Dyslexia Not A Learning Disability In New Zealand

According to the news report (below the fold) the Education Ministry of New Zealand does not recognize dyslexia as a learning disability.

The first article repeats some myths ("Sometimes they see words or numbers back to front"--no, no, no; "dyslexics are visual learners."--I don't know what that's supposed to mean). 

And sadly, the Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand is closely linked with Davis Dyslexia Method--an approach to dyslexia that has no research base in terms of either the cause of dyslexia or remediating the condition.

New Zealand is also the home of Reading Recovery, which is not effective in teaching dyslexic students and lacks a research base.

What Dyslexia is

People with dyslexia have trouble reading and writing. Sometimes they see words or numbers back to front, or put letters in the wrong places.

Conservative figures say at least one in 10 people have some degree of dyslexia.

Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand managing trustee Guy Pope-Mayell said dyslexics are visual learners.

In the classroom, teachers are in the "unenviable position" of having to identify dyslexia and manage the resulting behaviour.

Standing in front of a class to read out loud or give a speech can be traumatic for someone with dyslexia, Mr Pope-Mayell said.

Early intervention is imperative.

When this doesn't happen, some students become aggressive to avoid the spotlight or to cope with increasing frustration and alienation from their peers.

"Dyslexics don't respond well to time pressures in a classroom, such as quizzes," Mr Pope-Mayell said. Childhood is a critical time to manage dyslexia, he said.

The Ministry of Education does not recognise dyslexia as an official learning disability.

The government, by not recognising dyslexia, is doing an injustice to all dyslexics who could otherwise be productive and earn a living, he said.

Rather, many are left to flounder, providing ample opportunity to get into trouble. About half the people in prison have a form of dyslexia, Mr Pope-Mayell said.

"Dyslexia is a disability not a dirty word, and behind it is a gift and someone who can think outside the square."

The apprentice system is an effective way to harness teen dyslexics who struggle in mainstream schooling. "They're great with their hands and at problem- solving." Dyslexic students are mainly taught in mainstream classes, which puts a great onus on teachers to tailor their teaching to certain students, he said.

The Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand was launched November 29, 2006

The Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand was officially launched yesterday at Cashmere School in Christchurch, and as a trustee and mother of a dyslexic child, Mrs Timms is leading the drive to get dyslexia officially recognised in New Zealand.

Disability Issues Minister Ruth Dyson did the foundation launch yesterday, but said the Government was not keen on using "labels" such as dyslexia.

"Dyslexia certainly does exist. The Ministry of Education's perspective has been that rather than looking at labels on children, we should be look at individual children's learning needs. And I don't think there is a difference in that at all," Ms Dyson said.

"You shouldn't get stuck on a debate about a label."

There was no direct Government funding for any identified illness or impairment such as dyslexia, but the education system had resources to help children with difficulties.

This could mean individual tutoring or assistance for children.

Mrs Timms overcame her dyslexia and gained a degree, but after seeing her son's struggle to be recognised as dyslexic at school, she believes the Government should change its stance.

"It seems that dyslexia is a word not to be talked about. It's 'don't mention it, don't tell them they have dyslexia, because if you do that they are just going to give up on life'.

"People are still leaving school feeling inadequate, feeling as failures, because they haven't had the correct learning, they haven't been acknowledged."

There has been international debate about the validity of dyslexia, but it is recognised in the United Kingdom.

New Zealand's Chief Youth Court Judge, Andrew Becroft, has referred to British studies showing up to half of young criminal offenders are dyslexic.