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The Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand is a registered Charitable Trust, established in October 2006. We are committed to providing a voice for, and services to, the one in ten New Zealanders who are dyslexic – and those who are supporting them.
Dyslexia is a huge issue in New Zealand, and its biggest challenge is self-esteem. With 70,000 dyslexic schoolchildren in our education system, dyslexia is also often at the root of many education difficulties. Every day dyslexic people of all ages see themselves as failures instead of embracing their unique talents and way of looking at the world around them.
We think this is simply not good enough. And we continue to take action to inspire, and drive, real change.
The Foundation, which is New Zealand’s only national organisation focused specifically on dyslexia, does not receive any Government funding. It is supported by sponsorship from the Cookie Time Charitable Trust, private and Community Trusts and other support, including public donations.
Please click here to DONATE NOW. |
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Recognition, understanding and action are critical to our mission, and our work is focused in these areas.
If addressed appropriately, dyslexia can be a creative gift – and many talented and gifted New Zealanders are in fact dyslexic. If not addressed correctly, it can become a major factor in social dysfunction, leading to alienation, anti-social behaviour, depression and even suicide.
Too many of our children share a shockingly similar story – told they are “lazy”, “losers”, “academically challenged”, “only good for manual labour” and so on. It is estimated that 50% of youth who find themselves in court are dyslexic or have an identifiable learning difficulty, and this flows into our adult prison population as well. Addressing dyslexia through the education system can thus become a powerful catalyst for social change.
In 2007, 19 April to be precise, the Government finally recognized dyslexia as a real condition. The Foundation has been working closely with the Ministry of Education to translate this into action but, despite some earlier signs of understanding, the Government is dragging its heels on real action. And it has failed to front up with long promised dyslexia-specific funding for New Zealand schools, specifically for professional development for teachers.
Dyslexia is an alternate way of thinking, not a literacy deficit, so it cannot be dealt with by one-size-fits-all literacy interventions work. Dyslexia does impact literacy objectives, but the dyslexic mind is reflected in much wider ways within the education system both academically and behaviourally and, without this being clearly understood, we will continue to see negative outcomes rather than the potential of these students.
In the absence of government action, the Foundation has launched its own programme, called 4D|For Dyslexia, to empower schools to take their own action and make positive changes for children in their classrooms. Please click here to FIND OUT MORE |
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DFNZ was started by three individuals – Guy Pope-Mayell, Suzanne Pope-Mayell and Lorna Timms – who had personal and family experience of dyslexia, and has quickly grown into a nationally respected organisation.
Members include individuals and organisations, from parents, students and teachers through to schools, companies and community groups. We have thousands of members, and provide an opportunity to build bridges between everyone working with and supporting dyslexic children and adults. This also includes wider agencies such as the Government and Ministry of Education, and their social support agencies and information and resource providers.
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 Guy Pope-Mayell: Chair of Trustees
Director of Cookie Time and eTime Limited, Chair of Trustees of the Cookie Time Charitable Trust, and father of four. His passion for family, cookies, digital technology, and education, combined with his own family experience of dyslexia provides a solid base of experience and passion for making a difference in the education sector.
Email guy@cookietime.co.nz
 Suzanne Pope-Mayell: Trustee
Years of working alongside children and the experience of having established several Montessori schools has been combined with her natural role as a mother of four to give a substantial foundation to draw on. As Suzanne discovered her children's dyslexia and autism, she has also discovered her own dyslexic mind, a journey that has provided her with insight, empathy and a passion to help others.
Email suzanne@dfnz.org.nz
 Lorna Timms - BEd Adult Education: Trustee
Lorna brings to the Trust her experience of helping her dyslexic son navigate school and that of being dyslexic herself. She worked in adult education for 15 years before becoming a Dyslexia Tutor and Presenter. Drawing on these personal and professional experiences, Lorna also presents workshops and seminars on dyslexia and dyslexia correction. Born in the north of England, Lorna and her English husband have lived in New Zealand for more than 20 years and have two New Zealand born children.
Email lorna@dfnz.org.nz
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