News
Winter 2008
In this issue:
African, Caribbean and Pacific countries
Dyslexia International was invited to exhibit at a meeting of the Ministers of Education, whose delegations also included teacher-training authorities, from more than 75 of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of Countries (ACP) during four days from 20 – 23 October in Brussels.
We were present thanks to the offices of Dr J.F. Kakule, Expert in charge of Education, Science and Technology, Information Society, Health and Employment in the ACP Secretariat.
Complimentary packs of the CD-ROM ‘Tintin Helps Dyslexic Learners’ were distributed, with attention being drawn to the articles in its Library written by leading experts on the nature of dyslexia and how to manage it. Appreciation and interest was shown by delegates, many of whom we look forward to welcoming to the World Dyslexia Forum, UNESCO, Paris, from 3 – 5 February 2010.
New name
At an extraordinary general meeting of voting members on 10 October 2008, a resolution was passed unanimously to change the name of our charitable association from Dyslexia International - Tools and Technologies (D.I.T.T) to Dyslexia International (D.I.). The reasons for the change had been discussed at an open meeting of members earlier in the year.
One reason for changing our name is that we have been recognized as an international NGO ‘in operational relations’ with UNESCO since October 2006. We continue to promote and create free online training tools and open educational resources, but our responsibilities on a world platform mean that we are now aiming to work with colleagues in over 190 countries. In this capacity we advocate the interests of over 300 million people with dyslexia world-wide. Clearly such a vast task can only be addressed with the collaboration of colleagues and associates at ministerial, academic and local level, in fact all those wishing to see dyslexia understood and properly addressed.
To date most associations which support people with dyslexia are outside regular state education authorities and it is they who shoulder the responsibility for workshops and training. Dyslexia International is now focusing on involving those in the planning and provision of educational resources – the ministries of education and their teacher training departments. In doing so we are putting our energies into two main initiatives: making free scientifically based educational resources and online and/or printed training universally available, and coordinating a world dyslexia forum at which best practice in teaching reading and writing will be shared. 193 countries will be invited to send key teacher training personnel who can act as multipliers in their own countries.
- Free online training Basics for teachers – Dyslexia: Recognition and What to do
The first pilot version, in French, has been authorized by the Belgian ministry of education and verified by Professor Morais of the Université Libre de Bruxelles. It has been developed in collaboration with a team of leading experts, an e-Team of consultants, in addition to the local dyslexia support networks. - The World Dyslexia Forum at which to share expertise in teacher training
Delays have been caused due to a re-building programme at UNESCO but 3 – 5 February 2010 is earmarked for an occasion that focuses on best practice in teaching reading and writing.
Dyslexia International – how it will run
Our internal management structure stands: we have no salaried staff. Our work is carried out by teams of highly skilled and professional volunteers who generously give their time and energy.
Our excellent local board of directors, honorary board members, regional ambassadors and an online consultancy team headed by our Scientific Advisory Committee play a key part.
For the purposes of the Forum, our team of language rapporteurs in good practice in teaching reading and writing in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish receive an honorarium, as will our webmaster who, from the outset, has been one of our longstanding and most highly valued volunteers. Thanks to the Roi Baudouin Foundation we shall provide an honorarium to the online training course director.
Sharing expertise
We share expertise on a global platform by involving simultaneously three sectors: ministerial, academic and local in 193 countries as follows:
i) Ministries
In 2006 a survey was sent to ministries of education asking how and if dyslexia was recognised in their country. This was revealing. Many countries had not heard of dyslexia, made no provision in their education systems and requested further information. It was clear that learning difficulties with reading, writing, spelling and organisation is still an area where people seek information to match individual cultural and linguistic requirements.
At the beginning of 2008, ministries were offered free copies of the educational tool produced by the BBC for our NGO: The Mystery of the Lost Letters - Tintin helps dyslexic learners (in English, French and German). Over one thousand copies
have been sent out.
It is proposed that a declaration of intent be circulated prior to the Forum. This will be on our site for comment by all, after discussion online with our consultancy e-Team.
ii) Academics
In summer 2006, two volunteers Alexia and Kasia contacted local universities in each of the 193 countries. They were invited to share their research and to link to the sites of our Scientific Advisory Committee.
iii) Local associations
These have been contacted with an invitation to provide testimonies that we plan on making available at the Forum in 2010.
Dyslexia at UNESCO
In countries where people are struggling with famine, war and little chance of personal advancement such as ever finding a job, education is understandably seen as a low priority. But in the majority of countries education is seen as a way out of poverty and the rights of people with dyslexia to an education have to be met if a policy of equal opportunity is to be enacted.
As an NGO in operational relations status, Dyslexia International is invited to meetings. All our associates are invited take part in UNESCO meetings - up to five delegates are allowed per NGO meeting.
Our aim in attending meetings is of course to take every opportunity of speaking out for and with people with dyslexia, to increase understanding of its educational, social and personal impact and to lobby for appropriate educational provision.
Each meeting to which UNESCO invites us is recorded. Reports of meetings, documents and contacts made are kept on file.
Meetings of the Education pour tous working party by an NGO committee involved in higher education are more intimate and interactive. These meetings are usually conducted in French, as are the specialized meetings with keynote speakers.
Dr Duncan Milne, Stewart and Judith Sanson attended less formal meetings looking at the broader issues of inclusion and access to education across the world and specific grass roots projects: a report on war-ridden Palestine describing the conditions in which children are expected to learn; a literacy project in the Congo targeting ‘pygmy’ peoples learning through a multisensory method in classrooms where materials are in short supply, and the usefulness of acquiring literacy versus working in the fields is put into question.
A study day on how to strengthen the contribution of higher education NGOs in the Education for all programme took place on 20 June 2008. An address was given by Professor Georges Haddad, President of the Sorbonne in his capacity as Director of Higher Education at UNESCO, and Mamabou Ndoye Secretary General of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa and former Minister of Literacy, Senegal.
At more formal meetings with interpretation in the six official languages of UNESCO, Dyslexia International delegates included Diane de Mas Latrie, Thando Blondell, with Karin Brunger of the European Dyslexia Association at an NGOs international day on Human Dignity – ethical, scientific and cultural in December 2006.
Some of the more formal meetings are listed below:
3 – 5 September 2007 Senegal Education for all Dakar. Regrettably our regional ambassador was unable to attend due to last minute flight re-arrangements and the dictates of his university teaching timetable.
The 27 September 2007 committee of NGOs on Natural Sciences Communications and Information, the role and place of NGOs in developing and small islands and developing states was attended by Peter Hankey, Treasurer and Executive Director, and Judith Sanson.
The 25 October 2007 International forum of civil society: Citizens, Global Governance and Manifold Partnerships to achieve UNESCO’s objectives: six delegates attended including our regional ambassador for the Middle East, Jean-Paul Chami, Silivia Nanono Sabiiti, regional ambassador for Uganda, Sobha Varghese regional ambassador for India, and Sean Chaffey, D.I. member.
5 – 7 December 2007. The forum on Sustainable Development was attended by Allison Lech Belinksi; Christopher James Ian, Peter Hankey and Jean-Paul Chami. Judith Sanson gave a short presentation on dyslexia. See Newsletter Winter 2007.
3 – 4 April 2008 Judith Sanson met Françoise de Simone of Fédération française des Troubles Spécifiques du Language et des Apprentissages and was joined by Marion Döbert of the VHS VolkshochschuleBielefeld and Spanish translator at Dyslexia International, Luisa Hay, at the Open Forum on the Alliance of Civilisations.
On 3 – 5 September, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights our representation included the President of the Greek Dyslexia Association, Aliki Tzen and Melanie Jameson who advises the UK judges in trials with people
with dyslexia.
From left to right: Melanie Jameson, Aliki Tzen, Judith Sanson
On October 2 and 3 at UNESCO Paris, Dyslexia International delegates attended a round table discussion in the presence of Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former Secretary General of the United Nations. The theme for discussion was Human Rights in an
Era of Globalization. The topics of supporting NGO and building the capacities of NGOs in developing countries were discussed.
Useful contacts are made at all the events we attend and Dyslexia International welcomes the opportunity of building networks to make change for the better a reality.
Film
'Taare Zameen Par' which means 'Stars on Earth’ is a film which has been an eye opener to a lot of school teachers in India. It is about a boy with dyslexia.
Toon Cox, Dyslexia International delegate in India this year, brought back a copy to Brussels which, once all permissions are cleared, will be shown in the theatre at 1 rue Defacqz.
Date to be announced.