| Chickadee |
| (member) |
| 10/05/2008 15:11 |
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Worthwhile story, but...
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Having grumbled about the articles in June's Woman and Home, I was intersted to read the article about Kenny Logan who, because he is dyslexic, only learned to read and write as an adult. Most of the adults I work with, as an adult literacy teacher, have some degree of "dyslexic tendency" and his article captures very well the frustration and embarrassment suffered by adults with poor reading skills - it's brilliant that Kenny has spoken about it publicly because it may help others see that they are not alone.
However, Kenny apparently had what the article calls "a breakthrough treatment". This is very misleading - dyslexia is not an illness that can be "treated" - it is much more complex than that. The Dore programme which he used is controversial. It claims to be a "drug free" treatment - this is nonsense in so far as it implies that there is a medical treatment for dyslexia - there is not!!! Many people would not be able to afford the programme (it costs about £1700) or to find a Dore practitioner near them.
But everyone should have access to Adult and Community Education classes where there are very highly trained and professional adult literacy teachers(though not, I suspect, paid the kind of money that Dore charge)who have a wealth of experience. These classes are usually free or very reasonably priced. The students who go to them are treated with respect and understanding for their difficulties - it's not like school where they may have been made to feel stupid.
I have taught several adults to read from scratch and have helped many others to improve their reading and writing skills - no-one is asked to pay for the classes and we would never turn anyone away who genuinely wanted to learn.
It would have been nice if W&H had included a little information on the work that is being done in the real world - and perhpas (dare I say it) if there had been a little more investigative journalism, rather than an advert for a method that has no proven scientific basis.
| Waveney |
| (member) |
| 10/05/2008 21:44 |
Re: Worthwhile story, but...
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Well said Valaber. I have a dyslexic child and I know what you do is very worthwhile.
(I also wanted to reply as no one else had)
| Chickadee |
| (member) |
| 10/05/2008 22:23 |
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Re: Worthwhile story, but...
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Thank you Waveney - i's nice to have a reply! It made me cross that W&H were in effect giving free advertising to this organisation -lazy journalism!
| Loo |
| (member) |
| 11/05/2008 00:41 |
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Re: Worthwhile story, but...
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Well the W & H artical has already caused some discussion, and opened up a topic the is often kept secret.
Loo
| GailT |
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| 11/05/2008 08:48 |
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Re: Worthwhile story, but...
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I did find Kenny's story interesting and admire him for having it published. I also admire you for your work Valaber and thank you for putting the 'other' side of the story. I just assumed the 'dore' treatment would be available for the majority, didn't realise it was so expensive.
| Jae |
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| 11/05/2008 12:04 |
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Re: Worthwhile story, but...
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Hi Val,
I haven't got June's issue yet but Kenny's story was in the Sunday Post last week. The journalist was a Mike Duffy so it will be interesting to see if it's the same article. I was so impressed that I was considering looking into training to work for the organisation so it is good to hear the views of those who have first hand expereince.
I have also volunteered to teach adult literacy and numeracy. The satisfaction you feel when someone 'gets' it is second to none and I was hoping that this would be another way of helping. Now I'm not so sure.
Incidentally if anyone thinks that they would like to volunteer to help adults learn basic skills then I would say don't hesitate. Approach your local authority and find out how to go about it. The incidence of illiteracy in adults in the UK is unnacceptable and the rewards you get, although not financial, are immeasurable.
| Gemini |
| (member) |
| 11/05/2008 18:38 |
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Re: Worthwhile story, but...
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Hi everybody,
My eldest daughter is dyslexic, I have had to "fight" many times to get this accepted. She has extra time in exams and has a 'putor at college. My other two both suffer but to much less a degree.
Valaber you are an angel with great patience!!!
| Janswansea |
| (member) |
| 11/05/2008 21:00 |
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Re: Worthwhile story, but...
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I've read a few articles on the Dore method and like you, valaber am very sceptical of these so called miracle cures, I'm a trained dyslexia specialist and in my area schools use multi sensory methods of teaching dyslexics with good results. Early identification, awareness of the problem and specialist training of teachers and LSAs are the key to success.
| Chickadee |
| (member) |
| 11/05/2008 21:14 |
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Re: Worthwhile story, but...
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The people who really deserve admiration are the students - I have a couple of retired miners who are learning to read in my class; I think they are brilliant to make the effort now, and I love working with them. Adult learners are great - don't think I'd fare so well in a school environment - it's Janswansea who needs the patience of a saint!
Pippa_Jackson
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| (member) |
| 12/05/2008 11:26 |
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Re: Worthwhile story, but...
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Hi there,
Thanks for your comments. Our Editor at Large, Tessa Hilton has read them and here is her response:
We're very interested to read your comments about Kenny Logan’s story regarding his dyslexia, both from the point of view of trying to help dyslexic children and also those of you who wrote with knowledge of adult literacy schemes.
In this instance the piece was Kenny Logan’s personal experience rather than an article about dyslexia, which is certainly a very complex subject and one we will return to in the future.
| Chickadee |
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| 12/05/2008 21:31 |
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Re: Worthwhile story, but...
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Hi Pippa,
Thank you for passing this on to Tessa and for taking the time to respond. Although the article was a personal story , it ended with contact details for the Dore Programme only, and no reference to other sources of help or advice. That's why I felt it was implicitly advertising this particular route, which seemed to me to be unhelpful.
I would be very interested to read a future article on dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties.