'Boodles' of dyslexics to benefit - (Full text for Easier Reading follows)

Full Text (for easier reading) :

CHRISTINA Alexander believes she has developed a solution to a frustrating disability that affects more than a billion people world-wide.

About 14,000 dyslexic Queenslanders would probably agree, especially those topping their university classes.

Ms Alexander taught primary, secondary and tertiary English before working as a remedial teacher. She has developed a program using presentation and intervention theories on how to overcome dyslexia understood by most people to be an impairment in reading or writing ability, often associated with a coordination disorder.

Her package, A Boodle of Doodles, is designed for use by all types of people from three upwards. It can help stroke and head injury victims learn to talk and speak again.

The package uses a simultaneous multi-sensory approach whereby touch, hearing, speech and visual senses are used in all activities.

"Often a dyslexic has problems other than the inability to read and write - sometimes they have behavioural problems, a lack of concentration, poor speech and poor co-ordination as well as other noticeable characteristics such as untidiness and poor interpersonal relations," Ms Alexander said.

"The tragedy is most are branded as dumb when they actually have very high IQs and the dyslexia is a distressingly frustrating problem for them and their families."

At least a million Australians suffer dyslexia, some have primary dyslexia (inherited) and others have secondary dyslexia, which is caused by trauma including difficult births, convulsions and car accidents.

Ms Alexander, of Kenmore, gave up teaching more than 12 years ago to devote her life to developing the innovative package.

Her Boodle of Doodles is now ready for mass production.

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