[senco-forum] In response to Message 1, Senco-forum Digest, Vol 51, Issue 6

Barbara,

Suzanne,

Congratulations on soldiering your way through a system that is not set up
to assist you - what an impressive achievement.

If you do not mind, I would like to print out your e-mail and show it to
those parents when I am introducing the idea of mild dyslexia in the primary
years, making the connection to their child's learning behaviours and they
look at me skeptically.

There are many like-minded people who do understand dyslexia and who are
trying to make a difference so that such stress and hardship is avoided or
minimised.  But not enough it seems.  At the 2004 BDA conference I met two
people with similar stories just by chance.  The first was a lady who was
attending a different conference - she was a medical researcher looking into
ways that anti cancer drugs could be delivered direct to the cancer without
wider side effects.  Her 15 year old daughter had always been difficult she
said.  She described the learning behaviours and it screamed dyslexia - she
was unaware so I advised her to get an assessment asap.  The second was the
taxi driver taking me back to the train station.  His 15 year old son had
attended private school for years and yet his behaviour deteriorated.  As
the father said, "I knew he wasn't a bad kid so I decided to
investigate..."  A Dyslexia Institute (as it was called then) assessment
confirmed the boy fitted the criteria for dyslexia.

At the conference's plenary comments were sought from delegates.  My
contribution was that the conference had been fantastic and research was
assisting teachers in knowing what to do but if the awareness levels stayed
as low as they were then the research seemed to be a bit in vain.

I have co-authored a book Dyslexia Guidance (with Martin Turner and Joanne
Collier) published by nfer-Nelson.  It is written for the lay reader who
wishes to know more about dyslexia and how to work towards positive
outcomes.  It covers all ages.

This may seem like a plug for a book - but the hours and dedication put into
writing it bring minimal financial gain... I just hope that its aim of
raising awareness and facilitating help is successful.

Suzanne, are you available at the end of an e-mail to parents who may wish
to communicate with people who have experienced dyslexia when they are in
doubt and trying to decide if they accept what we are telling them?  Or
could such a support network, available worldwide, be set up?  Or does the
forum know of one that exists already?

Philippa

On Dec 7, 2007 3:31 AM, Suzanne Mallabone <smallabone at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> Barbara,
>
> I just wanted to add that you are completely right in
> thinking Dyslexia and other specific learning
> difficulties are still being undetected in schools,
> and even Universities.
>
> I know this from my own personal experience. I
> undertook my Law Degree and managed to obtain a 2.1,
> but had to do enormous amount of work far greater than
> my peers to achieve this. I only discovered i was
> dyslexic in my last month of my time at my second
> university undertaking the Bar Vocational Course, when
> i failed an exam as i was studying for it using my
> auditory memory, which is very poor compared to my
> Visual and Kinethetic, which fortunately are
> excellent. I did not know this at the time.
>
> I believe i may have created my own coping strategies
> without even realising.
>
> There was always a huge difference in my results from
> coursework or exams throughout my school life. This
> maybe something to look out for. When i say huge, an
> example is achieving a 1st in Coursework and 3rds in
> exams!
>
> I achieved good marks academically 2 A*s, 7 Bs and C
> at GCSE. I felt overwhelmed at GCSE level doing 10
> subjects, i guess from 'seeing the bigger picture' and
> felt i achieved far less than my potential, i even
> cried on results day! I got very distracted in my
> English Exam by an invigilator walking up and down
> behind me, and failed it as a result, but because i
> got A*s for speaking and my coursework i averaged a B
> overall. I did tell my English teacher this at the
> time, but it fell on deaf ears.
>
> I obtained 3 A grades at A-level, but it came at a
> cost. I by no means had a healthy work life balance. I
> used to come straight home from school sleep and then
> do homework until 9 - 10 at night and always worked at
> the weekends. I got ill a lot as a result of my hard
> work, and still do to this day (I am now 25). I guess
> i was just naturally driven and my parents never had
> to tell me to do my homework and never helped me.
>
> I always remember repeatedly trying to communicate
> with my teachers that something was wrong, but nobody
> would listen as i was doing well academically. I would
> tell them, .'..but you don't understand i am having to
> work so hard to achieve these results'. I was not
> heard.
>
> I never had time for many extra-curricular activities.
> I hated PE, i think i am also dyspraxic.
>
> I actually believe i have dyscalculia, not dyslexia,
> but after being given the diagnosis of Dyslexia i did
> not have an opportunity to speak to anyone about the
> report. I did not want to go back to Uni to discuss it
> with them as they had already told me that if i had
> dyslexia this would undermine my confidence! I
> retorted that it make me understand my strengths and
> weaknesses and play to my strengths.
>
> Am I right in thinking there is not a recognised
> Dycalculia test?
>
> I guess i am writing this because Teachers need to be
> aware that people like me are common, and although i
> doubt i would have needed that much extra support at
> school, i never understood why i was different, and
> really would have appreciated support with studying,
> using my strengths my visual and kinesthetic memory. I
> appreciate teaching is difficult, but please try and
> listen when students tell you they think they have a
> problem, even if their performance indicates to the
> contrary.
>
> My best friend who is a journalist, similarly has only
> recently discovered she is dyslexic too, she is also
> 25 and went to Uni.
>
> I have set up the Nottingham Dyslexia Support Group
> and i am actively involved with the Nottingham
> Dyslexia Association. They are currently supporting
> quite a few University students who only recently
> discovered they are dyslexic.
>
> This forum has been extremely helpful. My mum is quite
> badly dyslexic and it has provided me with ideas of
> ways i can teach her in the future. It is now my
> intention to re-train as a teacher and then become a
> SENCO.
>
> I hope this is useful and relevant to your
> discussions.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Suzanne Mallabone
>
> Suzanne Mallabone
>
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