...Helping people with dyslexia: a national action agenda Report to the Hon Bill Shorten, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, from the Dyslexia Working Party: Jim Bond Max Coltheart [Chair] Tim Connell Nola Firth Margaret Hardy Mandy Nayton Jenny Shaw Angela Weeks Submitted January 10 2010 2 Introduction During 2008 the Hon Bill Shorten, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, met with representatives from dyslexia interest groups who expressed concern that dyslexia is not recognized as a specific disability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and that the education and employment systems do not recognize or support people with dyslexia. Following these meetings the Parliamentary Secretary requested the FaHCSIA convene a roundtable Forum to discuss these issues. This Dyslexia Stakeholder Forum was held at Parliament House Canberra on 16 June 2009. The Forum consisted of 24 people who were scientists in the areas of reading or learning disabilities, technologists, people with dyslexia, clinicians and practitioners, or representatives from DEEWR and FaHCSIA. It was decided that a representative Working Party of 8 Forum members should be formed, charged with the task of writing a report proposing a national agenda for action to assist people with dyslexia. The Working Party consulted widely and in particular benefited from comments on a draft report that were received from the following authorities (all...
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...differentiate the curriculum to suit the needs of student with a specific learning difficulty. Dyslexia is the learning difficulty which will be examined theoretically and methodically in this essay. This essay will examine the different learning theories of how to engage a child with dyslexia in the classroom. In addition, this essay will investigate Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development and Vygotsky’s Social Constructivism. Inclusion and Dyslexia The term “inclusion” implies that the needs of all students should be met within mainstream school (Reid, 2013, p13). The Centre for Students on Inclusive Education (CSIE) suggests that developing inclusive provision will take time as ‘inclusion’ is not about what you do, it’s how about you do it. Furthermore, the CSIE states “time spent outside out the classroom for individual or group on a part-time time basis is not segregation” (Thomas and Vaughan, 2004, P137 cited in Reid, P13)....
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...teachers in the area of SEN, and in this case dyslexia. From a recent survey taken by Dyslexia Action, 2012, it was found that 90% of parents believed teachers lacked the proper training to deal with their dyslexic child. In the same survey it was revealed that 61% of parents saw their children waiting up to a year to be given help after being diagnosed. The surveys shed light on an important...
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...‘A critical analysis of theoretical perspectives related to dyslexia’ In this essay I will be demonstrating the critical understanding of key theoretical perspectives on the cause of dyslexia (phonological processing, magno, cellular and cerebellar aspects. I will also be researching and reviewing relevant literature exploring key issues such as identification, co-morbidity, international views on dyslexia. This essay will allow me to study dyslexia in depth and broaden my knowledge on its identifying characteristics and the underlying causes. About dyslexia Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that affects the brain; this means that the brain is slower on picking up certain things. This can be learning how to...
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...Article Review: Teacher Attitudes Toward Dyslexia: Effects on Teacher Expectations and the Academic Achievement of Students with Dyslexia A study by Bakker, Denessen, Hornstra, van den Bergh, and Voeten (2010) examined teacher attitudes toward dyslexia and the effects of these attitudes on teacher expectations and the academic achievement of students with dyslexia compared to students without learning disabilities (Bakker et al. 2010). The objective of the experiment is to examine whether students with dyslexia are indeed at risk for stigmatization by their regular education teachers, which can result in lower teacher expectations for these students, and whether lower teacher expectations can affect the achievement of students with dyslexia. Throughout this correlational descriptive research study, three research questions took emphasis: 1.) To what extent do teacher attitudes toward dyslexia predict teacher expectations for individual students with dyslexia? 2.) To what extent do teacher attitudes toward dyslexia predict the achievement of students with dyslexia? 3.) Does the association between teacher attitudes toward dyslexia and the achievement of students with dyslexia appear to be significantly mediated by teacher expectations? The results of their study were inconclusive, as they received variable results across the spelling, math, and overall academic achievement that the author(s) was unable to make a definitive correlational statement on the relationship between...
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...Dyslexia is a developmental reading disorder, that affects how well individuals can read and spell. (Huktquist 2006). These differences occur when individuals learn to read and process the written language (Martin, Carlson and Buskist 2013). Children and adults are mostly affected from this learning disability as it develops when growing up (Martin, Carlson and Buskist 2013). It has been estimated that 1 in 10 of the population potentially have dyslexia in the UK itself and varies across the world (Pennington 1990). Individuals are affected to different scales by dyslexia (Martin, Carlson and Buskist 2013) and it has been reviewed that irregular IQ scores are not linked to dyslexia in any form (Siegel 1989). A lot of research has been conducted in this field and researchers have looked into core problems of dyslexia. This essay is designed to explain and evaluate the magnocellular deficit theory of dyslexia, and the theory will be used to propose an appropriate intervention to benefit dyslexic children in primary schools. The Magnocellular deficit theory identifies that dyslexic individuals have a measurable disorder of the fast processing pathways of the visual system (Greatrex and Drasdo 1995). These pathways process the visual...
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...unrecognised. Ishaan's father, Nandkishore Awasthi (Vipin Sharma), is a successful executive who expects his children to excel. His mother, housewife Maya Awasthi (Tisca Chopra), is frustrated by her inability to educate her son. Ishaan's elder brother, Yohaan (Sachet Engineer), is an exemplary scholar and athlete, which Ishaan is frequently reminded of. After receiving a particularly poor academic report, Ishaan's parents send him to a boarding school. There he sinks into a state of fear and depression, despite being befriended by Rajan (Tanay Chheda), physically disabled and one of the top students in his class. Ishaan's situation changes when a new art teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Aamir Khan), joins the school's faculty. An instructor at the Tulips School for young children with developmental disabilities, Nikumbh's teaching style is markedly different from that of his strict predecessor, and he quickly observes that Ishaan is unhappy and contributes little to class activities. He reviews Ishaan's work and concludes that his academic shortcomings are indicative of dyslexia. On his day off, Nikumbh visits Ishaan's parents and asks if he can see more of their son's work. He is stunned by the sophistication of one of Ishaan's paintings, and tells his parents that Ishaan is a bright child who processes information differently from other children in his class, but Ishaan's father is suspicious that the explanation is simply an excuse for his son's poor performance. Nikumbh...
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...September 1, 2015 Reading Response #1 The Article On Being 17, Bright, and Unable to Read is an article by David Raymond. At the age of 17 Raymond got diagnosed with Dyslexia which made him unable to read. Before knowing he had dyslexia he always believed he was just dumb. He was constantly teased for not being ableto read and talk as well as the other kids in his class. Because of being constantly teased in school, he complained of wanting to die. With the bad reports from school and the constant worry of not having friends and wanting to die, he finally went to his mother and father for help. That’s when he was diagnosed. As he got older and went into higher levels of education such as Junior high school and high school, things started to get better for Raymond. He started to get more confident with himself and began to deal with his dyslexia better. David Raymond wrote the article which appeared in the New York Times (1976) to encourage parents to and teachers to know when you see your child having trouble in school don’t count it as being lazy but it could be something else. One quote that stood out to me in the article was on page 79. The quote says “The only thing that gives me any courage is the fact that i’ve learned about well known people who couldn’t read or had other problems and still made it”. I liked this quote in particular because no matter how much Raymond struggled and wanted to give up, he still kept hope and he still tried no matter what obstacles got...
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...Technology and the Dyslexic Student Scott Stockinger Western Governors University When a child is dyslexic and is trying to learn it can be very difficult to impossible. The dyslexic student may not be able to read at his/her age appropriate level and writing can even be harder. In order to read a book for a book report the student may have to read the book at a very slow pace and then have to read it again to comprehend or someone has to read for them. The problem is not necessarily comprehension of the story just the reading level of the book, the reader may be grades below his/her true abilities. It can be very hard to learn on their own because someone needs to read to them or dictate their thoughts to paper if they are to write an age appropriate report. Since the student can comprehend at a higher level but work only at lower grade levels, this poses a problem for educators. How is a teacher supposed to teach the dyslexic student? Research indicates technology provides away for dyslexics to overcome their learning disabilities by giving them the tools they need to accomplish the job of learning, the independence to learn on their own, and give educators a better understanding that enables them to empower the dyslexic student. Technology has given a whole generation of dyslexic students the tools needed to accomplish the difficult task of learning while working with a whole grade level or more below their ability level in reading and writing. Voice recognition...
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...Nearly 40 percent of disabled students didn’t graduate from high school according to one 2013 report, it sounds like an alarming bell about lagging high school graduation rates among students with disabilities.(Michelle Diament, 2015) Disability Discrimination Act defines disability as ‘a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse affect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’. (Fuller, Healey, Bradley, Hall, 2004)As the definition referred to mental and physical disability, Dyslexia, unseen disabilities, multiple disabilities and other personal care support. Disability as a human right issue, children with disabilities have the right to get education without any discrimination and accordingly...
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... Introduction The Prison Service spends considerable resources on incarcerating inmates and on trying to prevent them from re-offending. There is considerable evidence to show that the percentage of inmates experience learning and/or behavioural problems is significantly above that of the general population. In addition, there is evidence that the percentage of inmates suffering from the perceptual distortions, physical symptoms, and behavioural difficulties associated with Irlen Syndrome is also significantly higher that that of the general population. This is not surprising since research shows that, although the incidence of I.S. is about 12% in the general population, the incidence of I.S. for those with learning difficulties, dyslexia, Autism, ADD, and ADHD is about 47%. If I.S. is not identified and treated, educational progress is limited and areas such as behaviour and self-esteem are affected. The links between educational failure, lack of self-esteem, and behavioural problems and with crime and incarceration have been accepted for some time. Over the past fifteen years, the link between Irlen Syndrome and these factors has been established. If Irlen Syndrome were to be appropriately treated, inmates could start to make progress in these areas. If Irlen Syndrome is left untreated, a barrier to learning and taking a positive and appropriate place in society remains. Irlen Syndrome Irlen Syndrome has been researched both educationally and medically and is...
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...National Education Association (NEA) 4 • International Association for Special Education (IASE) 4 Professional Development • Council for Exceptional Children 5 Legal Rights and Resources for Parents • Ed.gov IDEA 5 • Wrights Law 5 • The ARC 6 • National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) 6 • American Academy of Child & Adolescence Psychiatry 6 • Parent Pals.com 7 Educational Resources • ePals 7 • Glogster 7 Individual Disability Resources • Time 4 Learning-ADD/ADHD 8 • Ed.gov- Teaching Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders. 8 • Internet 4 Classrooms-Dyslexia 8 • Autism Speaks 9 • MitoAction 9 Special Education Associations National Association of Special Education Teachers (2007). Retrieved January 29, 2012, from http://www.naset.org/ The NASET is a national organization that was founded for future, current and former special education teachers when they had absolutely no organization to call their own. NASET gives support to special education teachers, as well as a place to come to stay up to date on current trends and findings in the special education field. National Education Association (NEA) (2012). IDEA/Special Education. Retrieved January 29, 2012, from http://www.nea.org/specialed The NEA strives to be...
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...According to research cited in Education (Education), text message shorthand is vital in assisting youngsters to improve their phonic awareness and linguistic creativity. Powell and Dixon also discuss the importance of short messaging systems (SMS) and exposure to textism (the use of texting slangs) in enhancing learners’ spelling skills (Powell and Dixon). Wood conducted a research on the implications of text messaging on the literacy of 9 to 10-year-old-children’s literacy skills. Wood notes that the exposure to text messaging and their counterparts who do not have access to SMS might be contributing, positively, to the literacy skills development among 9 to 10-year-old-children (Wood). Furthermore, past studies analyzed by Verheijen report a positive correlation between the use of SMS and literacy levels among users (Verheijen). Belying the findings of these studies, however, is the viewpoint among older generation researchers and academicians that text messaging has negative correlations to improving learning skills among users. They argue that text messaging has contributed detrimental implications on learners as opposed to its emphasized importance by recent researchers. They present counterarguments justifying their disapproval of the importance of text messaging on learning. They cite the negative implications of technology on learners as justification to their opposing viewpoints to the debate while attributing the effect of text messaging. Although older generation...
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...1. GOVERNMENT Children with learning disabilities (LD), like dyslexia, have trouble understanding words they read. Causes are unclear, but we now know that LD is not due to a lack of intelligence or a desire to learn. While dyslexia is a life-long condition, early identification, support from a parent or teacher, and access to digital or audio books and other learning materials may help your child to improve their learning outcomes and be better prepared to successfully work around their LD. Research now demonstrates that when children with LD are given accessible instructional materials (often referred to as AIM) — textbooks or learning materials that are delivered in audio and/or digital formats — they can excel in school and also learn to enjoy reading. Reading with digital (or e-books) and audio books can enrich a user’s learning experience by engaging them in the content in multisensory ways (e.g., reading and listening at the same time, reading along while the e-book highlights each word). Sadly and too often, thousands of children who struggle with reading because of a print disability such as dyslexia do not receive access to resources that may help them enjoy reading. Author and fan websites. Young readers like know more “about the author” and the Internet is rich with resources produced both by the authors themselves, their publishers, and their fans. Want to know what’s next in a favorite series? Check the author’s page or blog. Want to read more about a favorite...
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...Video Game Influence A recent study, conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Charité University Medicine St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus, shows that video games don’t lead to long-term behavioral problems. Not only do video games not lead to these problems, but they actually improve things such as reflexes, creativity, and even give a healthier brain. A molecular psychiatrist found that “video gaming causes increases in the brain regions responsible for spatial orientation, memory formation, and strategic planning, as well as fine motor skills.” Video games are often assumed to take a toll on the person that plays them physically, emotionally, and/or psychologically. These assumptions often come from concerns that a person has, rather than the evidence that can prove otherwise. This has been a problem since video games first came around. The good side to video games, such as hand eye coordination being trained, will be talked about. The bad side, such as the violence in video games, or the addiction they cause, will also be addressed. These problems are often serious problems and can be difficult to deal with. It is worth noting that some video games can actually be good for a person to be playing—in moderation of course. The Positive Effects of Video Games One thing that video games can help train is a person’s spatial navigation. Spatial navigation is the ability to be able to know what is around you, even though you might not be looking that direction. Though...
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