Australia's appalling 'little secret' about Dyslexia exposed

Recently, DAGBAGS (Dyslexia Action Group Barossa And Gawler Surrounds) http://www.dagbags.org.au, and now the Adelaide Chapter of DAGBAGS comprised of parents, teachers, educational leaders, SPELD http://www.speld-sa.org.au and http://auspeld.org.au/ , enlightened allied professionals and great supporters of Neil MacKay - info@actiondyslexia.co.uk - met with South Australian, Tony Piccolo MP, Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, for Social Housing, for Disabilities, for Youth and for Volunteers and presented this 'prezi' to him to reveal South Australia's and Australia's appalling little secret about Dyslexia and appeal' for his support for reform:

http://prezi.com/blizg1mk70pp/dagaas-dyslexia-6-point-plan-for-sa/?kw=view-blizg1mk70pp&rc=ref-16734939

Please view this - it is illuminating and well worth your time to view.

Some of the questions put to Minister Piccolo included;

• Do you know that while Dyslexia remains largely misunderstood by the community and teachers, up to25% of the population is affected by some form of language-based/ information processing difficulty?
• Do you know that Specific Learning Difficulties account for about 15% of the population, Dyslexia affects about 10%, and 4% of the population are severely Dyslexic?
• Do you know we are currently under diagnosing Specific Learning Disabilities by about 8% because there is no affordable, accessible and failsafe early reading screening system for all Australia kids?
• Why is it we're focussed on NAPLAN results beginning at year 3 at the expense of not screening our littlies for literacy/numeracy difficulties very early on in their schooling? Year 3 is too late.
• Do you know there is now extensive clinical evidence to show that unsupported Dyslexics carry elevated negative perceptions of their peers, of school, of themselves and about their academic futures?
• Are you aware of the growing evidence showing overlap between under-achievement in literacy (especially in reading) poor behaviour, poor health and wellbeing and propensity towards crime?
• Are you aware that apart from New South Wales, Dyslexia is not legally recognised as a legitimate learning disability in school systems?
• Do you know there is no specific support available to Dyslexic students in South Australian Government schools?
• Are you aware that some schools have adopted intervention programs within their Special Education suit that claim to help Dyslexic students, despite numerous independent studies showing many have no to poor transfer effects? Regulation is necessary and is easy to implement. All we need to do is follow the research!
• Are you aware that Dyslexic students, and their families, are usually left to find their own way?
• Do you know that good help and quality remediation has long been sourced outside of school systems by families - who can and can't afford it - because it simply hasn't been present in most Australian schools?
• Do you know that 'The Minister' tells us funding is available for Dyslexic students and that how schools use it is up to them? This is lip service and a 'cop-out' and isn't good enough!
• Do you know that Australian teachers have failed to effectively respond to conclusive research on how to teach reading to students in schools?(Please see the YouTube clip, 'How Phonics got Framed' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e8SJFuGRFM)
• Are you aware that many, many Australian educators still argue, and are still confused, over whether a 'whole word approach' to reading is better than a 'phonics-based approach'?
• In fact, do you know there's been a backdrop in some systems where Dyslexia did not exist for a long, long time? Do you know that it was actually ignored, side-stepped and covered up?
• Do you know that the success of our dyslexic students in schools is a LITMUS TEST? When students consistently fail academically, behaviourally or emotionally – then we know our practice is falling short of meeting the individual learning preferences of many.
• Did you know the SACE board continues to place unfair hurdles in front of Dyslexic learners come exam time?
• Are you aware that the SACE Board denies many South Australian students fair access to the very accommodations that have supported their academic survival in normal learning situations throughout their primary and secondary schooling? This situation is immoral, unacceptable and possibly unlawful under the Disability Discrimination Act.
• Are you prepared to rectify these awful injustices?

The Adelaide Chapter of DAGBAGS - http://www.dagbags.org.au - are asking Ministers in the Government, those in Opposition and those in leadership in education to take us from the dark ages when it comes to supporting Dyslexics in schools. It's time!

DAGBAGS is asking for schools to become 'Dyslexia Aware' and are proposing a system of accreditation where all teachers in schools, and their leadership, understand how to teach to students with a Dyslexic learning preference. Actually, 'Dyslexia aware schools' are already working well in the UK, USA and Ireland. Great models already exist and they work for everyone because they promote "good teaching." When we get our 'reading' and 'general teaching practice' right for Dyslexic students - the bonus is, we'll get it right for all students!