World of Dyslexia Newsletter (2) Feb 01

Welcome to the World of Dyslexia Newsletter! We have news about the following items:

** Switching off primary reflexes can help dyslexia

** Brain shown to grow as dyslexics learn

** Oregon court victory

** How to increase the size of the text when you look at web pages

** Next month

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Switching off primary reflexes can help dyslexia

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Special routines designed to tap into reflexes left over from birth can lead to better co-ordination for people suffering from dyslexia, improving both reading and writing abilities and greatly boosting the sufferer's confidence and self-esteem. Martin McPhillips looked at the movements made by the fetus in the womb and saw that certain "primary reflexes" (such as the palmar reflex, whereby a baby will grasp your hand if you place your finger on its palm) assist the fetus' development.

But after birth, the infant starts to adapt to its new upright position, and "secondary reflexes" take over, allowing the baby to walk around.

McPhillips found that many of the dyslexic children he worked with still possessed strong primary reflexes, limiting their ability to perform skills such as following words on a page or holding a pencil.

Based on that finding, McPhillips developed a series of movements and exercises designed to switch off the primary reflexes and promote coordination. The technique has so far been highly successful, and it is thought that it could be incorporated into school PE programs, helping not only dyslexics, but also the estimated five to ten per cent of school children who have some form of learning disability.

Full report at:

www.dyslexia-teacher.co.uk/t103.html

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Brain shown to grow as dyslexics learn

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A novel treatment for dyslexia not only helps children improve their reading skills but also shows that the brain changes as dyslexics learn, according to a study by an interdisciplinary team of University of Washington scientists. Full story at:

www.dyslexia-teacher.co.uk/t104.html

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Oregon court victory

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We receive many e-mails from parents in Oregon complaining about the lack of provision for dyslexic children in their schools. It is re-assuring to hear now of a significant decision allowing Oregon youngsters with dyslexia and other learning disabilities to use computerized spell-checks and other help on statewide tests under a settlement announced on February 1st 01.

Full story on:

www.dyslexia-parent.com/oregon.html

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Increase the size of the text when you look at web pages

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At the top of your screen there is usually a button called 'View'.

** Click on this and go to 'Text size'.

** Click on this again, and you will have a choice of sizes so that you can enlarge the size of the writing on all the pages you look at.

You can put it back to normal again at any time by going through the same process.

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Next month . . .

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Next month we are publishing some helpful articles by Sylvia Moody, author of the acclaimed 'Dyslexia in the Workplace', of which there is a full review at:

http://pages.hotbot.com/edu/dyslexia/workplace.html

Best wishes!

John Bradford.
Juliet Freud.
And everyone else at

www.dyslexia-teacher.co.uk
www.dyslexia-adults.com
www.dyslexia-parent.com
www.dyslexia-test.com
www.dyslexia-magazine.com
www.dyslexia-Journal.com