WEEK 5: ENSURING

EFFECTIVE LEARNING
FOR CHILDREN WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS
JAMES HARRIS
MICHAEL JANUSZEWSKI
CYRIL NNAMDI DURU
MICHAEL EUAN DAMPIER CAMERON
DYSLEXIA: A SHORT ACTIVITY
What does text look like for someone with dyslexia?
https://www.wired.com/2016/03/internet-looks-like-someone-dyslexia/
WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?
u Dyslexia is a specific learning disability (SLD)
o Neurobiological in nature
o Discrepancy between achievement and aptitude

u Characterised by persistent difficulty with reading and spelling

o Contemporary research suggests a decreased development of
certain neural pathways in people with dyslexia

u Estimated that 10% of Australian population suffer from dyslexia

o Co-morbidity with other SLDs, ADHD, Autism
CHARACTERISTICS OF DYSLEXIA
Primary characteristics
o Problems in recalling letter sequences, word forms
o Sound to symbol association
o Mix up of letters within words and words within sentences
while reading
o Letter/number reversals and inversions
o Problems with directionality and spatial orientation

Secondary characteristics
o Problems in reading comprehension
o Impeded growth of vocabulary and knowledge
Dyslexia may take many forms, but dyslexics
have one characteristic in common:
they can learn and they can make it in society
if properly taught.
Australian Dyslexia Association
MULTISENSORY STRUCTURED LANGUAGE
u Explicit and Direct: concepts are taught in a straight forward manner

u Language-based: teaches many facets of language, including

relationships

u Multisensory: activates all senses at the same time while learning

(seeing, hearing, touching, moving)

u Structured: carefully constructed lessons

u Sequential and Cumulative: taught using a specific order in a building

block manner

u Neurological: this method of instruction actually creates and repairs

neural pathways
TEACHING WITHOUT WORDS
RESOURCES
DYSLEXIA
u American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association
u Australian Dyslexic Association (2014). What Instruction is Appropriate? Retrieved
from http://dyslexiaassociation.org.au/what-treatment-is-appropriate
u Duchesne, S. and McMaugh, A. (2016). Educational Psychology for Teaching and
Learning (5th ed.). South Melbourne, VIC: Cengage Learning Australia
u Glaser, A. (2016). What the Internet looks like for Someone with Dyslexia.
https://www.wired.com/2016/03/internet-looks-like-someone-dyslexia/
u Institute for Multisensory Language Education (2016). What is Multisensory
Structured Language (MSL)? Retrieved from
http://www.multisensoryeducation.net.au/what-is-msl
u MIND Research Institute. (2016). Reimagining Math Education. Retrieved from:
http://www.mindresearch.org/stmath/
u Wilmshurst, L. (2009). Abnormal Child Psychology: A Developmental Perspective.
New York, N.Y: Routledge