Dyslexia - a Blessing in Disguise is the theme for this year's Dyslexia Awareness Week, 16 - 22 June.

Our focus this year is on promoting greater understanding and acceptance of dyslexia as an alternative way of thinking and one that can offer wonderful creative gifts as well as bringing some learning challenges. The theme refers to the gifts of creativity as well as the difficulties and coping strategies which are the 'disguise'.

Last year, the Dyslexia is Real campaign was a great success, with the government formally recognising dyslexia and the Ministry of Education engaging in a work programme to address dyslexia in schools. More initiatives are expected this year, and both education for teachers and new programmes for students will be critical.

We now want to build on the gains that have been made, and also celebrate the creative gifts that dyslexia can bring. Dyslexia is often found in the creative professions, from artists to musicians, actors and chefs. Without dyslexia the world would be a much less colourful and creative place. Those with dyslexia must be supported in education and the workplace, and this often requires specific interventions, as well as awareness and understanding.

If you are the parent or teacher of a dyslexic child, you are with someone who possesses great creative potential. Let's unleash this! And if you are an adult with dyslexia, speak out! We want to hear your experiences, at home and in the workplace. Let's make New Zealand a place of leadership for supporting people of all ages who think this way.

We invite you to get involved in Dyslexia Awareness Week 2008 and the time to start is NOW!

Start thinking outside the square... create a plan for your ideas... get others involved... and prepare to action all of this during Dyslexia Awareness Week - 16 - 22 June.

Let us know what you are planning and we will publish it on our website - your efforts will encourage others, which will encourage others, which will encourage others - let's start a snowball of activity and achieve even greater outcomes than last year!

The Dyslexia Foundation has created the following activities for Dyslexia Awareness Week 2008:

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In the last year, significant strides were made in the awareness of and commitment to addressing dyslexia in New Zealand.

The Dyslexia Foundation's 2007 campaign - Dyslexia is Real - was very successful and resulted in the Government formally recognising dyslexia and moving to develop a work programme to address dyslexia in schools.

As part of its process, the Ministry of Education completed a review of international research and created a new working definition for dyslexia. This definition acknowledged dyslexia as a spectrum of learning difficulties, for example difficulty with reading, writing, spelling, numeracy or musical notation. Associated difficulties can manifest in the areas of auditory and/or visual perception, planning and organising, short term memory, motor skills or social interaction.

Milestones in the Ministry's work programme for schools have included publication of a booklet for parents and schools, as well as publication of a set of guidelines that show parents and teachers what literacy should look like from school entry level through to year 10.

Plans for this year include development of more effective assessment tools and professional development processes to identify students with difficulties associated with dyslexia, and a resource for teachers to meet the needs of struggling readers and writers.

The Government has already outlined its intention to fund the ongoing work programme. The next critical step in this will be confirmation of specific further initiatives and funding allocations.

For full details click here

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