For Dyslexia People out there!

I'm very sad hearing that many of whom had dyslexia had very little help in Malaysia...

And yes.. I mean this so much.. like I said previously, my cousin's son had this problem. Dyslexia is not STUPIDITY! and cannot be related with LAZINESS... its something that has got to do with the brain nerve connection about understanding, registering and recognizing alphabets which later becomes a word. These people with dyslexics, avoid writing, so as to avoid self disappointment, and low self esteem, and in the culture of people in Malaysia, I would say, teachers always quickly assume that their pupils are STUPID and LAZY!

I wouldn't say that this is totally the fault of these teachers, as they were not fully educated about DYSLEXIA. But, awareness needs to be given, to stop from pulling down student's or pupil's self esteem, in front of other students.

Malaysian people out there.. do you think this could be the answer of many drop outs of schools in Malaysia? I have been thinking about this, and it could be related. We have no such facilities to accommodate these Dyslexics in Malaysia as yet. We just started, and only a few schools are practicing it. I think, more needs to be done in the future, and this is needed very soon!

Malaysian Parents' are getting more involved now, and many had been exposed with the knowledge of Dyslexia. We have a group in Malaysia whom looks into such matter. But we need not relax no more... THESE Children or students or adults needs SPECIALIST help ASAP.. but we can't just rely on PRIVATE Consultants... VERY EXPENSIVE!

Everybody has to be educated! Everybody has to know what is dyslexia!

Out of 34 Malaysian people whom had answered my online questionnaire, only 8 knows what DYSLEXIA is? Surprising huh?! But that is the reality.. and those 8 people would be of whom: are having dyslexia or known somebody whom has dyslexia.

Recent conversation with a good friend of mine had motivated me further into understanding the problem of dyslexia. She's conducting a tuition session with this little boy, aged 7. And she's complaining that this boy has some problems with learning alphabet which she guessed might be related to dyslexia. I asked further and yes, indeed.

He seems to memorize all the alphabet, but when asked by pinpointing to one alphabet, he could not do it right. Even not writing. His parents complaint the same, and have no idea on how to offer helps to this 'troubled child'. I pity the child more, when my friend said that he cried one day. He is only 7, and he cried in front of his tuition teacher, expressing his difficulties doing his homework, study and exam. He left his exam paper blank, afraid to ask, because school teacher might embarrassed him in front of others, afraid of being called stupid, and would rather get '0'. His parents did expressed their concern, and my friend is doing her best for him.

I shared with her, techniques that could help him. Use block alphabet, use the fridge magnet alphabet. Ask the poor child to feel the alphabet. Always repeat the same work, repetition is very good for dyslexics. And many more...

I do hope that one day, someone would be able to help this child further. I really hope to be able to come back to Malaysia to educate more parents about this and increase the awareness further...

I really hope to be able to meet this boy... how I wish I could help...

But again, I do not mean to say that Malaysian are ignorant, but somebody need to help increase the awareness, and make this well informed to the Ministry of Education, so as to provide special facilities for Dyslexics Learners. Look at other countries as an example.. those that are well established with providing dyslexics good forms of help...

cheers

so what is it with the word DYSLEXIA?!?!?!?

I'm putting some efforts here reading journals and papers around the area/field that might involve research in dyslexia and some involves information from the psychology background, neurology, social science and even IT. There's a lot to understand and I don't think what I've read is enough.. owh.. it's never enough pamz.. you have to always keep on reading and reading and reading.. until everything is registered in your brain... atleast, that is my target...

my first year viva (that's what i call it) is coming very soon now.. and i am so very scared... of course the panic is everywhere... this is my first time and everybody's first time.. i can't imagine how its going to be like.. had talked to several people whom have had experience before, and mostly said, just be prepared...

SV advised, a short brief reflection of what i've done from the first day i came in.. 2 pages would be enough and another page for a Time Plan for all the things I planned to do for the next 2 and a half years more to go...

So, what about DYSLEXIA that I have understood so far?

I've just got a brief description from a colleague of mine, whom have had experience joining the BDA and some communities, plus husband and son is also having it. DYSLEXIA is an umbrella for Dysgraphia (handwriting problems), Dyscalculia (Numbers and calculations) and Dyspraxia (movements/balancing/motor skills). But recent reading, had mentioned that Dysgraphia and Dyslexia has no relation at all. I'm a bit confused here.

Logically, I would say, it does connects in some way or rather... because, Dyslexia is difficulties that involves reading, writing and spelling. And the inter-relation between reading, writing and spelling is that, one will have to learn the alphabet first (alphabet recognition), then the process of writing (which if a problem, could be dysgraphia) and then, one will learn the spelling processes before being able to read. AM I RIGHT? At least.. this is what I could come up with after a lot of reading...

And, if handwriting involves motor skills of moving your hands which also involves muscle movements, balancing the pen when writing, unable to perform this would lead to Dyspraxia, I suppose?!?!?! (anyone would like to argue with this?)

And in this case, I could not relate much to Dyscalculia, as this involves the calculation processes, that one needs to perform.

And so, at this moment, I am trying to find researches that involves issues regarding:

• handwriting processes
• alphabet recognition
• spelling problems that dyslexics' have
• how the alphabet recognition and writing connects to the brain?!?
  
• how the brain(dyslexics') works?
• how the brain(dyslexics') processes?

Basically, what I need to understand at this stage is how all these are connected.

I am sooo into it, I love this area so much, it has been my passion ever since I applied for a place to further my study, plus this was motivated more by my cousin whom complaints that her son has some learning disability, but lack of helps in Malaysia.

I will proceed with this. Hoping to be able to offer helps in Malaysia, once I'm back!