Dyslexia Teacher - Australia and New Zealand

- A listing of organizations offering assistance and advice about dyslexia in Australia and New Zealand is available on this website, with links to these organisations:

• Dyslexia in New Zealand
  
  
• Learning & Behavior Charitable Trust New Zealand
  
  
• Asssessment and Counselling Centre in Auckland NZ - run by three psychologists, experienced in educational psychology including working with children with specific learning disabilities/dyslexia. Contact: Barbara Kalshoven. Offices in Takapuna (486-5521) and Remuera (524-7727)
  
  
• Kids Freindly - lively New Zealand organisation for parents, packed with things to do, and places to visit, with children.
  
  
• Learning and behaviour Charitable Trust NZ - Our aim is to create more social awareness in the area of hidden disorders, that are not being reviewed and funded, for these very gifted children with Specific Learning Difficulties such as ADHD/Dyslexic, Autism, Aspersers, and many others, that have small indicators, and are underestimated. We need to find the tools to resource these children, so that they are able to take their place as honourable New Zealanders by right of an Education that is free of discrimination."

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Famous Dyslexic People - Many dyslexic people have become famous, especially through their strengths in artistic awareness, physical co-ordination and empathy. Here is a list of Famous People with Dyslexia.

I too have a daughter (7 ) assessed as dyslexic via SPELD, and if it wasn't for her teacher who has a dyslexic daughter as well, I would of been still battling with the New Zealand Education System, trying to get someone to recognise her learning difficulties and to address them. So why are we as parents having to bend over backwards to prove that our children have problems, and why is the NZ Govt. not addressing this problem? I think as it is Election year we as parents should be standing up and voicing our concerns. Dyslexia is not a disease, but a medical condition, just as much as other mental health syndromes which are currently funded under ORRS within Schools. Fortunately our daughter is receiving help from a RTLB at her School, and we are paying for her to be tutored by SPELD, but again why should we have to pay for an assessment and tutorage. Thank you for allowing me to vent my concerns as a parent, and it would be great to talk to other parents out there battling with the same problems. (pcartw@paradise.net.nz - New Zealand)

From reading your letters it appears we are no better off in New Zealand. I am a tertiary tutor (although originally primary trained) and have a 14-year old daughter who is dyslexic. I have battled since she was seven years old for teachers to recognise that she is dyslexic and for them to provide the classroom support she needs. They seem to think that it is normal for an intelligent child to bumble her way through reading and not comprehend a word that she has read!! It appears to me that educators are not trained to recognise or help the 10% of the population that are dyslexic.
Now that she has reached secondary education it gets worse. Her teachers have less understanding about dyslexia. There is not enough training for teachers and not enough funding by the government. When are the governments going to wake up to the fact that children in wheelchairs and with white canes are not the only ones that need extra funding to get the education that is their right.
Congratulations on a wonderful web site. It is good to know that other people out there care! (Battling parent, New Zealand)