| Organization launches workshops to raise awareness on dyslexia |
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Dyslexia Organization of Kenya will be holding workshops in ten private schools in Kerugoya during the August holiday, to sensitize teachers on dyslexia, a condition that is a major cause of reading, writing and spelling difficulties in kids, yet little known by teachers and parents.  Phyllis Munyi, the proponent of the organization, says they are targeting teachers first because it is them who can identify the problems in class, and from there communicate with the parents who can then follow up and learn more about the condition. Dyslexia affects 10-15 percent of school going kids, yet only 5 out of 100 cases get recognized and get attention. Dyslexia is an ‘unexpected’ difficulty with text –‘unexpected’ because people notice that an otherwise normal and bright child experiences great difficulty with spelling, writing, reading or math and concentration problem. Dyslexic kids are often labeled ‘lazy’ or ‘not trying hard enough,’ as they usually have a high IQ, but may not test well academically, often doing well in oral tests but not written. Phyllis says they want to change the perception people have about dyslexic kids, and be able to help the kids build self confidence and self esteem which is mostly eroded. Phyllis started the organization because as a parent of a dyslexic kid, she 'really suffered' before she came to realize that her son had dyslexia. ‘I always used to wonder why my son exchanged b’s for d’s and had problems with reading, and when I discovered it was dyslexia, it was a load off my shoulder,’ she said. Phyllis read about dyslexia in a newspaper ‘by chance’ and was very excited to discover the root of her son’s problem. ‘Just knowing the problem alone was enough,’ she said. She later got overwhelming information on dyslexia through the internet, did an online foundation course  by Dyslexia World and fundamental on the Davis correction method and also learnt about the Audiblox program from South Africa. Phyllis says she has seen progress in her son’s performance as his marks have been going up and he has also regained his self esteem and confidence. Having been enlightened, Phyllis and her sister, who also has a dyslexic child, realized they could come up with an option to help raise awareness; and together with another friend founded Dyslexia Organization of Kenya. Many people do not know about dyslexia, says Phyllis, with some blaming teachers and the education system if kids can’t read, while others label the kids as lazy or not working hard. The organization holds conferences and workshops in schools, where they sensitize the teachers on the condition, explaining to them the various characteristics of dyslexia and how to help the kids without pulling them out of the normal school system. The organization plans to be visiting three schools every month, starting out with private schools; and also plans to open an office soon where parents can take their kids for assessment; with a tuition centre to complement what the kids learn in school. Currently, the organization does the assessment at a client’s home or choice of venue at Sh200 only. The organization also links with Manisha Shah, a Davis correction facilitator who has been helping both adults and kids for the last five years. Being the only organization dealing with dyslexia, Dyslexia Organization of Kenya also hopes to work with the Ministry of Education to have dyslexia recognized as a learning difficulty, and find a way that the Ministry can make the material in exams dyslexia-friendly, so that dyslexic kids do not have to be pulled out of the normal school system. The organization also got accredited by the international dyslexia organization to teach a course for teachers, launched February this year in France; and hopes to start training the teachers after they sensitize them on the condition. The organization also plans to, in the future and upon finding funds, carry out research to determine how many people have been lost as a result of dyslexia not been recognized ,and also do sampling to determine how many kids are dyslexic in the villages, in urban areas and in high cost schools. With awareness, Phyllis hopes that people will recognize dyslexia as a learning difficulty and stop stigmatizing kids with the condition. For more information on the organization, or to book for assessment of your child, contact Phyllis on
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;or 0722 380952. Written by Rose Muragu for African Laughter
Comments (5)
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organisation.I've great affection of children with deslexia .I have organised
home based remediation for the leaners and always amazed to see the unleached
potential in them.I WOULD BE HAPPPY TO WORK WITH YOU.