New Zealand must do a better job for our dyslexic people

Nueva Zelanda/Marzo de 2017/Fuente: Stuff

RESUMEN: La dislexia es para toda la vida. Los niños disléxicos crecen hasta ser adultos disléxicos. Es una buena noticia y una mala noticia. No es como el asma infantil – no desaparece. Sabemos mucho más sobre la dislexia ahora que nunca. Hay muchos desafíos que no son los habituales, como las dificultades con la lectura, la escritura y la ortografía. Hay un lado positivo también. Las características positivas de la dislexia se manifiestan más a medida que las personas maduran en la edad adulta. Sabemos que las personas disléxicas a menudo demuestran fuertes habilidades espaciales, visuales y 3D. A menudo tienen la capacidad de ver el panorama general, y regularmente vienen con soluciones innovadoras a problemas complejos.

Firstly, let me congratulate the parents – mainly mums – who have gone into battle with the education sector to get a fair deal for your children. All power to you.

Your children have the same level of rights as every other child. In many cases the education system has short-changed you and your children.

Dyslexia is for life. Dyslexic children grow up to be dyslexic adults. It is both a good news story and a bad news story. It is not like childhood asthma – it does not go away.

We know a lot more about dyslexia now than ever before.

There are lots of challenges other than the usual ones such as difficulties with reading, writing and spelling. There is a positive side as well.

The positive features of dyslexia show up more as people mature into adulthood.

We know that dyslexic people often demonstrate strong spatial, visual and 3D skills. They often have the ability to see the big picture, and regularly come up with innovative solutions to complex problems.

They are often very empathetic, co-operative and collaborative which makes them great team members.

A great number of people with dyslexia end up as entrepreneurs. (Think Sir Richard Branson, Sir Richard Taylor.)

Many of the world’s most successful people are dyslexic. Winston Churchill, Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise are well known people with dyslexia.

None of this is to deny the great challenges that people with dyslexia face.

The greatest is the ignorance of others. Teachers, other students and employers are all part of the steely face of misinformation.

Dyslexia is not an indication of limited intellect or low ability. It is a hereditary condition that is the result of a different wiring in the brain.

Other countries do a better job than we do to ensure folk with dyslexia are supported to achieve to their potential.

Dyslexic students are supported in schools and employers are compelled by law to provide a dyslexia-friendly work environment.

To date the Government and Government agencies have been a big part of the problem.

Equal rights for people with dyslexia is the missing link in our human rights legislation, and the Government denied the existence of the condition until 2007.

The majority of New Zealand teachers have not been trained to identify dyslexia or provide support for it.

The other good news for adults with dyslexia is that there is a wide range of technological aids to balance the playing field.

Phone apps, regular phone features and other smart technology makes a real difference. Technology can assist the dyslexic to read text, write text and marshal their thoughts coherently.

Collectively, New Zealand must do a better job for our dyslexic people. They are our most creative and potentially productive people.

No country can afford to ignore or marginalise its most creative people.

Fuente: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/dyslexic-learners-being-let-down-by-nz-education-system/17613870/New-Zealand-must-do-a-better-job-for-our-dyslexic-people