Summer School tackles dyslexia - (Full text for Easier Reading follows)
LEADING dyslexia consultant Christina Alexander has spent this week working with a group of 41 local dyslexia sufferers in a special Summer School at the Kooralbyn International School.
The four-day course, which started on Monday, will be completed at lunchtime today with a presentation of certificates to participants, who range in age from six to 48.
"I have been wanting to run a Summer School like this for some time," Christina said.
"Bringing sufferers of dyslexia together in a large group allows them the chance to learn, network and appreciate that they are not only normal, but also very able to make their mark in the world with confidence.
"For far too long they have felt threatened, embarrassed and frightened about being called dummies or just plain stupid.
"In fact, they are frequently of higher IQ than average and have to use clever subterfuge to fudge their way through life.
"One of my students had a severe problem when he came to me and now he teaches physics at a large high school.
"Others are on the verge of suicide - this is just not good enough," she said.
Christina has worked with many hundreds of sufferers and realises the importance of assessing the problem early in life and offering help immediately.
"Assessed early and using the multi-sensory teaching method I have successfully developed over the past 15 years, there is no reason why these children cannot lead perfectly satisfactory lives," Christina said.
"My experience shows that quick and easy remedies don't work and I disagree that the strong medication some of these children are being placed on is necessary.
"My teaching method, with love and perseverance, will win out in the end and I believe that there is no necessity to produce drug-dependent failures," she said.