The writers of this letter have been Australian citizens for many years and of Czech origin. The family is significant in that that there are a lot of academically competent people and dyslexia within the family.
We were always confident in the fact that every civilized country recognises and protects dyslexic people, only to learn later from Parliament of New South Wales that Dyslexics are discriminated against in Australia.
Our good fortune led us to dyslexia specialist Dawn Matthews at Dyslexia Centre Australia.
Our only child Elizabeth was born in Australia in August 2006 and in May 2010 we took her to Dawn, because we suspected that she was dyslexic like her father. We wanted Dawn to make recommendations.
Dawn worked out a personal teaching program for Betty and also helped her father who was never given a proper eye specialist examination. Dawn returned the dying mother to life.
We will always respect and love Dawn. We see that she is the defender of good and justice. Betty’s grandfather, who is an engineer, and prior to retirement was the director of main government roads, bridges and railways in the Czech Republic, has the same regards for Dawn.
Dawn has referred Elizabeth to a specialist developmental optometrist for testing because she suspected that Betty tends to pay more attention to distant things rather than close ups and she was right. Now both father and daughter are wearing reading glasses.
Also after only a few weeks of Dawn’s teaching method Elizabeth is, for the very first time, properly pronouncing the words she hears.
Dawn we do thank you very much, you have changed many lives for the good. My husband Thomas is saying that ”you are the light in the tunnel in the mountain where we live”.
Our warmest regards
Yours with respects Vladana and Thomas Kubat
July 21st, 2010
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.
Continue Reading January 5th, 2010
Hi there,
I would be extremely interested in your school. Has there been any further developments with this? When do you envisage it to be up and running? Lastly, would it be a school that caters for all ages (primary and secondary?)
Sounds absolutely brilliant. Please keep me informed!
There is so much forms filling etc involved in setting things up here. Much simpler in the UK. But we do intend to have it for all ages, and we intend to set up a pre school in which we teach basic phonics, so that kids are ready to learn to read when getting to the main school. If there is anyone out there who can help with finding out how to fill in forms etc. please do contact me.
Thanks. dawn
January 5th, 2010
Thanks for all your info Dawn & time.
When you have a child that never gives up, you want to keep pushing on.
Our daughter Sarah, is an anxious child, loves being at home with her family, home body, and loves the water, beach. Sarah has ADD/ADHD, expressive language difficulties, learning difficulties, however very visual, and learns visually, Sarah is 9yrs old.
I did the Tick box assessment / for the 8-13yrs for Dyspraxia, Sarah’s score was 19.
I also did the Dyslexia late infant or early primary screening sheet Sarah’s score was 12.
I am a little dyslexic myself, so probably from my side of the family.
Sarah has had expressive speech difficulties since she started to talk, Sarah did speech therapy for 6yrs. Sarah is reading well, Sarah is doing tennis lessons at the moment and has really improved, plus we bought a trampoline, as she takes a while to try new things, and the trampoline takes her out of her comfort zone which is good, Dawn suggests the wobble board which is brilliant for balance also. Sarah is learning to surf on a surfboard, we are seeing big improvements in all area’s of her gross motor skills, all these things help her confidence, In the past I have tried Sarah on
Omega fish oil since little, taken her to occupational behavioural optometry, speech therapy, neuro psychologist, you name it.
I would like to say Dawn has up to date research and provides practical resources for children like Sarah who don’t learn the mainstream way.
I wished all states in Australia would adopt Dawn’s methods of teaching children that learn differently, our daughter is very visual and Dawn’s resources are fantastic.
Thanks again
[name withheld, Sydney Australia]
instead of doing the fast forward you can buy earobics DVD at a fraction of the cost and i have found it to be as god.
Dawn
We did look into fast forward, got all the info DVD etc, we were already doing
with our daughter education DVD on the computer Maths and English, fun type learning computer games, from Tandy, Dick Smith etc, our speech therapist
looked into fast forward and said what you are already doing is very similar, our daughter Sarah is very visual, learns visually, Sarah is a whiz on the computer, plus fast forward was big $$$$, also looked into Cell field again big$$$$ and no studies to back up what they say it does, have looked at so many things and tried so much. Thanks again
I do not sell earobics but will try to work out how we can do that. I got hold of them by going to www.earobics.com. Our local SPELD sell them also. You can phone them on 0894743494.
I sell a downloadable dyspraxic pack which contains a book on dyspraxia and a phonics course and lots of other teaching aids. for $39 i think.(!) Get it from www.dyslexia-testing.com.au and type dyspraxia in the store search engine. The book I sell on dyspraxia is only at present available downloadable.
All the things you are doing are good. Skate boarding is very good also or a wobble board, I tell you how to build one in the book,
If your child is dyspraxic i would expect her to score as positive in both the dyslexia and he dyspraxia tick tests.
There are no schools which properly cater for these kids in Australia, unfortunately, so try not to worry too much if she does not keep up. Just remember that primary education is only actually meant to prepare your kid for secondary and high school is only intended to prepare her for life, so concentrate on life skills.
It is so important to find her strengths and concentrate on them rather than just correcting things that she is not doing well at.
And yes if she is dyspraxic she can improve greatly and live a more or less normal life. My step mum is dyspraxic and she was a maths teacher in a top private school.
I am beginning a maths program for these kids but as you might imagine I am quite busy!
I do offer skype assessments now.
Good luck you are doing very well and are obviously a really good mum.
dawn
January 5th, 2010
Hi Dawn I am having a little trouble logging in, so thought I would go this way. I can not say how greatful I am for your help. Although my 11 year old daughter was diagnosed with dyspraxia several years ago, I really didn’t understand how she saw the world or some of the funny little routines she has like being terrified of the dark. After reading your book, I now have a much better understanding. I read over some of the points in the book with my daughter and she said “That’s me, I’m not weird”. We are now using some of your strategies and things are running much smoother, particularly like giving her a little more time to do things ans say things. Hey the whole family is better organised, as we have just started a new daily routine.
Hi Raewyn.
I am so pleased that I have been able to help. She’s a great kid. keep believing in her.
Cheers
Dawn
September 28th, 2009
