Dyslexia Week
Dyslexia Action Week - new advice for parents, plus inspiring New Zealanders share their amazing stories!
For Dyslexia Friendly web version go to http://www.dyslexiafoundation.org.nz/news7.html
After just two days, Dyslexia Action Week is already shaping up to be an incredible success, with our powerful new dyslexia song and our nationwide workshops driving huge awareness and media activity, including TV One, Breakfast and TV3 coverage, as well as numerous radio and print interviews! You can see some of this at http://www.dyslexiafoundation.org.nz/media.html
The dyslexia song, specially written by top Kiwi musician Don McGlashan, has paved the way for this tremendous media engagement. As have the workshops being run by international dyslexia expert Neil Mackay. His controversial, but powerful, messaging on how the school system can create criminals by not addressing dyslexia appropriately, is proving to be a potent platform for getting this issue out in the open.
Even better, Mr Mackay has the solutions - with some very positive and 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 was also interviewed for a pioneering article in this month's North & South, released on Monday. This eight-page story is a 'must-read' for all parents and teachers and may well be the most comprehensive and perceptive analysis of dyslexia ever undertaken by media in this country. The journalist, Caroline Courtney, has done a fine job of both identifying the issues and outlining solutions, noting that dyslexia brings valuable strengths in terms of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. Look out also for comments from our Chair of Trustees Guy Pope-Mayell.
New from us for parents this week is a special Parents Advice resource, at http://www.dyslexiafoundation.org.nz/advice_for_parents.html, which is filled with great information and advice for parents whose children don't seem to be making the expected progress at school. Put together with the help of Mr Mackay, these pages include guidance on asking the right questions at your child's 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! Check it out at http://www.dyslexiafoundation.org.nz/inspiring_newzealanders.html Finally, remember that downloads of our dyslexia song are available for free at
http://www.dyslexiafoundation.org.nz/biggerilook, where you can also see the music video and 'making of' video. And please make sure you keep spreading the word with your friends and family! The videos are also available on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viyl83JLABo&feature=related. Or, if you are on Facebook or Bebo, why not become a fan at www.facebook.com/pages/NZ-musicians-join-forces-for-dyslexia-song/101485247188, or join our group at www.bebo.com/biggerilook.
Kind regards
The Team at DFNZ
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