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Since its establishment in November 2006, the Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand has run three highly successful awareness and action weeks. Each has focused on building public profile at a national level, and has represented a significant step forward in the evolution from recognition to understanding to meaningful action. This journey, starting with the most recent activities, is charted below. Action will remain at centre-stage from now on, as others continue to step up alongside DFNZ to continue this work.
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In 2009, Dyslexia Awareness Week was renamed Dyslexia Action Week, reflecting the evolution of the dyslexia agenda to focus on action, empowerment and personal responsibility. DFNZ was closely focused on action-oriented activities to champion change for dyslexic individuals, and on providing information, tools and resources to inspire others to do the same. The theme for the week – Actions Speak Louder than Words – reflected this, and was about encouraging schools, teachers, support staff, parents and dyslexic individuals to act decisively and make a difference.
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The groundswell of people mobilising to take action on dyslexia was incredible, with a huge range of local projects put into place to complement national activity. Media engagement was also extensive, with a selection of this available here.
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Action Week was launched with a powerful new song specially written by acclaimed Kiwi musician Don McGlashan. Performed by roots/rock band dDub and produced by Sean Donnelly, aka SJD, this was inspired by the challenges of difference, as well as the creative gifts that dyslexia can bring. Called ‘The Closer You Get, The Bigger I Look’, the song remains available for free public download here, with a music video and behind-the-scenes ‘making of’ video produced to support the song and promote further public understanding of dyslexia. |
DFNZ also brought international dyslexia expert Neil Mackay to New Zealand to host a sold-out nationwide series of workshops for teachers and parents. These acclaimed half-day workshops were specifically designed to give participants a head start in meeting the challenges of the changing education system, and were attended by more than 1300 New Zealand teachers.
Due to popular demand, we now have a dedicated Neil Mackay webspace under development to share more of this expertise. Mr Mackay was also a key consultant to our revolutionary 4D | For Dyslexia programme – and this is itself due for an exciting evolution later this year. More than 400 New Zealand schools have already signed up for this classroom support programme; you can find out more at www.4d.org.nz
Web-based resources were also created to support key Action Week initiatives, including a Schools Resource page, and a new space for parents, offering practical information and advice for those whose children don’t seem to be making the expected progress at school. And an ‘Inspiring New Zealanders’ webpage was developed to feature interviews with successful dyslexic New Zealanders from all walks of life.
The success of the week was underpinned by publication of a feature article in North and South magazine, titled ‘’The Dyslexia Difference”, and representing arguably the most comprehensive media analysis of issues and solutions for dyslexia ever published in New Zealand. This eight-page article was supported by comment from DFNZ Chair of Trustees Guy Pope-Mayell and from Neil Mackay.
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Other Action Week resources included a brand new DFNZ brochure – click here to download – and an Action Newsletter for schools – click here to download.
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The focus of Dyslexia Awareness Week 2008 was promoting greater understanding and acceptance of dyslexia as an alternative way of thinking. The official theme of the week – Blessing in Disguise – referred to the creative gifts that dyslexia can bring, as well as the challenges and the coping strategies that are the disguise.
Dyslexia is often found in the creative professions – from artists and musicians to actors, chefs, and even iconic leaders – and a world without dyslexia would be a much less colourful and diverse place. A number of New Zealand celebrities helped the Dyslexia Foundation deliver this message during the week, including photographer Geoff Blackwell, motivational speaker Billy Braham, “The Mad Butcher” Peter Leitch, Weta Workshop founder Richard Taylor, Hair Stylist Mike Hamel and former international model and dyslexia tutor Kirsteen Britton.
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Other features of the week included nationwide screenings of Taare Zameen Par, an acclaimed Bollywood-style movie highlighting one child’s journey with dyslexia – click here for more detail on the movie and how to purchase your own copy. Dyslexia resource kits were sent to all schools with a range of creative resources and information on dyslexia; and a national teachers’ survey on attitudes to dyslexia in the classroom was carried out – click here for a copy of the survey results webpage.
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In April 2007, after much hard work by the Dyslexia Foundation and others, the New Zealand Government finally recognise dyslexia for the first time. Government recognition was the critical first step in the journey to creating meaningful change, providing certainty and validation to dyslexic individuals and their supporters.
Immediately following Government-level recognition, DFNZ’s first Dyslexia Awareness Week focused on ensuring that dyslexia was recognised and acknowledged at a community level. National and local media were engaged and DFNZ members were encouraged to hold their own events and share their experiences with local media, further supporting community-based recognition.
The major event of the week was the opening of the Dyslexia Discovery exhibit in Christchurch; an outdoor gallery experience showcases the artistic, engineering, creative and business achievements of four gifted individuals – Weta Workshop founder Richard Taylor; maverick motorcycle engineer, the late John Britten; Davis Dyslexia founder Ronald Davis and British artist Mackenzie Thorpe. The exhibit was created to provide knowledge, inspiration and encouragement for dyslexics as well as the wider public, and the timely launch of this physical representation of dyslexia further supported the theme of the week – Dyslexia is Real. A limited edition Cookie Time cookie was also on sale during the week to raise funds for DFNZ’s ongoing activities.
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