Call for dyslexia screening in schools

BY MICHAEL FORBES

Specialists want the Education Ministry to screen for dyslexia in schools, claiming thousands of parents might not realise their children suffer from the learning disability.

But the ministry has poured cold water on the idea, saying a targeted programme would not meet the diverse needs of struggling pupils.

The Dyslexia Foundation estimates one in 10 New Zealanders have dyslexia, including 70,000 schoolchildren.

Kip McGrath Southland director Clayton Riley said the ministry had put virtually no money towards helping sufferers since it officially recognised dyslexia in 2007.

"I understand it comes down to cost, but I really believe if we nipped this problem in the bud we would have a lot less angry and frustrated kids at high school," Mr Riley said.

Schools needed to be trained to screen children for the disability so parents didn't have to do it themselves, he said.

Dyslexia was an umbrella term that encompassed problems with the cerebellum or motor function, and those who struggled with light sensitivity, known as Irlen syndrome, Mr Riley said.

That meant some pupils needed treatment more intense than what schools were able to deliver, he said.

Psychologist Laughton King, a dyslexic, also said the ministry had done little to identify and help children with the disability.

Mr King said he had presented free dyslexia seminars to parents and teachers at 144 schools this year, including 19 in Invercargill, and had seen how widespread the problem had become.

"I've met thousands of parents who did not realise their children had dyslexia, and I would say there's thousands more who have been told but don't know what to do."

He understood 84 per cent of New Zealand prison inmates were dyslexic, which also highlighted the problem, but didn't know how those prisoners had been assessed.

Mr Laughton echoed the call to educate teachers on how to screen for dyslexia, but said people who had suffered dyslexia would need to be brought on board.

"Because the people who write policy have never been dyslexic, they struggle to gain perspective. A lot of stuff has been written on dyslexia but a lot of it isn't useful."

Education Ministry spokeswoman Mary Chamberlain said the ministry was not open to the idea of educating teachers on how to screen for dyslexia.

"International and New Zealand research and opinion are strongly divided on definitions of terms such as dyslexia," she said.

"There is little evidence to suggest any one programme is able to meet the diverse learning needs of all students who are struggling."

The Government's new standards in literacy and numeracy would also identify early those who might be experiencing difficulties, Ms Chamberlain said.

"From the beginning of 2011 some additional funding will be available to support primary and intermediate students who are not meeting the standards."

Primary and intermediate teachers doing professional development in literacy this year were trained to identify the needs of at- risk children, including those with dyslexia, she said.

"They are then able to respond to the identified need or refer students on to more specialised support."

She would not say how much the ministry had put towards helping children with the disability.

- © Fairfax NZ News