Northamptonshire Dyslexia Association

Transcription

1 Northamptonshire Dyslexia Association Pam Tomalin (Volunteer Trustee Chair) Our Vision : A dyslexia friendly society enabling all dyslexics to reach their potential Our Aim : To support the needs of all dyslexics in Northamptonshire

2 Who are we? A very small charity covering the whole county Run totally by volunteers (6) A membership organisation Affiliated to the British Dyslexia Association Provide support What do we do?

3 Dyslexia in Northamptonshire Over 68,000 Of which Over 18,000 Are 0 19 year olds

4 Some of our services may include: FREE Confidential Helpline (run by a small team of volunteers from their homes) FREE Befriender and Advocacy Service FREE information advice and guidance Directory of local specialist Dyslexia tutors and assessors Support for Parent groups Referral to Screening and Assessments services for children and adults, and Workplace Needs Assessments For Reasonable Adjustments Dyslexia awareness training workshops for Parents, Teachers and Employers

5 Our Wish list To raise the awareness of dyslexia and our charity Partnership working with Local Authorities, Schools, Health and other agencies More volunteers and members Provision of a drop-in and testing Centre Research and development and provision of extended services Out of school clubs for dyslexic children with specialist teachers Provision of at least one large scale conference or road show P.A. Employment of at least one part time administrator To be able to claim out of pocket expenses for the volunteers

6 Dyslexia What is it? The Myths The Benefits

7 The overlapping nature of Specific Learning Difficulties or Differences (SpLD) Dysgraphia Asperger Syndrome. Specific Language Impairment (SLI) Visual Stress Dyslexia Dyspraxia or DCD Developmental Co-ordination Disorder Dyscalculia. A.D.D/A.D.H.D Auditory Processing Disorder

8 How Dyslexia is viewed (Observer impressions) He/she s not Concentrating, impossible on purpose He s not listening or paying attention He s Lazy He s slow He s Careless, He doesn t Look Carefully, He s not Checking his Work He did it yesterday so why can t he do it today?

9 What does a dyslexic experience? Dyslexics think in pictures instead of words Dyslexics are holistic Perceiving and pronouncing words is difficult Dyslexics are not aware of the importance of words

10 Dyslexia What is it? A different way of thinking. A Learning Difference A complex mixture of Strengths and Difficulties However lots of people don t REALLY understand what it is.

11 Short Term Working Memory Copying from the board Having correct books equipment Remembering facts or formulae Remembering instructions or messages Making notes or taking dictation Learning times tables Messy work environment

12 Directions Difficulty with up/down, under/over, left/right Difficulty with finding their way around a building

13 Concentration Short attention span Tiredness / restlessness Poor auditory discrimination

14 Sequencing Remembering what event follows another Muddled order in words, sentences, stories Following instructions Telling stories/jokes Confusion with days of the week/months of the year

15 Emotional and behaviour difficulties Low self esteem Lack of confidence, self - doubt Frustration Confusion and bewilderment Embarrassment, shame and guilt Nervous anxiety Anxiety, stress, fear and panic Shy/introverted Aggressive Defensive and evasive Lack of assertiveness

16 BUT ON THE PLUS SIDE - IT S NOT ALL BAD NEWS! Dyslexics have many talents and gifts that others do not have: Conscientiousness and determination Holistic ways of dealing with tasks lateral thinking good powers of visualisation good problem solving skills good spatial and practical skills

17 The role of visual factors in dyslexia

18 This is not Dyslexia!

19 Visual Stress or - Meares-Irlen Syndrome or Scotopic Sensitivity Visual problems may contribute to reading difficulties Visual problems are not visual dyslexia Optometrists do not treat dyslexia. Optometrists do not diagnose dyslexia They treat reading-disabled children who manifest some type of visual dysfunction (Solan 1993) Colour overlays and precision tinted lenses The Intuitive Colorimeter

20 How to identify dyslexia Check lists (Indicators - signs to look out for) Dyslexia Screening Tests Computerised Tests: Lucid Rapid and BDA Paper-based Tests: Hodder Tests (Snap) Pearsons (Dest, DST, Dast) Diagnostic Assessments Educational/Clinical Psychologist or Specialist Teacher/Assessor with an Assessment Practising Certificate.

21 In an ideal world... Find strategies to cope with the difficulties Help with emotional issues. Multi sensory learning One to One teaching Modify the teaching methods Check for understanding Plenty of revision and reinforcement Extra time

22 Other Resources: Crossbow Education Hands on resources NDA website Using I.C.T. to support Dyslexic pupils Text reading software. Predictive text software. Voice recognition software. Word Shark Number shark Touch Typing course

23 What the Northamptonshire Dyslexia Association can do for you...? Support and work in partnership with: Schools/teaching Staff/Governors and parents, to enable all dyslexic children to meet their full potential. Continue to raise the awareness and understanding of Dyslexia and SpLDs to the wider network e.g. Everyone included in the EHCP, Local Offer and other agencies. Screenings of the Big Picture Development of Dyslexia Awareness workshops (subject to funding and personnel availability)

24 What you can do for the NDA and your students and young people: Help us create a better future for dyslexic students Become a Dyslexia Friendly School Target Government and Ministers for mandatory SpLD to be inclusive for all teacher training Become associate members of the NDA. You could be making a difference and keep up to date with the latest news about dyslexia Order Crossbow SEN resources via NDA Website

25 Session 1 New Pilot Projects for 2015 Dyslexia Parent Support Initiative (DyPSI) Awareness and understanding of dyslexia and other co-occurring Specific Learning Differences To include: Building partnerships with your child s school - Profiling your child Help with homework Building self- esteem: How to recognise dyslexia Session 2 How to support your child with reading How children learn to read. Why some children struggle. How to help with a range of strategies Session 3 How to support your child with writing The mechanics of writing, cognitive processes and motor skills Session 4 How to help with spellings Spelling rules and strategies to help learn spellings Session 5 Memory and Organisation Effects and how to help Tips and strategies for spelling and organisation skills Session 6 Review and evaluation Next steps. (Possible showing of the Big Picture ) Dyslexia Awareness Workshops for Parents Workshops will be delivered by dyslexia specialist professionals It is hoped to deliver the first two series of workshops in Daventry and Wellingborough, early in Dates and Venues to be confirmed Maximum of 20 places available per workshop All Training resources and materials provided.

26 Northamptonshire Dyslexia Association Pam Tomalin (Volunteer Trustee Chair) Our Vision : A dyslexia friendly society enabling all dyslexics to reach their potential Our Aim : To support the needs of all dyslexics in Northamptonshire info@northantsdyslexia.co.uk Helpline: (answerphone only) Direct dial: Mob: , Norton Road, Daventry, Northants NN11 4GX

27 The Dyslexia Motto