Dyslexia Awareness Day

Compliments to the Moose Jaw Library and in particular Tina Dolcetti, the Children’s Librarian for promoting Dyslexia Awareness Day, October 20, 2021.
Please, stop in and congratulate Tina next Wednesday

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is the most common undiagnosed English Language learning disability. It is more common than ADD or ADHD and all the other ‘Attention Deficits’ combined.

Number 24 is my Grandson Sandy Boyle playing football for the Notre Dame Hounds at old Taylor Field. Sandy had Dyslexia. In school in Alberta he was diagnosed as ADHD.

Why was Sandy Boyle diagnosed ADHD? Why are so many other Dyslexic students diagnosed ADHD? It is all about ‘Coding’.

I was a School Principal in Alberta for 20 years. I was responsible for staffing and getting Grants. To get Grant Money for students with learning disabilities the Principal had to confirm a “Code” for each student. 

There is a Code for ADHD. There was no Code for Dyslexia.

Even though Dyslexia is the most common learning disability there was no Code. Students had to be ‘Coded’ to get a Grant. As School Principal I needed Grant Money for programs.

That’s why Dyslexic students are Coded ADHD or some other ‘Deficit’ Code. 

Imagine that – money dives education programs. What else is new?   

Why do Dyslexic Students ‘Act-out’?

They can’t read? Everyone else can. They are in a hostile climate. They act out. They become the Class Clown. Just ask Jay Leno – a Dyslexic and former class clown.

Alberta students aren’t identified as Dyslexic because there in no funding Code for Dyslexia. Saskatchewan is probably the same.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.