By Ashleigh Fielding | posted on September 8, 2017
ALBANY Dyslexia SPELD Foundation’s clinic coordinator Mark Jones wasn’t sure the centre would survive six months ago.
They are now about to enrol their 50th student and employ a fourth teacher, proving that Albany DSF is a vital resource for primary and secondary students needing extra assistance in their reading, writing and spelling.
“We are really pleased with the centre’s progress,” Mr Jones said.
The not-for-profit organisation provides individual and small-group specialised tuition for students struggling with the necessary literacy skills for their age category.
Students do not require a doctor or school referral to attend the clinic, and parents are welcome to visit the centre, to learn more information and ask questions prior to enrolling their child.
“Our on-site psychologist conducts cognitive and literacy tests to create a learner profile, which helps us identify the learning difficulty affecting the student,” Mr Jones said.
Albany DSF has built strong relations with allied health services and schools, including Flinders Park Primary, Mt Lockyer Primary, St Joseph’s College and Albany Senior High School.
“We are really grateful that we can help the kids, and it is also good to provide employment opportunities to the community through the centre,” Mr Jones said.
A typical routine for a student attending Albany DSF includes a 45-minute session after school, once a week, with one of the centre’s specialist teachers.
After each session, the DSF teacher speaks with the parents about the child’s progress and provides homework tasks to further the child’s learning.
“Parent involvement in these processes is crucial,” Mr Jones said.
“We see the best progress in students when there is parent involvement.”
Albany DSF student Matthew Thompson and his family have been working with the centre since its conception.
The St Joseph’s College year five student was diagnosed with dyslexia two years ago, after receiving his year three NAPLAN test results.
Matthew’s mother Amanda has seen first-hand the benefits of having a DSF clinic available to regional students.
“Now after two years, which is a decent intervention time, we have seen a significant improvement in Matthew’s literacy,” Ms Thompson said.
“We have been very fortunate this year to see Matthew continue to improve, which has proven to us how extremely worthwhile DSF’s services are.”
Ms Thompson said DSF’s extra curricula has helped lessen her concern for Matthew’s wellbeing for high school.
“Our main worry was how Matthew was going to cope in high school,” she said.
“We wanted to best prepare him for high school, so now he is learning the tools he needs to get through.”
Parents interested in Albany DSF’s literacy services are welcome to visit the clinic at 93 Earl Street, opposite Albany City Motors, or call them on 9842 2594.
