The Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) commemorates World Dyslexia Awareness Month 2021 (WDAM) this month with a series of activities to increase public awareness of dyslexia and other specific learning differences (SpLDs) and to raise funds for dyslexic children from lower income families.
Dyslexia organisations all over the world are also celebrating dyslexia this month! October 2021 also marks the height of the DAS30 campaign of DAS – a celebration of 30 years in advancing support for children with dyslexia.
Since its registration with the Registrar of Societies in October 1991, DAS has grown significantly in its role of offering interventional support for students with dyslexia on their learning journey.
Over the last 10 years, with the support of the Ministry of Education, DAS has helped 3,000 students on average each year through its Main Literacy Programme, compared to just 12 students when it just started in 1993.
This has been made possible by the expansion of its Learning Centres from just one in 1993 to 14 centres located across Singapore today; as well as growing the size and competence of its staff comprising Educational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists and Specialist Psychologists, with the support of its training arm, the DAS Academy.
In addition, DAS has made it increasingly possible for children with dyslexia from lower-income families to access assessment and interventional support through the DAS bursary fund. The number of DAS students receiving partial to full funding for the Main Literacy Programme has grown to 54.4% this year.
Another notable progress for DAS is the increase in the range of programmes run by its Specialised Educational Services (SES) division to aid students in various academic and non-academic subjects. To-date, SES has seven programmes including Preschool, Maths, Chinese and Speech & Drama Arts.
This, together with the launch of its English Language and Literacy division’s iStudySmart programme in 2018 and the 360o pact with Lim Hoon Foundation in 2021 targeted at students in Institutes of Higher Learning, mirrors the growing need for a wider range of programmes to serve individuals with dyslexia.
Highlights of WDAM 2021 include:
- MOVE FOR DYSLEXIA 2021 (Friday, 01 October 2021 – Tuesday, 30 November 2021)
Image source: DAS website
Move for Dyslexia encourages participants to complete at least 30 kilometres of walking, running or cycling between 01 October 2021 and 30 November 2021. Those opting to cycle will be clocking in their longest distance cycled within the activity period.
Members of the public can register for the event online, with each entry priced at $30. Winners as well as the most creative social media posts will stand to win attractive shopping vouchers.
- ONLINE INTERNATIONAL FORUM (Tuesday, 12 October 2021, 4.00-5.30pm)
The forum explored the topic of supporting third-culture children with learning differences. These children spend part of their school years in international schools in Southeast Asia as they move between countries during their formative years.
While they are able to gain broader and more varied experiences and developed multilingualism, their learning challenges could go undetected.
The forum was moderated by Ms Anaberta Oehlers-Jaen (Head of DAS International), with speakers from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia. It was free and open to all members of the public.
- DAS CHARITY GOLF 2021 (Friday, 22 October 2021, Tee-Off Schedule by Timesheet)
Image source: DAS website
The Charity Golf will take place at the Laguna National Golf Resorts Club (Masters Course). Individual golf flights are priced at $5,000 each, while corporate flights at $8,000 are available along with other sponsorship opportunities. These donations are eligible for a tax deduction of 2.5 times.
In addition, DAS is organising a Virtual Auction and Raffle Draw in conjunction with the event, which is open to all members of the public.
All proceeds from Move for Dyslexia 2021 and the Charity Golf 2021 will go directly to the DAS bursary fund to support students from lower-income families.
“As DAS celebrates its 30th anniversary milestone, we are grateful for the opportunity to have made a difference in the lives of those with dyslexia in Singapore over three decades. However, much more can be done to develop Singapore into a society that focuses on the strengths of those with dyslexia and other learning differences. We call on the public to support the EMRBACE DYSLEXIA cause by participating in our WDAM activities, donating to our bursary funds or simply pledging your support to people with dyslexia,” said Mr Lee Siang, CEO of DAS.
Based on global statistics, an estimated 10 per cent of every population has dyslexia, with one student in every classroom having dyslexia severe enough to warrant intervention.
Many of these learners also have to cope with other co-occurring challenges and SpLDs including dyspraxia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyscalculia and Asperger’s syndrome, increasing the complexity of diagnosis, intervention and teaching needs within the classroom and home.