write read - Freedom Scientific

Why are we calling this the Write To Read project, and what is it?
There’s no spelling mistake - we want to really highlight that a person with dyslexia sees a sea of words and
often can’t comprehend them.
The Write to Read project was created by The Westport Club with the assistance of Quantum Technology and
the support of ClubsNSW, to provide inspiration, hope and a future to children in the Port Macquarie - Hastings
region.
The Write To Read project will provide state-of-the-art technology that supports children with significant learning
difficulties such as dyslexia, at school. Learning difficulties can affect learning at all levels of education and
their impact will vary from child to child. As many as 10% of children in Australia suffer from dyslexia or a
similar learning difficulty.
The technology, called Wynn, can automatically convert any text into speech, enabling students to listen to
their books, assignments and tests; and as each word is spoken it is also highlighted on screen so students
can follow along, improving both their reading and listening skills.
Many children with learning difficulties experience severe frustration, low self esteem, uncontrollable behaviour
both at school and at home and social conflict, followed by unemployment, poverty, family breakdowns,
alcoholism, drug abuse and dependency when they are older. To reduce the impact of a learning disability it
is important to develop strategies and use appropriate technology to compensate for learning problems, and
enable children to work independently and help them achieve their education and life goals.
The Westport Club is going to fund the implementation of the adaptive technology into 11 schools in the Port
Macquarie - Hastings region. The Club has invested $50,000, with a further $5,000 support from ClubsNSW to
purchase enough software and provide appropriate training to teachers in the schools.
Project implementation into schools
With the assistance of the NSW Department of Education and Training, The Westport Club and Quantum
Technology were able to identify schools in the Port Macquarie - Hastings region which would benefit the most
from the availability of this adaptive technology.
Schools to benefit from the Write to Read project in the Port Macquarie - Hastings region are:
Primary Schools
• Port Macquarie Public School - Grant Street, Port Macquarie
• Tacking Point Public School - Bangalay Drive, Port Macquarie
• Hastings Public School - Waniora Parkway, Port Macquarie
• Westport Public School - Widderson Street, Port Macquarie
•
Wauchope Public School - Waugh Street, Wauchope
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