Wednesday
Jul212010
Dyslexia as an election issue
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 4:06PM
As a member of the Federal Government's working body on dyslexia and an ambassador for the 2010 International Day of People with Disability (who happens to be dyslexic and the mother of two dyslexic sons) I'm thrilled Abbott has laid off the asylum seekers long enough for dyslexia, a condition that affects 10% of Australians to become an election issue.
My take? About bloody time. But pathetic and tokenistic.Over 2 million Australians suffer dyslexia and the issue effects many, many, more in both devastatingly negative and incredibly positive ways.
I spend $60 a week per child on tutoring in addition to thousands of dollars a year in additional educational supplies and expenses. This rebate will be a drop in the ocean for the minority of children fortunate enough to be have been accurately assessed and identified. A few pennies for the lucky few who have parents wealthy enough to pay for tutors and informed enough to understand the importance of assessment and support. Funding needs to got straight into schools, teacher education, classroom support and extra resources. Not into rebates.
Bill Shorten and the Labor Government began tackling dyslexia over a year ago with a long term broad reaching view. Not throwing paltry rebates at it to give the illusion of tackling this debilitating condition, that when addressed and supported results in a disproportionate amount of Nobel Prize winners, billionaires and community leaders.
And no, not enough is being done by either party, or fast enough. Dyslexics have been discriminated against and been overlooked for too long. Enough.
But on personal I wouldn't vote for Tony Abbott if he offered me a full-time house keeper, a fridge full of cash and a promise we would never see Hey Hey It's Saturday on our screens again. Because he's a racist, sexist, homophobe who believes in an imaginary friend in the sky who does magic tricks.
Reader Comments (7)
so what has that marvelous Bill and his team down????????
Funding needs to <I>go</> straight into schools.
My son is dyslexic and I am astounded that there is no support in the primary school system for him. I am a single mother who pays $95 per week on tutoring and like you much more in learning aids. I would like to offer my support to this issue and campaign and if you require any assistance I would be delighted to help. I am fortunate that I can afford the $1200 (non refundable) assessment at the RCH Centre for Learning Differences / the tutoring ./ have a job where I am home with Louis early enough to help him with work / but what happens the children and famillies not in this position? They fall through the cracks and get labelled!! THANK YOU!! for what you are doing
Lysdexics of the world untie!!
Bill Shorten handballed the working party document to Julia in Education. Today they announced major changes in disability and the importance of early intervention but IGNORED DYSLEXIA. I have confirmed with the labour party policy dept that this is their position.
Marie
Now, Liberal have announced major school funding for children for severe disability.
While repeatedly mentioning how much he cares about dyslexia, Christopher Pyne inplied only that once the Labor debt and deficit they HOPE to extend the funding.
AGAIN NO COMMITMENT.
How do we make them act. They are at least listening now.
Resources within or availble via schools would be great. Last year my son's teacher thought he may be dyslexic. And that was it. No information on what to do next, where to go. I must admit I've been a bit slack and he seems to have turned a bit of a corner by developing an absolute love of reading.