| |
This year’s Dyslexia Action Week has been packed full of meaningful action, with our powerful new dyslexia song and our nationwide workshops driving huge awareness and media activity throughout the country. Click here for a selection of this.
The song, specially written by top Kiwi musician Don McGlashan, has been tremendously popular – receiving great radio airplay and acting as a catalyst for public engagement. Called ‘The Closer You Get, The Bigger I Look’, the song was inspired by Don McGlashan’s family experience with the challenges of difference. “As a parent of two unconventional children, I know how it feels when the world is quick to judge someone you love. Rather than write something that asked for help or patience, I thought something defiant, a ‘don’t judge me before you know me-type song would be better,’” Don says.
|
|
We also have received incredible feedback for the workshops run for teachers and parents by international dyslexia expert Neil Mackay. His controversial, but powerful, messaging on how poor experiences at school can point children towards a life of crime, have proved a potent platform for change. Even better, Mr Mackay has the solutions – with some very commonsense advice as to how the learning environment can be radically improved by treating dyslexia as a learning preference, and adjusting teaching styles to suit.
|
|
|
Mr Mackay has also worked with us to create a comprehensive new resource for parents, offering great information and advice for parents whose children don’t seem to be making the expected progress at school.
|
|
|
Also new is our Inspiring New Zealanders page which has some very personal and moving stories around dealing with dyslexia and forging ahead to success. Featuring interviews with people from all walks of life, from boxing coach Billy Graham and Weta Workshop founder Richard Taylor through to Body Art Awards creator Mem Bourke and TV presenter Sian Jaquet, this is very inspiring reading indeed!
|
The below links will take you through to a further range of informative resources
|
|
|
|
Looking ahead to the rest of 2009, we are planning an exciting evolution for our 4D | 4Dyslexia programme. This programme is designed to provide simple classroom changes which both fit with the expectations of the new national curriculum and will drive the kind of measurable progress required under the Government’s Crusade for Literacy and Numeracy.
Later this year we are looking to build in feedback from New Zealand teachers gained through Mr Mackay’s workshops, as well as develop a Virtual 4D School that will demonstrate dyslexia-aware best practice. Through this, our vision is to transform 4D into the most comprehensive programme ever undertaken to address dyslexia in New Zealand schools. |
 |
|
Our focus for 2008 was promoting greater understanding and acceptance of dyslexia as an alternative way of thinking, with Dyslexia Awareness Week running from 16-22 June. The official theme of the week – Blessing in Disguise –referred to the gifts of creativity as well as the difficulties and coping strategies which 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 us deliver this message during the week, including photographer Geoff Blackwell, motivational speaker Billy Graham, “Mad Butcher” Peter Leitch, Weta Workshop founder Richard Taylor, Christchurch stylist Mike Hamel and dyslexia tutor Kirsteen Britton.
As part of the week, a school resource kit was delivered to 2,700 New Zealand schools in the first week of term two with a range of creative resources and information on dyslexia. Another major highlight was the nationwide screening of Taare Zameen Par, a delightful movie about a young boy’s struggle with dyslexia and the teacher who turned his world around. A runaway hit in India, the colourful Bollywood-style film, screened at 11 cinemas throughout the country, with home video rights subsequently being purchased by Walt Disney, click here for more detail on the movie and how to purchase your own copy.
|
|
|
|
|
