Dyslexia and ADD Help in SW London

TV documentary about dyslexia

Sara — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:28:55 +0000

Dragonfly Film and Television Ltd. are making a television documentary about dyslexia and are looking for young people in the UK who have struggled with dyslexia to tell their stories. If dyslexia seriously affects you or someone you know, if you are currently learning to deal with it or if you have had severe problems in the past which you have managed to overcome, they would love to talk to you. Please send them a short email telling them a bit about yourself and how dyslexia has affected you as well as your contact details. If you are under 18 please speak to your parents before contacting them. Contact Claire Runham, Researcher Tel: +44 (0) 207 033 2300 Email: claire.runham@dragonfly.tv (April 2012)

Mandatory phonics test

Sara — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:21:10 +0000

You will be familiar with recent discussions in the news about the Government’s plans to introduce a mandatory phonics test for all six-year-olds. These plans were the subject of a ‘phone-in on BBC Radio 4′s consumer affairs programme “You and Yours” on 10 April.

Six and a half minutes (6:21) into the programme, there is an extended contribution by a lady whose son completed a Davis programme and is now taking five AS Levels. The caller speaks very eloquently about the Davis approach to dyslexia, the gifts of dyslexic individuals, and then goes on to express her reservations about the proposed new testing regime.

The programme is well worth a listen and can be heard on the BBCiPlayer

Claymation interviews

Sara — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:15:23 +0000

Have a look at this short animated, claymation film which features interviews with some very famous (and entertaining) characters! It was produced by art students in Sydney with the support of Marianne Mullally, a Davis facilitator. I love it and the music!

Dyslexia.wmv: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSQI46ezQ8U

Government petition

Sara — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:31:02 +0000

The British Dyslexia Association has launched a petition to the government requesting that sufficient dyslexia training be provided as part of Initial Teacher Training.

It needs 100,000 signatures to trigger a debate in Parliament. If you agree with the petition would you please sign it, and even more importantly, pass on this request and link to everyone you know or meet who might be willing to do the same.

Here is a link to the petition.

‘Dyslexia Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me’

Sara — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:41:43 +0000

Donna Flagg, author of Surviving Dreaded Conversations, has written a moving account of her experiences at school and how her success (she now owns and runs two businesses) ‘is directly tied to my ostensible failures of the past, not because of the scars, but because of what I had to learn in order to survive a system that did not recognize me as a legitimate member’.

You can read the full article here.

Inventors, Writers and Art Competition

Sara — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:30:27 +0000

The British Dyslexia Association is holding an Inventors, Writers and Art Competition. The awards ceremony will be during Dyslexia Awareness Week (31^st October to 6^th November 2011).

There are three separate sections:

Art Competition The submission can be a drawing, sculpture, collage or photography. There are three age-based categories so anyone aged 3 to adult can enter.

Inventors Competition The B.D.A. invites dyslexics of all ages to submit ideas for a piece of technology based equipment, which does not currently exist, but which could provide substantial benefits to dyslexic people.

Writers Competition This competition is for a fictional short story or poem (no more than 500 words in length).

Each section has three age-based categories so anyone aged 3 to adult can enter.

All submissions need to be received by the BDA by 30th September. Click on any of the competition links (above) for further details.

SuperReading

Sara — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:30:48 +0000

I have finished the SuperReading course. It ran over 10 weeks and guaranted to double my reading efficiency, a calculated relationship between speed and calculation. However, it requires you to practice the techniques for 40 minutes each day which is a considerable commitment. The final results for the dyslexics in my group rose from being better than 27% of the non-dyslexic population to better than 91%!

The ongoing course results are being monitored by Dr Ross Cooper who had described them as ‘extraordinary’. If you would like to do a SuperReading course, it is now covered by the DSA. I am in the process of becoming a SuperReading coach so please contact me if you or your college are interested in setting up a course.

Post Graduate Diploma in Adult Dyslexia Diagnosis and Support

Sara — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:13:01 +0000

I was pleased to hear that I have been awarded my Pg Diploma in Adult Dyslexia Diagnosis and Support. I have thoroughly enjoyed studying this section and hope to be able to progress to the MA. However, with the LLU+ unit closing because of the cutbacks, I will need to wait until the next academic year to see where I can continue my studies.

World Book Night

Sara — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 17:22:00 +0000

I took part in World Book Night yesterday and gave away 48 copies of The Reluctant Fundamentalist. I was just one of 20,000 people giving away a total of 1 million books. I gave mine to taxi drivers, shop assistants and the people sitting outside at the pub and they, in turn, must pass their copy on when they have read it. Each book’s journey can be traced on www.bookcrossing.com through its unique number. It was surprisingly hard to find 48 people who wanted a free book, almost a third of the people said that they did not read books.

Let’s hope this event becomes an annual event and more people discover the joy of reading.

National Dyscalculia Day

Sara — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 11:52:25 +0000

The 3rd of March is national dyslcalculia day. It is estimated that between 3 and 6% of the population are dyscalculic. Dyscalculics don’t just have problems with maths but also struggle with areas which substantially affect the quality of their every day lives. However, most people don’t know that it exists and so very few people are getting the help they need. The Davis Math Mastery Programme addresses the main symptoms of dyscalculia and helps re-build confidence.