March 24: AFTER reading recent letters on the limited facilities for dyslexic children, I feel compelled to comment about dyslexia and other learning disabilities in our country.

As pointed out, private-run centres have done a noble job in alleviating the situation but realistically, how many parents have the financial means to send their dyslexic child to them?

I believe what we lack is a financial body to help diagnose dyslexia and other learning disabilities. Many parents are still in the dark on where and how to send their children for screening and often the question they fear most is, how much?

What we need is a Malaysian learning disability association. We must keep in mind that a child may have one or more disabilities. This association should be set up in each state to make it easier for the public.

A fund should be set up to help in the testing and screening of these children. Another solution is that government hospitals should open a special wing for those with learning difficulties.

Government hospitals have educational psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, vision therapists and counsellors all under one hospital. If we can bring them all under one department, it would be great as hospitals can become a new “all-in-one” centre to help those with learning difficulties. Besides the medical and neurological aspects, there is also need for emotional support.

We must keep in mind that it is not only children who need testing but also adults who may have learning disabilities. This is vital so that they can produce proper documentation to prove their disabilities.

Too many adults are suffering because employers fail to understand, recognise and accept learning disabilities. For example, a dyscalculic person might be fired from his job as a cashier because he can’t count accurately. A dyslexic person might have trouble doing data entry.

Mental and emotional stress is often inflicted when the person fails to deliver. However, these people have no choice but to continue working. It is not fair for them as they have already suffered in school, and now they continue to suffer in their jobs. Often adults with learning disabilities are scared to reveal their disability, fearing that they might be sacked.

Children with learning disabilities do not “grow out of it” but as they grow, they become smart enough to adapt and create coping techniques. These children will one day be adults and join the workforce. Giving them equal chances in their job is vital for a better future.

Source: http://thestar.com.my