Dawn,
  You emailed me a few months ago suggesting who I could write to and put forward your idea of a school for dyslexic children. We are living in London where our son attends an amazing school specialising in teaching children like him. Looking forward to seeing a school in Australia like The Dominie, SW11 in London!
  Emma Mace

• 40. Michaela  |  October 9th, 2009 at 1:00 am

  Again I find myself crying because I feel I did not do enough for my dyslexic son. Reading this blog brings it all back to me. Our children need this school.
  We had never heard of dyslexia before my son was tested at age 11. From the age of 7 I knew something wasn’t right with his learning but being a young mum I was fobbed off until I knew I had to do something and that meant paying for an assessment.
  The earlier we find out the better and being in an environment that understands them will help them to develop.
  Our kids need this school.
  Michaela

• 41. Kate Spragg  |  October 9th, 2009 at 6:46 pm

  Please keep in contact about the school. We have 2 twice exceptional boys who require specialist schooling.
  Kate

• 42. Michele  |  October 14th, 2009 at 9:42 pm

  I am dyslexic and my daughter who is in year 9 is dyslexic too. She is not coping with school (classes) it hurts me that I can’t give her the help she needs. I have learned to live with my dyslexia but love to get help.
  But as a parent your kids come 1st so getting her to a school that could help her with her dyslexic would be great. With having dyslexia myself it is hard to look for informtion. WE NEED OUR OWN SCHOOL FOR OUR KIDS SACK!!!!!!

• 43. Glena  |  October 22nd, 2009 at 7:57 pm

  helloo everyone .. the goverment of australia do not reconise dyslexia or any othere learning difficulties your child may have .. they do not fir the criteria for goverment funding .. im trying very hard not to get emotional i went through hell with my son .. even though i had the papers stating he had acute learning difficulties through st margarets and had brain scans and was sent to a center for test for six months every week it was written down in black and white .. he couldnt be understood he had no comprehension of colours direction he had speech therapy for two years he had so many places to go to every week ,, his first school was catholic .. he left his lunch home so i went to school to find my son left at the back of the room i was mortified he was crying mummy he was six i cant tell you how my heart broke that day iafter a argument with the headmaster .. i puled my son out it seemed they thought he was a retaqrd and could not waste time on him as the etacher secretly informed later .. i would need aq book to tell you what ive been through in the name of a ood mother i fought and fought in vain through te goverment doctors hospitals school he had several they did more damege than good .. my son is now 15 we live in the uk now i was a single mum i had tos ell my home and drag my two children back here i was exhausted and depressed i can still see all the people that i faced nd fought all in vain all that money i spent all the time all the red tape all the hospital oppintments .. its left its scrars on me and my sons … woudl like to continue this later to all mothers never give up your friend glena uk xxxxxx

• 44. Glena  |  October 22nd, 2009 at 10:41 pm

  hello parents im also dyslexic as amother thats is hard with a son who as learning difficulties .. auditory and speech short term memory recall so many others .. I was in a meeting at jordans school yesterday and they mentioned dawns book well done dawn i wish there was more teachers like you .. i would still be in perth instead of the uk far away from my family .. i wish to ask dawn im wanting to return to perth next year jordan is 15 now but still needing help he was put back two yesr in the uk so he still as two years to go will he get any help in college if i return ? my mother is getting old and i have to be there for her in perth .. im still very emotional and traumatised by how my son was treated in australia .. even though he had medical back up i have piles of papers from various sectors .. When i retunrned to the uk i put jordan in Private school for 4 years he is now reading but still no real comprehension but i imagine if i had stayed in perth i he would be in a serious accademic dillema at least he is confident and the school is very supportive and isten to me and jordan .. he is now in a secondary school goverment school and he is respected and made to feel safe and understood … dawn if you could advise me i would so appreciate this … as im feeling nervous about returning .. even though ist hard for me here alone i know my son is being taken serious … i gave up everything in perth my home my friends my family i was and still am single parent .. my heart goes out to all parents .. very child deserves an education thats human rights .. dawn this auditory dvd could you let me know more about it .. I will come and see you if thats ok when i arrive in perth with jordan .. your sincerly glena /jordan

• 45. HAJAH NORMADIAH GHANI  |  October 27th, 2009 at 1:18 am

  I’ve been planning to set up a school in Kuala Lumpur. wonder if you can help me?

• 46. deborah Tellis  |  November 3rd, 2009 at 11:28 am

  My son 9 years is dyslexic it runs in the family. We are planning to move back to Australia after living in Shanghai for the past 13 years. I was hoping that putting him into a local gov school in Oz with lots of outdoor activities and sporting would be better for him that this international (mostly high achieving Asian children) school.

  I’m was hoping that there was a special school like Gow in the States somewhere in Australia and was planning to live where ever that school maybe.

  Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I am a qualified teacher and I live with dyslexia myself. I too didn’t get assessed until I was studying at Uni (education and Mandarin language) at the age of 27. I too ended up in the bottom classes thru out high school & was told I didn’t have what was needed to go onto do Y 11&12… But I am proof that the fire in the belly and a lot of determination we can achieve degrees and be professional people in the community if that is what our heart desire…

  But I am almost loosing it with my son – as he doesn’t have a passion to work hard nor does he feel he can achieve what is expected and he finds it is all too hard for him. So today he is under the dooner feeling like shit about his ability and doesn’t want to face the world…… He cried so hard yesterday! It breaks my heart.

  Deb

• 47. Frances  |  November 6th, 2009 at 10:39 am

  WE NEED THIS SCHOOL!!!! I am a parent of a dyslexic 10 year old girl who’s self esteem is soooo low – It’s hard for me to make her feel some self worth. She has often said ” mum why can’t they make a school just for people like me?” It breaks me heart everyday to see her struggle, despite obtaining all the possible help I can give her out of school. We are supposed to live in the lucky country and our kids are our future- so come on – give these beautiful and special kids a go to!!!

• 48. Kelly Arndt  |  November 8th, 2009 at 11:04 am

  As a kid, I could read and write before starting scool and was writing poetry and reading adult novels at the age of eight. I also already had the start of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Despite my aptitude for English class, I had a lot of problems at school caused by my disorder and failed a lot of other classes because of it. I left school as soon as possible to work in a supermarket, where I stayed for 10 years, despite a supposedly high I.Q. and the occasionally published short-story or poem. I was not diagnosed with my disorder until I was 26, although I had diagnosed myself at seventeen and sought help. Unfortunately, the doctor that diagnosed me was rather scathing of the problem and basically, told me to toughen up and stop distressing my poor mother so much! (I had made the mistake of taking my Mum along with me to help explain my symptoms) Shortly after, I attempted suicide with an overdose of prescription medication, at work. After I recovered, ‘the incident’ was never discussed, and I still didn’t recieve any help, until I had an emotional breakdown at 26, and luckily found a sympathetic and informed doctor, who started me on an appropriate medication, which changed my life. Until then, I had only ever dared to go on two dates, out of fear that I would be rejected for having such a ‘wierd’ condition. I have now been with my husband for eleven years and am expecting my fourth child in 5 weeks. I always swore that if any of my children showed symptoms of a problem, that I would be straight onto it. O.C.D. was my biggest fear of course, but then my daughter started having trouble with reading and writing from kindergaten age. Since I had been trying flash cards since she was a toddler, I started requesting an assesment from primary school on. I was told throughout this time that she was a lovely, bright little girl who would ‘click’ with reading and writing ‘soon’. Maddison had a year of reading recovery from midway through Grade 1, then consolidated with another year of Grade 1 and 12 more weeks of reading recovery, and was still often writing even her own name backwards. Now in Grade 2, I had to ring The Education Department of Vic, and every section of it, to finally get an assesment, only to fnd that the psychologist who saw her had no real knowledge of Dyslexia and thought the suggestion that she might have it ‘interesting’! I have since taken her to a behavioural Optometrist, who has done testing and does believe that she is dyslexic. And now I have found that there is no funding for the problem, and indeed, limited and expensive help to be found! My husband earns an average wage, and I am unable to work currently. When my baby is born, I will have 3 other children under 3 1/2, whilst my precious first born will be heading into Grade 3, still struggling with the same sort of ‘inferior’ feelings that I myself felt, and it breaks my heart. Of couse, we will scrimp and save, and somehow find the money for some sort of private tutoring, but I cannot believe with the advancement in education and knowledge, that there is still no funding to help our kids achieve their full potential! Please, anyone reading this, who can change this situation, please do your best, for the future of our incredible kids, who have so much to offer, if only given the chance!

• 49. Aaqil Harris  |  November 8th, 2009 at 10:07 pm

  I’m aaqils mom from sri lanka who is desperately searching for a school which specializes for dyslexic children like my son (aged 16yrs)who was diagnosed to be dyslexic by a u.s.a & u.k qualified Dr in India.since my eldest son is doing uni in Melbourne i would be really glad to enroll aaqil in a school which would help him tap into his potential so that he would keep up with the world standards & be the best he can. pls let me know soon if such a school is available . i’m a mom who would move mountains if i can to give my son any opportunity to help him be creative & to be a helpful hand to man kind.(SOS)

• 50. dawn matthews  |  November 19th, 2009 at 2:55 pm

  I am very sorry but no one seems to able to find any school in Australia that is good or even half decent with dyslexics.
  There must be one or 2 put there and if you know of any at all please do contact me and give the info.
  Thanks
  dawn

• 51. Alicia  |  November 21st, 2009 at 11:17 pm

  My 11 year old son is severely dyslexic and suffering terribly. I had no choice but to homeschool him but he has recently returned to a small community school on a part-time basis. This isn’t really helping him, although the social interaction is proving beneficial. I would definitely be interested in sending him to your school once it is up and running!

• 52. Antonia Canaris  |  November 22nd, 2009 at 12:36 pm

  I have not had time to look at this site lately and am overwhelmed by the number of new posts. I hope that we can agitate for better attention for these suffering kids. It is a scandal.

  We should not have to move to the UK

  I am trying to help at the Sutherland Shire Learning Difficulties Support Group to push for more help. Let’s all make a lot of noise.

• 53. Sean Martin Hingston  |  November 23rd, 2009 at 3:38 pm

  Perhaps this story will provide some ideas for my Aussie compatriots. I am the parent of a nine year old classic dyslexic (visual and aural) here in NYC. I am from Melbourne and had always hoped to return home before my daughter went to High School. She struggled in the public school system here from age 4.5 to 7.5 yrs, receiving extra services (Speech and Language/ O.T. about 9 ‘pull-outs’ a week), in addition I was taking her to a learning disability program and reading program after school 3 days a week. Since age 5 she has done 2 hours of Homework a night. Yet she still lagged behind academically. I was advised by a psychologist who tested her that she needed full immersion in a multi-sensory teaching program, specialising in the Orton Gilliam method. Fortunately, here in NYC there are about 5 private schools for dyslexics and speech/language disabled students. Although enrollment is highly competitive, she was accepted into the top four and we chose the The Churchill School, with the best reputation. The school is k-12 and has been in operation for 35 years and was named for dyslexic Winston. Each class has 12 kids with 2 teachers who masters in special education. The school has state of the art smart boards and computers in each room and the curriculum is structured so that every topic is reiterated throughout each subject. An example from 3rd grade: if the kids are studying immigration in social studies then in Library, computer, art and science the theme is also reiterated, as it is in an excursion to Ellis Island, now an immigration museum Of course the cost of such a school is astronomically high at $40,000 a year. Other such schools in the city are closer to $60,000. However, there is a law in NY state stating that every child is entitled to “a free and appropriate education”. It seems that approximately 90% of the Churchill families sue the state each year and receive a reimbursement of the tuition fee. (The fees are so high because of the teacher to student ratio. All parents are expected to help with fund raising events throughout the year.) Within 6 weeks of starting at Churchill my nearly 8 year old read me a bedtime story for the for the first time in her life. She has gone from strength to strength and, although she still operates below her age level the change in her is enormous. For the last 5 weeks straight she has received perfect scores on her weekly spelling test. On top of her academic achievements, her esteem has skyrocketed being around kids with similar learning differences. My daughter is adopted, my same-sex partner and I were at her birth, now get this: 4 of the 12 kids in her class are from same-sex households. So the school has also, quite unexpectedly, provided further emotional support simply by its commitment to diversity. If you would like to see my daughter in action in a video school report go to Youtube and search for ‘Grace & Equality’ and marvel at how an academically frustrated child has blossomed through an appropriate education. Perhaps this will inspire you in you quest to start your own schools in Oz. Google the Churchill School, Stephen Gaynor School and the Gateway School and see how these schools are functioning. Good luck, continued perseverance and bottomless patience to all of you who are touched by dyslexia.

• 54. jo calabrese  |  December 11th, 2009 at 2:50 pm

  our first son was diagnosed in yr 2 (which he repeated, and was then split from his twin sister who went up to yr 3, this was a very difficult choice to make) we then noticed the same signs devolping in our other son at the end of yr1 and at the beginning of yr 2 we also had him tested privately so that we had hard proof, we also arranged for the assesser to attend a meeting at the school so that we knew what we were entitled to, but the school support head did not like her attending and making suggestions to help our sons. Infact they decided not to assess our youngest son at all untill mid yr 3.

  how can you explain to yr kids its all to hard when they are putting everthing into their school work and the school gives little to none back.

  we are off to a new school this year for yr 7 & 5 , keep your fingers crossed.

  your school may not be available for us but we must all keep trying for future generations that will still require help

• 55. Peta Caratti  |  December 13th, 2009 at 6:04 am

  Hi,

  I am hoping very much that you will be able to get the school up and running! I have contacted you about an assessment for my child and I will be calling with my details on Monday, thanks again for all your hard work.

  Regards
  Peta

• 56. Caroline  |  December 14th, 2009 at 8:14 pm

  Bless you all who are doing something about recognition in schools for dyslexia. Im going through all this too. I need to help my 13 yo daughter and am ready to do anything to help set up a school in Victoria.

• 57. Jane Bentley  |  December 23rd, 2009 at 9:49 pm

  I”m 59 years of age, and I do have dylexia I never been tested for it but I do see the signs .I need Help with my reading and writing.Iget my number back to front .I sick of people think that I”m stuipit.I Live in Perth .Canning Vale area. Can you please help me. Jane

• 58. Name Withheld  |  December 29th, 2009 at 3:17 am

  What is wrong with this country. My son has been to hell and back and he is only 9 years old. he had a headmaster in year 1 who was supposed to be a specialist in Boys education with over 30 years experience who thought that bullying and sitting him in his office to bestared at was the solutution. This was because my son got anxious and cried through every literacy lesson to the point he had to be physically ripped from my arms at the beginning of the day and cried for hours afterwards and even as a 6 year old ran out of the classroom at the mere mention of phonemes. He had no other behavioural issues but the headmaster tried to tell me it was all my bad parenting that had caused this despite the fact I had a daughter two years older who was always on his honour roll.

  My son has finally in year 4 had a teacher who didn’t just hope he would sit at the back of the room and slip through the cracks. She brought him forward and told me of his difficulties even when I took him for testing she already instinctively set up his environment to a way that suited and worked for him. My son has made great strides this year but he has so far to go. He has Auditory, visual and language processing deficits. I feel the guilt of not acting earlier and it almost paralyses me into inaction but I push past it. I have been guilty of pushing him to one side, letting him spend hours on the computer so i don’t have to deal with his reality. But now I have the reports and the oinions and I know what the problems are but the treatments are to few and far between. So I am looking at sending my 9 year old to an intensive remediation programme in the US for 5 weeks at a cost of $9000 no I am not loaded but I would sell everything I own to help him overcome this problem and to feel some kind of sweet success of his own. It is particularly painful for his as he watches his sister who is gifted and excels at everything she does it sometimes makes me resentful of her success wishing he could have just a little. I now don’t let her participate in sports that he does or any activitiy he enjoys as she will shine (not intentionaly) and he will just fade into the background. I find myself wishing I had two average children rather than one who excels and one who struggles. i am trying to figure out how I can find the $500000 a year fees to send him to the Gow school in New York that is even if I can get him in. But it breaks my heart to think I have to send my little boy away and miss all those years just to ensure he gets the education he deserves. While we struggle and scrimp and save to pay for it. I have just moved from Kalgoorlie to Perth at least for now I have access to speech therapists and occupational therapists but htis is not enough he needs intesive remediation 5 days a week as well as auditory and visual therapies and the list goes on.

• 59. Name Withheld  |  December 29th, 2009 at 3:21 am

  That should have read $50 000 a year not $500000.

• 60. dawn matthews  |  December 29th, 2009 at 8:03 pm

  Hi,
  Thank you for your email. You do not need to do al these thongs. I am very confident that I can sort out a teaching program that will help your kid and that you can do with him.
  He is most likely as smart as your daughter . it is just that he is not taught the right way for him. Please remember that dyslexics do do well upon leaving school.

  It is so sad that so few schools understand what these kids need in Australia. It makes me feel ashamed to be Australian.
  good luck. phone me
  Dawn

• 61. Antonia Canaris  |  December 30th, 2009 at 8:46 pm

  I am heartened to see how many dedicated parents are out there fighting for their children. Congratulations because this dedication and love will help protect your children and give them hope of a good life even though they may struggle.

  Keep up the good fight in 2010!

  PS I have been Looking on the Scottish Dyslexia site and there are some great links- check out this great Sir Jackie Stewart lecture on dyslexia to student teachers it is so moving! It is on the impact of Dyslexia from a person with dyslexia. NOT TO BE MISSED

  /Dyslexia%20at%20Transition.webarchive

• 62. nicole kight  |  January 21st, 2010 at 10:43 am

  hi my name is nicole i am 30 and i am dyslexic ,i came across your site when i was looking for a tutor to help me with a course i want to do ,i APPLOUD you so much for trying to get a school just for dyslexic’s my schooling years were a living hell! what i went through i wouldnt wish on anyone ,my parents had no idea what to do so they just did what the schools told them to do which was so wrong ,no one listened to me ,i had suicide thoughts all the time and felt totally worthless which i still struggle with ,i struggled with manic deppression all the time and still do if i dont keep it in check ,i have been in therpy for 3 yrs now because of what happened and still going thankfully my phycolgist is a fantastic woman and is helping me so much and just as i was getting in to a really good place mentally my boss started mentally harssing me which pushed me off the cliff and put me right back where i was when i was 13 ,it has taken me nearly a year with therpy and the support of my boyfriend to get back where i was .it makes me so so so mad to see how australia treats dyslexic’s .if there is anything i can do to help you please let me know .
  sincerly nicole kight ..

• 63. Luqman Michel  |  January 22nd, 2010 at 3:31 pm

  My name is Luqman Michel and I took up a course in dyslexia to teach kids in my area in Sabah, Malaysia. I have to date taught about 20 kids over the last 6 years with exceptionally good results. I am willing to teach in Australia if any school is willing to invite me or if a few individuals are willing to group together and bring their dyslexic kids for one on one tuition any where in Australia. I find that the best way,if not the only way, to teach dyslexic kids is on a one on one basis. I am 57 years old and would very much like to continue teaching dyslexic kids.

• 64. Daniela  |  January 27th, 2010 at 12:25 am

  It makes me so angry that there are no schools in Australia for children with dyslexia. I am a parent of a child with dyslexia and a teacher.

  Unfortunately no one understands what is like unless you have dyslexia or have a child with dyslexia that struggles everyday with all aspects of schooling.

  My son is a happy child who is going into year 4 this year. He has been able to hide behind his difficulties up until now but I can see that it is effecting him deep down as he is getting older.
  As a mother, when you hear your child tell you ” I am so dumb” and “what am I good at?” it is heartwrenching.

  One of these dyslexic schools would not be enough to cater for the amount of children out there who struggle everyday.

  If only my son could expereince some sort of success at school he would be over the moon and I would be able to sleep at night!!!

• 65. dawn matthews  |  January 31st, 2010 at 11:36 am

  Hi,
  Thank you so much for all your support regarding the school. If there is anyone out there who can tutor these kids or who is willing to learn under me, for free at this stage, please do contact me as I can in no way cope with the number of kids i am assessing now. an now I do SKYPE assessments I am finding kids all over Australia.

  We hope to be giving a presentation to the Minister of Education here in WA soon, and I will be presenting her will all these emails so that she can see what the parents say. So if any one has something important to say then please post it now.

  Of course we need more than one school. There are 100,000 dyslexics and dyspraxics in WA alone in full time education, but first we have to prove that they exist and then that we can teach them . Once we have a school we can use it to showcase how it should be done and, since just about every school is looking for a solution, we can teach teachers and schools how to teach these kids themselves.

  In the end it will be parents power that brings this about so we have to be united here and all pull together. We have to prove that these kids are highly educationable and when taught correctly become an important member of Australian society.

  I am not about to give up on this. Whatever it takes I will be doing. So keep supporting me please.
  Cheers everyone
  Dawn

• 66. Jo De Rossi  |  February 3rd, 2010 at 9:23 pm

  H Dawn,

  I was so pleased to come across your website! I am a specialist teacher passionate about achieving recognition of dyslexia and enabling dyslexic children/students to reach their potential. I moved to Brisbane a year ago from London where I taught at a school mentioned earlier, Fairley House School, that specialises in dyselxia and dyspraxia.

  I was astounded to find out that there was so such school in Australia. I wish you every success! Whereabouts will the school be based?

  Jo De Rossi

• 67. Jo De Rossi  |  February 3rd, 2010 at 9:30 pm

  Hi Dawn,

  I gave you the incorrect email address, have now corrected it. Just seen your last post. I am currently a stay at home mum with an 18 month old but would be interested in doing some tutoring.

  Jo

• 68. Kerry  |  February 5th, 2010 at 7:37 am

  Hi Dawn,

  We live in the south east of SA, I have had my daughter diagnosed by speld in Adelaide about 18 months ago. Whilst the assesment was worth while, there is no back up support for people in the country. So now I know what is wrong but can’t get any help. Teachers in the schools only seem to want to teach main stream and bugger the rest.
  My daughter is now 11 and going to a small school, it is only now that I have noticed that friendships and trying to fit in is suffering the kids just can’t be bothered with her as her dyslexia affects her speech aswell.
  She already see’s the chaplin for poor self asteem. Its so sad when your child turns around and says I’m so dumb.
  I applaued you for trying to make a difference, I would move to or send my daughter to a school that would make a difference in a heart beat.

  Keep trying to make a diference.

• 69. emma garwood  |  February 5th, 2010 at 10:48 pm

  hi my son has just started high school, he is really struggling and i am finding it hard to find a good alternative. stumbled accross your webpage. it all sounds like a great idea. any updates/info

  regards from a frustrated mum who wants the best for her child

• 70. Sharon McKay  |  February 12th, 2010 at 9:20 am

  What has surprised me the most is that I have to go to the school to educate the educated. For some reason the school does not even seem to see that if a child has dyslexia they cannot even come under the ‘learning support’ class unless I point it out- come on , we pay taxes for the school system and then have to fight it ourselves.
  Dyslexia needs to placed under learning difficulties and then a child who may need support can have free access to it without trying to prove themselves. Dyslexia is not something that just goes away , a person has it for life.
  The Australian education system needs to re think about their whole approach to education and assessing these children correctly.

• 71. Liz davis  |  February 12th, 2010 at 2:12 pm

  We are currently thinking of moving back to the UK to educate our eldest child who has dyslexia/dyscalculia. I also believe that there is a whole sector of education missing in Australia for these kids. We have managed to gain intensive literacy support through our child’s paediatrician and his extended group but are not aware of any other service of this nature in Queensland. (Child Development Network for anyone else in Queensland – they have a website) I would be very supportive of a specialist centre for dyslexics in Australia

• 72. Louise Ede  |  February 14th, 2010 at 2:48 pm

  Wow! I thought I was alone here. I am a Canadian who married an Aussie in 2003 and moved to NSW in 2004. I have an 11 year old Canadian-born daughter who has central auditory processing issues, Irlen Syndrome and plalin old dyslexia. Due to moving several times because of my husband’s work, my daughter has been in several schools but has settled into an Anglican College for the last 2 + years. Not one school has known anything about dyslexia and this school, even though it’s a private school, is pretty useless. My daughter has coloured lenses in her glasses for Irlen Syndrome and most teacher tell her to take off her sunnies or she will get a detention. Don’t teachers in this country read their students’ files????? I had to figure all of my daughter’s learing difficulties all by myself and we hired a lady from Sydney to come to my daughter’s school for 1 week and teach her strategies which has helped immensely to the tune of $3000 of which is NOT claimable on tax. I am sorry to say that Australian schools are less than adequate in education, not to anger anyone, but at least Canada recognizes dyslexia and there is much more help available there. I cannot be in Canada so I reckon I have to deal with things here. The reason I am on this website is because I googled “schools for dyslexics” but again, from all these comments, I fear there is no help. The government here should be ashanmed of themslelves in not having help for our incredibly gifted kids. My daughter’s selfesteem is waaaaay lower than it should be. It’s not acceptable. We would be willing to move anywhere in Oz for our daughter, but where can we get help?

• 73. Leanne Hunt  |  February 24th, 2010 at 3:25 pm

  I am 40 .I and my mum have been fighting the education system since I was in school,starting in year one. Mum was told when I was 11 to take me out of school when I was 15 and stick me on a check out as thats all I am good for. I have improved alot and its comes with having such a great mum and dad and I want to say to all parents its great to no you are out there fighting but yes we all fight seperate with the education department we need to fight together and maybe they will listen. The education system is set up for 5% of the students that learn thier way. I once got told that dyslexic is a word for lazy childern and that was from a teacher. Also I got told by a center that was suppose to help my daughter that there was no such thing as dyslexic it was a made up word. So parents you how I felt had to leave the room and breath before going back and finishing the conversation. I school like yours would of made the bigggest difference in my life. What I would like to say that the most smarts people have dyslexic and you know what I am one of them. With love and support from your family you can do anything in the world.

• 74. Luqman Michel  |  March 4th, 2010 at 1:21 pm

  I have been teaching dyslexic children successfully for more than 5 years. My students read in more than one language and they don’t have a problem reading in Malay or in Romanized Mandarin. Their problem is in reading in English. I have clearly explained all these and more in my blog. I have written to many ministers including the PM of Australia but I do not even get a response except from the chief minister of Tasmania. I have also written to the assistant minister of education in Australia and have yet to get a response. It is a shame that no proper teaching is done in a developed country like Australia.

  Dyslexic children can learn at a rapid rate if taught in a way suitable to them. My findings are :
  1.Dyslexia is not a ‘language learning difficulty”
  2.Dyslexic children can be easily taught to read if taught in a way suitable to them.
  3. My blog had many research reports from many different countries that agree with my findings.
  4.I have suggestions on how to incorporate accent marks as a temporary crutch to help dyslexic children to read.
  5.I have stated how to teach some of the most difficult concepts to dyslexic children without encroaching on the study time.
  6.I have just started lessons suitable for dyslexic children.
  I am not writing my url here as my message may not be accepted. Please find me in face book under my name :Luqman Michel and visit my blog. Pass it on to parents of dyslexic children so all parents with dyslexic childen may benefit from my experience.
  Feel free to write to me at my e-mail address given to the managers of this site.

• 75. Luqman Michel  |  March 4th, 2010 at 1:24 pm

  I will now give my e-mail address and my site reference and see if it will be accepted.
  Luqmanm2002@yahoo.co.uk

  http://www.parentingdyslexia.com

  If you do get this please read the blog from the bottom for maximum benefit.
  Thank you.

• 76. dawn matthews  |  March 6th, 2010 at 10:57 am

  Hi again,
  I absolutely agree with Luqman. Dyslexics can learn to read and write as long as they are taught properly for them.
  I am always saying that dyslexia is not a disability, proof of that is can be found by studying self made millionaires and discovering just how many of them are dyslexic. Dyslexia is a learning difference. Teach us correctly and we come along just fine.

  Also the pictorial languages of Asia use a different part of the brain and dyslexics have no problem with them. English is a uniquely stupid language because of its spelling.

  I will check out your site and get back on this.
  Cheers
  Dawn

• 77. Susan  |  April 4th, 2010 at 9:43 pm

  Reading the blog is quite alarming as one of the reasons we are moving to Au (WA) is so that our dyslexic children, aged 8 and 9 (the 9 yr old being extremely gifted in art) can get the help they need in a mainstream school. They are currently being home-schooled in their mother-tongue English, having been taken out of the rigid ‘chalk and talk’ system that the French schools provide.

  It seems that no-one can recommend a primary school in Perth that has given any support. I am shocked!

• 78. Michelle  |  April 10th, 2010 at 2:39 pm

  HI there,

  I am an ESO at mainstream schools as well as a qualified counsellor. The one thing that frustrates me most, and it seems to be a common thought, is the lack of recognition surrounding dyslexia. Many families who have an autistic, or child with difficult behaviour can obtain grants from the government, which supports an aide for their children. However, despite the statistics being somewhere between 5-15% of all children being affected by dyslexia, there is no such funding available. As you all know, a child with Dyslexia has the same, if not higher, intelligence as their fellow students, the difference is that they need a more creative approach to their learning. There are many strategies a school can adopt to assist these students with their learning i.e.: audio books, word processors, colour coding diaries, extra tuition for reading etc. On the surface these shouldn’t be difficult for any school to introduce. My nephew was sitting his Maths NAPLAN test in grade three. When reading the questions he got very anxious as he new the written word was confusing him. Luckily for him he had a proactive teacher who knew his strength in Maths and read the questions to him…by doing the test this way he got within the top 3% in his results, having to do it the traditional way, he failed.

  We need to have more awareness, and it is appalling as we all know the UK and US are very supportive and aware of situation and hence offer a proactive approach to learning. I feel it is a shame to think a school dedicated to dyslexia is required, when it could make it a lot easier for thousands of families if it was simply the educators of Australia that require education in this matter.

• 79. Karyn  |  April 11th, 2010 at 2:41 pm

  Where would this proposed school be established and how soon could this miracle possibly take place. Both of my children are dyslexic and I am at the end of my rope. At least one of these amazing schools in each state would be a god send (but still not nearly enough).

• 80. Victoria  |  April 14th, 2010 at 1:43 pm

  I fully support the move for specialist schools with teachers trained to educate children with dyslexia, dysgraphia, Dysphasia, and dystpraxia.

  Support for visual-spatial learners in the regular school system seems to be based on pot luck, depending on if your child happens to be with teachers who have an appreciation for the different teaching methods required to allow these students to reach their full potential.

  I live in Malvern, with a gifted son with multiple learning difficulties. I would be happy to assist in the establishment of a school, if I can help in any way.

  Thank you for taking on the challenge. I know you can do it!

• 81. Sarah Hartney  |  April 21st, 2010 at 2:13 pm

  I would love a school that caters for dyslexia, my son is year 4 and has the reading age and spelling age of year 1 to 2 child, he is in private school we thought he would have a better chance but it makes no difference because of the lack of knowledge on how to teach kids with this disorder, he also has an auditory processing issue so we feel we are banging our heads against a brick wall, I am now thinking of moving him again as he is getting no where when do we stop having to disrupt our children lifes due to lack of support and knowledge of something that is so common in lots of children and adults as well.

• 82. dawn matthews  |  April 23rd, 2010 at 10:57 am

  Hi,
  We are all working as hard as we can towards this school. The biggest problem is in getting anyone in education to understand that Australia actually has dyslexics. The minister for Education in WA has been telling the press that these kids do not learn to read and write and are basically unteachable because their parents did not talk to them enough when little!

  However my complete phonics course and my book on ADHD drug free “cures” are being published very soon and I have to get publicity for these. I need to be recognized as an authority before anyone will take me seriously.

  I am at the point when i will just go to the education authority as merely say,
  “all these kids who are unteachable because of bad parents, give them to me and I will teach them!” We have to prove we can do it. In the meantime I can actually see that the education system is getting worse and worse for dyslexic and dyspraxic kids.

  Even when phonics are being taught in WA they are actually using a speech course and not a spelling and reading course. This is why I have had to write a new course.

  Anyone who is able to help please get in contact with me. Anyone with ideas, or possible ways of getting publicity. You can email me directly on dawn@dawnmatthews.com
  cheers
  Dawn

• 83. Anna  |  April 28th, 2010 at 1:42 am

  I’m an Orton-Gillingham tutor working at a private school for dyslexics here in Vancouver, Canada. I’m so happy to see that something is being done to help with these kids. In 2006 I spent time in Perth and volunteered at a primary school working with a 11 year old boy who had no literacy skills, and received no extra help. He was basically left to his own devices in the classroom and as you can imagine acted out accordingly. I worked with him for 2 months for an hour each day and even in that short time he made progress! It broke my heart when I had to leave, knowing that there was noone there to help him. I am dismayed that things still haven’t changed much in Australia! My school is an amazing place which sees these intelligent, creative, wonderful kids thrive and move on to successful and happy careers and lives. We would welcome visitors if you could ever get over here…

  http://www.fraseracademy.ca

  Dawn, if there’s anything you think I could do from way over here in Canada, let me know!

  Good luck!!!

• 84. mandy sharman  |  May 5th, 2010 at 2:27 pm

  i am a mother of a 10 year old boy who suffers from dyslexia, and over the last 3 years have exhausted every avenue i could think of to try and get him some help to no avail. His current school has no understanding of the learning disability and realistically dont know how to deal with it nor do they want to. A school for dyslexic children would be so helpful to so many children that are suffering so badly out there.

• 85. matthew smith  |  May 12th, 2010 at 9:20 am

  My niece has recently been diagnosed with dyslexia She is 7 years old and in the Catholic school system in Queensland. My sister-in-law is very upset and bewildered that the Catholic system does not support her daughter. The only thing they can suggest is that she should transfer to another school preferably government. There she might get some extra support but no one can tell her what. The nearest public school is a two-hour bus ride. I don’t understand why the Catholic system isn’t supporting children with learning difficulties. They are referring any difficult child back to the public system. It seems the Catholic schools are second-class schools. Is it that they only want academic students.
  I too have dyslexia and the school system failed me and it appears nothing has changed. I don’t want my niece to go through all the pain and heartache I went through at school e.g. being bullied, teased and being labelled dumb. Can anyone suggest a course of action?

• 86. Fiona Hart  |  May 16th, 2010 at 1:02 pm

  To all those with dyslexia and to the mums who care for you KEEP GOING. I have a dyslexic 20 year old who would have left school at 15 but we switched schools. He completed the NSW Higher school Certificate with band 4 and 5s and an average of 70% in exams after dismal 10 to 20% in unassisted exams. A scribe that reads out questions and then writes down his answers was used to even the playing field so he can show his knowledge not his lack of literacy skills. The key is discovering you/your childs preferred learning style and finding technology that suits you (we used WYNN from Freedom scientific I believe the California Dylseic school used this too) and using it successfully with teachers that are prepared to help (our teachers used memory sticks and had their programs written to it on day one term one and handed it to Mitch to put onto his laptop that Disabilities Australia organised for us, Principals attitude of strengthening the students strengths is vital. You will know when your child is being treated fairly under the Disability Discrimination Act when your child is happy and learning. Do start a support group and lobby for help. NSW Govt in DEC 2008 with the Help of Jim Bond dyslexic and activist. He can help you too he lives near Newcastle NSW. The Govt has set up a dyslexic council for all Australians one of my friends is on it so contact them for help. Prof Max Colthart is the chair of it.. Just keep going YOU make a difference, I have been there and understand the frustration at the lack of resources and practicle assistance that actually helps.

• 87. Michael & Cathy  |  May 17th, 2010 at 1:39 pm

  what a fantastic idea, there is just no schools that we can find that will cater to our son’s need, not just the academics but the whole child socially and emotionally.

• 88. Rachael Koop  |  July 11th, 2010 at 9:57 pm

  Hi Dawn, my foster son has just been diagnosed with dyslexia. I had to fight to get him tested and I wonder how many more children are just like him. I would love to give him the opportunity of sending him to a school that would cater to his learning needs. Where I live there is a vacant school…. the location may be an issue but if the Education Department don’t want it I dont’ see why you guys can get your hands on it. Anyway just a thought. I would love to give my son the opportunity to reach HIS potential and not what others think his potential is.

• 89. jenny lampe  |  July 13th, 2010 at 11:44 am

  yes we do need a school or 2, definitley! i really wish i could help financially, but the grant is needed, govt should help. i will be praying for the schools to be up and running. jenny

• 90. peta  |  July 21st, 2010 at 7:00 pm

  I have been busy emailing the Education Department of WA, the Federal Education Department of WA, I emailed the state minister in charge of Education and I also emailed the minister responsible for the Disability act that claims that Dyslexia is a disability and should then require extra help under the law. All the responses were very negative. I am very willing to spend the money on him to go to a private school but there is no where to send him. After a very nasty second email to the WA minister of education were I threatened them with a law suit I received a email from the Manager of Student Services with a request that I ring her to make an appointment to talk about my son’s problems. If anyone would like to come with me and talk to her about their children let me know, the more people that involved in this might make them try and change the system. I will be contacting her after the July school holidays.

  I am beyond angry about this problem now, my child is in year one and the teasing is starting which results in him getting angry and then he is the one punished one of his teachers is trying with him but the other teacher and the school only care about his behavior and not the fact that he isn’t getting school at all. If he was being taught the right way maybe he wouldn’t act out as much in school.

• 91. Ros Clarke (Wa)  |  July 25th, 2010 at 2:10 am

  wow, I have just read all the comments on this web site and I have just met Dawn. I started to cry and now I can’t stop crying. I can’t believe that there are so many out their suffering. How is this and why?!

  I was suffering in silence but, not anymore. I can relate to many of those stories. I have three beautiful boys, 13, 9 and 1. The two older boys are dyslexic and Dad is. I was beginning to loose all hope and all my faith in the education system has gone. It was silly of my and naive to think my boys were going to school to learn! I was sent on a guilt trip and I still beat myself up every day, thinking it is my fault.

  My oldest son and I have gone into oblivion. We don’t have many friends in fact we pretty much keep ourselves to ourselves. I don’t like it when others say oh, you should do this or that and I wouldn’t let my son get away with it etc etc!! My son spends alot of time on his own and I don’t know how to reach him. I try to help them but, we only end up bickering etc. because, I’m not dsylexic and don’t have the proper tools so, I get frustrated and give up.

  Perhaps Dawn can weave some of her magic over this mess. I for one am going to do all that I can to help. Dawn has thrown us a life line that we so desperately needed. We need this school. I am no longer going to stay silent and hopefully if we all shout loud enough someone will hear us.

• 92. Tui  |  July 26th, 2010 at 12:16 pm

  Whoopee!! Finally there may be hope..I come from a family that has dsylexia 3 generations eg.My dad, My daughter and Myself. I hope we have a school in every town this sounds great…GOOD LUCK

• 93. Michelle Jones ( SA)  |  August 1st, 2010 at 11:40 pm

  i would love a dyslexic school for my 2 girls, i am also dyslexic. Growing up without a school system that understood my learning needs caused me a huge amount of anziety, stress and has affected my selfesteem. Learing to read and write with confidents and dignity should be every childs right.

• 94. Maryanne Muss  |  August 10th, 2010 at 1:16 pm

  Oh please do, I would move with my 15 year old dyslexic to WA if he could attend a Dyslexic school.

  We homeschooled for 5 years and he learnt to read and write as a dyslexic. I read him literature, history, science, geography etc. As a result he has a fantastic general knowledge, self-confidence and literacy, but there is so much more he would like and deserves. He is now in the NSW education system and we are fighting for a Reader-Writer for his school certificate exams. We have know certainty at all that despite documentation of his needs that he will be given the right to a Reader-writer. If not it amounts to negligence of the highest order and I have no other alternate than to sue the Board of Studies and Education department for discrimination. I know several other Dyslexics who need a specific schooling program. I will gladly get involved in any efforts to bring the needs of Dyslexics to public attention and force the departments of education to provide appropriate services.

• 95. Dawn Matthews  |  August 10th, 2010 at 1:31 pm

  Hi Everyone.
  If your child’s performance in an examination is damaged because he cannot read and comprehend the test paper than he should be given a reader. likewise if his writing is not legible then a scribe. however it if not my aim to fight for this, it is my aim to get all dyslexics and dyspraxics literate so that they can do the exams themsleves. I prefer to teach multi sensory phonics to make them literate and them teach word processing skills and strategies to help with those stupid words in English.
  this is how my new Dead Easy phonics works.
  i would then be pushing for the student to use a laptop computer and have extra time because dyslexics are always slow readers, no matter how well they are taught.
  handwriting is no longer a skill needed in the outside world anyway. how many of your kids ever handwrite things outside of school. today they twitter and facebook and email and text. And they do not write out rough drafts first.
  god luck every one Dawn

• 96. Virginia Lucas  |  August 12th, 2010 at 2:54 pm

  Many years ago we had schools for dyslexic children and for other learning dysabilities. The Government closed these schools and said that money would be put into schools to go towards supporting these childrens special needs. Guess what they never did it and now our children suffer as they all need proper support and teachers who specialize in a certain area. Also a lot of our children need their own aid to help them through out their School day. It is about time every one woke up it is the year 2000 we need to go forward not backward. Our children are a vital part of our futures. They are an aset to our communities they need help to fully acheive their potential. Einstien and Elton John for example are Dyslexic, look what they have acheived amazing people who have given the world so much and their are many more out their who have over come against great odds. With the proper help and support.
  I fully support the idea of this School mentioned and I believe more than very strongly that there should be many in each State around Australia.
  Come on Aussie come on support our kids Now!!!!!

• 97. Amanda  |  August 12th, 2010 at 10:02 pm

  Hi,

  I have dyslexia and I am a school teacher. I struggled my way through school and achieved average grades after a lot of hard work and effort.

  I don’t believe that there should be a seperate school for students with dyslexia. I believe there should be better teacher training at uni on how to support students with dyslexia. There should be easier access to resouce material for teaching staff to be using in their classroom. I believe that the government should recognising the unique attribute that people with dyslexia make and provided funding support to all schools. I understand why parents want a specific school however I don’t believe it is the type of school but the quality of the education delivered in the classroom that supports students with dyslexia that will make a difference.

• 98. Dawn Matthews  |  August 14th, 2010 at 10:39 am

  Hi again,
  I totally believe in what you say Amanda. Schools should cater for all modes of learning. The problem is that we are not getting anywhere in getting things changed within the current school system. What we, in Dyslexic Centre Australia currently are planning to do to is to get a school and showcase how it should be done. this way we may be able to go on and educate other schools. Dyslexics, are unfortunately thought to be unteachable in so many, many schools. we need to prove that they can very easily be taught and then educate the education system.
  cheers
  Dawn

• 99. Amanda  |  August 15th, 2010 at 4:30 pm

  My 9 year old son has (finally) been diagnosed with dyslexia only for us to find there are no support services in Melbourne at all. We pay nearly $80 a week for a private tutor to help him with maths and spelling just so he can manage at school. I feel like there is no help. We’ve been told there is no high school in Melbourne that would be able to specifically cater for him and to essentially expect that he will fail spectacularly up until about Year 9, when – if he has any self-esteem left – he would be able to choose elective subjects that appeal to his learning style. I am SO frustrated that there is no help in Australia – I thought we were a progressive country. We do what we can at home both to help him academically and with his general sense of self-worth and have had a win with his grade 3-4 teacher who is willing to look out side the box. But I feel we have to push it all the time so that he’s not written off as lazy or with a low intelligence. He is a bright, creative boy.
  For godsake, what do parents have to do to get help in Victoria?
  Please push for a high school – have a rally, run a campaign – I’ll be there waving signs and chanting with whoever needs me to be.

• 100. Lora  |  August 19th, 2010 at 2:25 am

  Hi there, was just reading through the many stories and found myself in each and everyone of them. I have a 15 year old son who is severely dyslexic. He was Diagnosed at the age of 9 and since then we have tried so many different things from teaching styles to positions in the classroom and right down to the colour of paper his work was written on. At the moment we are dealing with reports from teachers (that have waited until now) to inform us that he hasn’t met the criteria for a particular subject therefore may get an N in the school certificate. I fail to understand how, as trained professionals, they have been unable to recognize the need for support. Our children need to be heard by those willing and educated to help. I applaud you for trying to make a difference.

• 101. Carol McKenzie  |  August 21st, 2010 at 9:31 pm

  The sooner the better! I am despaerate for my little boy to receive the help he needs.

• 102. Angela Crossman Vic  |  August 23rd, 2010 at 1:14 pm

  I sit here in tears as I read all these stories that match my own. My wonderful 9 year old son is a gifted visual spatial leaner that is twice exceptional and is profoundly dyslexic. I have beaten my head against a brick wall since prep. I ge t told he’s a lovely boy he’s fine (he just can’t read and write) We now pay substantial amounts of money every week to outside tutors who know fully how to help these kids. Obviously the cost is an issue along with time out of the classroom but my biggest dread is the ongoing stress and feeling of failure for my child, no one person can carry on through life with no light at the end of the tunnel he would have to be superhuman to cope.i have seached Melbourne for a more suitable school but of course one doesn’t exist. I applaud your fight and I would be willing to support it in any way I can, what can an individual like me do to help?Is there a possibility of help in Victoria? How many years are we talking? I’m no public speaker but give me a soap box on this issue and I will be! keep up the good work.

• 103. Sue Arkley  |  August 25th, 2010 at 8:05 pm

  PLEASE let it be in the time my daughter needs this…seeing her anxiety with going to school is heart breaking and she always does her best and wants so badly to achieve everything set out for her at school…i see her confidence and self esteem being destroyed when she has always been such a happy free spirit, she has so much to give. We are obvioulsy not a minority! Thank you for being our voice Dawn. We are willing to do whatever it takes.

• 104. Robyn Hendriks  |  August 26th, 2010 at 3:41 pm

  Dear All,

  I have received correspondence yesterday from the Minister for Education here in Western Australia, in response to the email I circulated & also placed on the Western Australian Government web site, titled Australia is backwards in our education of children with significant learning needs such as dyslexia. Needs recognition in our legislation, and we need it now! to come in line with other countries. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in 2006. The report of that survey specifically noted that 52% of Australians aged 15-19 had a literacy level that “was insufficient to meet the complex demands of everyday life and work” comparisons of the results of the 2006 ABS survey with the results of the immediately preceding survey (1996) revealed that literacy levels were lower in 2006 than in 1996.

  The Ministers correspondence has given me hope that things may improve for this sector of society. Below is part of what the minister writes to me.

  “…………The educational needs and learning characteristics of students with dyslexia have, as you indicate, been the subject of recent national and international interest. Work is being undertaken nationally that will inform policy and programs for students experiencing difficulties with learning. The Department of Education is represented at several national and state groups that are responding to research and evidence and considering the implications for classroom practice.

  An internal Department reference group is being formed that has specific responsibility for policy and planning directions that best support students with dyslexia. This group will take into account existing Department programs, national commitments, recommendations from national reports, including Helping people with dyslexia: a national action agenda, and innovative educational initiatives, such as those introduced in New South Wales. ………………..

  Strengthening quality teaching and providing access to suitable curriculum are key elements in supporting students with dyslexia. Ongoing development of syllabus advice will enable teachers to explicitly develop literacy knowledge, skills and understandings. These initiatives and informing the advice provided to the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority in the development of a National Curriculum that is inclusive of all students…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention……….”

  I am glad that it seems the Department is at last moving on this issue. As this will improve outcomes for society as a whole, as “Dr Gilmore said early diagnosis was particularly important because learning and attention disorders in childhood had been linked to numerous adverse outcomes in adolescence and adulthood, including youth suicide.”http://www.qut.edu.au/research/news-event.jsp?news-event-id=32044 In my opinion not only does a pupil need early diagnosis, they also need teachers who are well trained in the LD field (not just one days training, may be we will have teachers trained to this extent “Training in academic therapy requires extensive course work and intensive practice under the tutelage of master teacher. Virtually all trainees, regardless of degrees or specialties in education, lack the knowledge and skill necessary for teaching dyslexic students. Training of academic therapists requires course work integrated over time with closely supervised practice teaching planning and implementing instruction. In general, training is a two-to three-year process.” Professional preparation of the Academic Therapist: Perspectives. Fall 1998. Article 23 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states: “Any child with a disability should have access to and receive an education in a manner conducive to achieving the fullest possible social integration and individual development.” Whilst on pg. 19 of the Department of Education and training “Disability Access and inclusion Plan 2007-2011 States under “Strategies to Improve Access and Participation Outcome 8 Improving learning outcomes for students with disabilities., “programs and facilities for school aged students with disabilities are responsive to COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS”.) and the funding is adequate allowing enough time for these students to reach their full potential. As other countries have had specialist schools for over thirty years that achieve the majority of their students to university level, and in at least Canada it’s tax deductible for parents to send their child to such a school, it’s long over due that our Education system meets the needs of these students in my opinion. Recognized scientific programs have been around for 50 years. I hope this is addressed with urgency as it effects our suicide rate and adequately so society will improve. The minister letter has given me some hope, and I hope it does for you too.

  On page 19 of the Department of Education and training “Disability Access and inclusion plan 2007-2011 states under “Strategies to improve Access and Participation Outcome 8 Improving learning outcomes for students with Disabilities. “programs and facilities for school aged students with disabilities are responsive to COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS.” So
  To members of our society, you have my permission to forward this on to every one you can think of. Maybe you could also drop Hon. Bill Shorten a line Bill.Shorten.MP@aph.gov.au, as he has had the report from the Dyslexia Working party since January this year. I believe our society would be improved if this issue was addressed adequately. The only state to have moved to address this in Australia is NSW. Our schools need the funding to help these children. We are years behind other countries. The children with significant learning needs human rights are a joke in my opinion in Australia

  See http://www.dyslexiaaustralia.com.au/DYSWP.pdf there is hope for all those of us who have been advocating for years, keep up the good fight. Please publish this one Dawn for every ones sake.

  Have a good day,
  Sincerely
  Robyn Hendriks

  Ps. Keep tuned, I am in the process of organizing a session with a member from the dyslexic working party, and other professionals, who have helped him with his dyslexia, soon here in Perth.

• 105. cherry chapman  |  August 26th, 2010 at 10:13 pm

  Having lived in Perth for the last twelve months I am shocked that individuals with dyslexia are treated as though they have a huge disability. My beautiful daughter Darcie struggles every single day but is still able to come home with a smile.
  Her school have implied that she does not sit the TEE…!

• 106. Robyn Hendriks  |  September 2nd, 2010 at 1:54 pm

  Dear Louise, it infuriates me that people are still being harassed for wearing their Irlen lenses. Your daughter will get detension – let the school know – It is against the law to do so and you need to have an understanding of the law to advocate for your child. Please view.
  http://www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/decisions/conciliation/education_conciliation.html

  Accommodation of vision impairment in school tests
  A mother of a boy who has a vision impairment (scotopic sensitivity syndrome) complained that his disability was not being accommodated in sitting a statewide test for year 5 students. The complaint was settled when the education authority agreed (within one month of the complaint being received by HREOC) to the test being provided to the boy on non-glossy blue paper in 24 point type as requested.

  There are many cases that have already been won on the IRLEN lenses. My advice is to take note of who made comments and what date.

  I hope this is helpful,
  sincerely
  Robyn

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