Comments on: Dyslexic Centre Australia School for Dyslexics.

By: Tui

Tui — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:16:16 +0000

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

By: Ros Clarke (Wa)

Ros Clarke (Wa) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:10:42 +0000

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.

By: peta

peta — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:00:17 +0000

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.

By: jenny lampe

jenny lampe — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 01:44:08 +0000

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

By: Rachael Koop

Rachael Koop — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:57:27 +0000

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.

By: Michael & Cathy

Michael & Cathy — Mon, 17 May 2010 03:39:47 +0000

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.

By: Fiona Hart

Fiona Hart — Sun, 16 May 2010 03:02:33 +0000

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.

By: matthew smith

matthew smith — Tue, 11 May 2010 23:20:23 +0000

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?

By: mandy sharman

mandy sharman — Wed, 05 May 2010 04:27:35 +0000

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.

By: Anna

Anna — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:42:00 +0000

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!!!