Mar 21 - Ballito Umhl

Promotion
Wendy Stone: Supporting Dyslexic
Superheroes In Our Community
“Dyslexia is not a pigeonhole to say you can’t do anything. It is an opportunity and a possibility to learn
differently. You have magical brains - they just process differently.” Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice
mathematical-based learning difficulty). Wendy describes it as a
privilege to meet children with incredible Dyslexic super strengths
and she is often left in awe of the resilience and diligence they
have had to develop in order to cope with the associated academic
challenges.
What is Dyslexia? Dyslexia is a condition where the brain
is ‘wired’ slightly differently to the non-dyslexic, meaning they
have a different way of processing information. The wiring of the
Dyslexic brain results in a pattern of strengths like critical thinking,
creativity and communication skills. It also results in challenges
affecting traditional learning such as reading, writing, spelling, rote
learning, memory and concentration. Dyslexia is often thought to
be ‘reversing letters’ when reading and writing but this is only one
type of Dyslexia.
How do I know if my child or a child I work with
should be tested? Dyslexia is often first noticed by parents
and teachers who recognize the child’s natural intelligence, but are
puzzled as to why there is a difficulty with reading, writing or spelling.
If any of the following statements appear true, further testing
for Dyslexia should be considered for Grade 3 to 12 learners:
- Your child appears intelligent but is unable to read, write or spell
at grade level.
- Your child does not test well in writing but does very well orally.
- Your child has low self-esteem towards academic tasks.
- Your child is easily frustrated and emotional about reading at
school or tests.
Wendy Stone, registered Dyslexia and Dyscalculia
Diagnostician
Supporting Dyslexic superheroes in our
community
As a qualified educator and psychologist, Wendy trained
at the Stark Griffin Academy and became a registered
Dyslexia Diagnostician in 2017. The Stark Griffin Dyslexia
Academy is the first company in South Africa to develop
a standardized Dyslexia assessment (also approved by
the Health Professionals Council of South Africa) to meet
the specific needs of Dyslexic children and adults in our
country. Wendy is also qualified to administer the Stark
Griffin Dyscalculia Diagnostic Test (Dyscalculia describes a
Parents, teachers, psychologists, therapists and other medical
professionals are encouraged to refer learners from Grade 3 to
12 if the child presents with reading and spelling difficulties
which do not appear consistent with the underlying intellectual
ability. Depending on the severity level of the diagnosis, Dyslexic
learners can access support for tests and exams, including a reader,
a spelling concession, additional time and a scribe (subject to
review by relevant exam and school board). Psychologists who
assess learners for the purpose of application for high school
accommodations/concessions will still be required to complete
the required battery of testing as stipulated by the DoE or IEB but
are encouraged to refer the learner for a Diagnostic Dyslexia Test
so that they can include an official diagnosis in their report, with
the Stark Griffin Dyslexia Academy’s official recommendation for
specific concessions.
Testing days offered each month in Hillcrest, Umhlanga and
Ballito. Wendy Stone: info@wendystone.co.za, 071 608 1191
(email communication preferred)
16 Get It • Ballito Umhlanga March 2021