LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
I’m not an expert in the area of dyslexia, ADD and ADHD but on listening to the JCB Song (1) recently (and hearing that the writer was inspired by his experience of dyslexia at school) my memory was jogged about how the Governor of Mountjoy Prison, Mr. Lonergan spoke about this issue (2).
Success and dyslexia are not mutually exclusive, Richard Branson (3) is dyslexic, however he grew up in a wealthy family, was assessed and directed into suitable areas of study (arts, music, buisness, sports etc), He's revealed how, up until recently, he had been confusing gross profit with net!
So are we doing enough to diagnose, identifying and push in the best direction children with this condition? Surely any initiative would more than pay for itself in the longer term and how much untapped potential are we loosing by not diagnosing and supporting those kids whose parents cannot afford or don’t have the wherewithal to do so?
------
1
http://www.jcbsong.co.uk/jcbvideo.asp
2
http://www.irlgov.ie/debates-00/s3feb/sect2.htm
http://www.fcp.ie/html/publications/ADH ... Toc6375939..As a former teacher, I know many teachers did not understand why particular children were disruptive in class. Only as we educate ourselves do we learn about these matters. We now realise that some of the children had the very symptoms identified in the report. Such children are considered by many educational institutions to be disruptive. There is no follow-up when many of them leave school, with the result that they end up in difficulties with the law. They are often convicted of offences and detained. This is a very serious matter. A directive should be given - particularly to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform - that a person identified as suffering from attention deficit disorder who commits a first offence should not be detained. They should instead be given the necessary treatment to correct their disorder.
Various reports on this issue have been produced throughout Europe. A report compiled in southern California suggests that approximately 77% of people detained for criminal offences were identified as having some symptoms of attention deficit disorder. That figure compares closely with the statement recently by the Governor of Mountjoy Prison, Mr. Lonergan, that approximately 70% of inmates there display symptoms of attention deficit disorder. If the Government looks at the problem from that perspective, leaving aside the social issues involved, it will recognise that it is in the long-term interest of the community to ensure corrective action is taken at an early stage.
The cost to the Exchequer of not addressing this issue is enormous. It might be useful, if the Minister proceeds with the setting up of a sub-committee to examine this issue, to have each Department assess the costs involved in not addressing it. Not addressing it is, I suggest, costing the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform more money than the amount required by the Departments of Health and Children and Education and Science to correct the problem. Money provided for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform would be much more effectively used in other areas. I hope the Minister will take a serious look at that point…
3.…..Thank God a new principal took over. As she saw the problems that David had so with the help of my Doctor and herself we sent a referral letter to Castleknock Clinic and 3 months before David was due to go into a new school. In first year David got his first A’s and after a number of these and scans and blood tests he was diagnosed as having ADHD. Remember six years I’m saying – something is wrong or maybe longer.
David’s New Chance:
David after a lot of thought went on to medication – Ritalin – with constant and close monitoring with the school clinic and myself. We are fighting to get the education David needs but he has a big problem with Talking Out of Turn. He just does not understand.
He started his dyslexia tutoring in October and this is going very well. This has to be paid privately. There is a need for free education. David needs one to one teaching; this is still being processed by Department of Education. David is now in second year. How long more does he wait? My son deserves the right to an education and I will fight to the last to get him his education.
But what about the children who have not got the assessment or whose parents don’t know where to go or who to go to?
What about the kids now that are not in school that are hanging around the streets and in trouble because the schools cannot accommodate them so they are suspended or accepted after long consideration.
Who’s to answer for this problem? Who is responsible for these young people and their educational need? Well ladies and gents – guess who? The Department of Education and Government that’s who!
Remember ladies and gents David had ADHD, what more can he do or we do to explain this part of his problem?
Below are details of how David feels; he asked that I read them out to you.”
“I know that I have ADHD and I feel very angry and I feel I want to be good but I try and then I get angry. I know a few of the Teachers don’t like me; they think I am disruptive on purpose; I don’t I can’t help it. When I get up in the mornings I get very angry because I have to go to school; I don’t know why because I love metalwork. I don’t like writing or spellings because I forget things easily. One minute I’m told something but then I forget. I slag a lot and I get slagged a lot and I know I lose the head. This is how I feel inside I am not happy; I don’t like myself when I am angry but I can’t help myself.”
“Conclusion:
Lobby the Government. Give these kids the education they deserve and that they are entitled to and provide the extra support that they need.”….
http://www.edyslexia.com/fortune.pdf
…Branson’s success and his dyslexia seem like such a disconnect. He never made it through high school. He has a wickedly unreliable
memory; because his mind goes blank at the most inopportune times, he writes important things—like names—in black ink on the back of his hand. He wont use a computer. He’s terrible at math. Until recently, he confesses, he was still confusing gross profit with net. He’d been faking it, but not too well. One of his board members finally pulled him aside to give him a mnemonic, or memory aid, which often comes in handy for dyslexics. Pretend you’re fishing, the board member said. Net is all the fish in your net at the end of the year Gross is that plus everything that got away….
Reply With Quote