Embrace Dyslexia through Nationwide Awarenes

OTHER, Singapore - Oct. 15, 2014 - PRLog -- ‘Embrace Dyslexia’ seminar features globally-renowned author, researcher and international presenter on dyslexia, Mr Thomas West; Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office & Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Sam Tan, to grace dinner as the guest-of-honour

Invites adults with dyslexia, corporations and public to make a stand for children with learning difficulties

SINGAPORE, 15 OCTOBER 2014 – For too long, many see dyslexics as individuals with learning difficulties who cannot go far in life. For the first time in Singapore, the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) will kick off the ‘Embrace Dyslexia’ campaign on 19 November 2014 to celebrate the achievements and potential of dyslexics. The new DAS initiative will commence with a dinner at the Hotel Jen (formerly Traders Hotel) graced by Mr Sam Tan, Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth; and a one-day seminar on 20 November 2014 at the NTUC Auditorium featuring Mr Thomas West, award-winning author of ‘In the Mind’s Eye: Creative Visual Thinkers, Gifted Dyslexics and the Rise of Visual Technologies’ and globally-renowned researcher and international presenter on dyslexia.

With an estimated one in ten individuals in any society having dyslexia, there could be almost 540,000 individuals with varying levels of dyslexia in Singapore. The ‘Embrace Dyslexia’ campaign seeks to destigmatise the condition, debunk negative misconceptions about dyslexia and highlight the unique attributes of dyslexics through the dinner, the seminar and many other activities.

To inspire dyslexic individuals, especially children, to reach their fullest potential and their parents and caregivers to perservere, DAS encourages adult dyslexics from diverse professions to come forward and share their stories as part of the campaign, which will be published as a collection of success stories. With this publication, DAS hopes to give children with learning differences role models to look up to and to instill hope amongst them.

The ‘Embrace Dyslexia’ campaign also comprises the DAS ‘Champions Chart’, which recognises organisations that have made a difference in the lives of dyslexics or raised awareness of dyslexia in Singapore. To be placed on the chart, organisations can donate to DAS’ Learning Programmes, sponsor the DAS Seminar and Dinner, or help locate adult dyslexics within their organisations. Organisations can also pledge support for dyslexics by signing the ‘Embrace Dyslexia Commitment’ and work towards inculcating a dyslexia-friendly workplace by sharing information about dyslexia in the workplace, inviting DAS to conduct awareness talks, incorporating information about dyslexia in the staff handbook, providing appropriate support for dyslexic employees and exploring opportunities to work with DAS through workplace giving , volunteering initiatives or mentoring DAS alumni.

“Besides receiving professional help to overcome their learning differences at the Ministry of Education and DAS, dyslexic children also need the support of the greater community. DAS hopes that through a dedicated campaign, we will elevate the level of understanding and advocacy for dyslexia, direct people’s attention to the strengths and talents of dyslexics, and extend to them the support they deserve to unlock their fullest potential,” said Mr Lee Siang, Chief Executive Officer, DAS.

REGISTRATION FOR ‘EMBRACE DYSLEXIA’ DINNER AND SEMINAR NOW OPEN

A dyslexic who has spoken openly about his learning difficulties in school, Mr Sam Tan will be gracing the first in the series of events that will be rolled out under the ‘Embrace Dyslexia campaign’. He will join dinner guests in celebrating the unique minds of dyslexics, listen to inspiring stories by successful dyslexics and watch DAS students perform.

Mr Thomas West, international expert in the field of dyslexia, will be presenting at the seminar on the advantages of having visual dyslexics in the workplace and the distinctive value that they bring to the organisation with their creative potential. He will also be speaking about the impact and potential of visual technologies levelling the playing field for dyslexics.

Registration for the dinner and seminar is available at http://www.das.org.sg/embrace-dyslexia/registration at $100 and $178 respectively, or $263 for both, for early bird tickets purchased before 31 October 2014. DAS members and groups of five and above enjoy special rates.

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ABOUT DYSLEXIA ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE (DAS)

Our Mission: Helping Dyslexic People Achieve

Our Goal: To build a world class organisation dedicated to helping dyslexic people, those with specific learning differences and reaching out to the region.

Registered in 1991, the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) is today a vibrant voluntary welfare organisation with over 240 full-time staff who provide a wide array of services for dyslexics not only in Singapore but in the region. DAS Educational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists and Specialist Psychologistsprovide support for over 3,000 preschool, primary and secondary school students in 13 centres all over Singapore. Besides the main literacy programme, DAS also offers support in Mathematics, Chinese, English Exam Skills and Speech and Drama Arts. Increasingly, DAS will provide support for dyslexics who also suffer from other specific learning differences such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyspraxia, dyscalculia and non-verbal learning differences.