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Empowering adult learners with dyslexia to achieve success

Published: Thu 5 Oct 2017 09:03 AM
Empowering adult learners with dyslexia to achieve success
An Ako Aotearoa co-funded project currently in progress, is already providing adult learners with dyslexia the assistance they need to be successful in their tertiary studies.
One such learner is Chris Lloyd, now a qualified drainlayer, who was struggling to complete his industry training because of dyslexia.
Like many others coping with dyslexia – Chris was very capable orally, but reading, writing and spelling posed great challenges. This meant that while enthusiastic in doing his job, he did not handle the paperwork well and was not succeeding with his training.
His training advisor from The Skills Organisation encouraged Chris to be part of a new project and it is through this involvement that Chris began to experience success. It has helped him to move from a position of being at risk of non-completion, to successful completion with the motivation to contemplate studying for a further qualification.
The project - Evaluating the effectiveness of support interventions for dyslexic learners in multiple learning environments - involves providing the learner with a wrap-around support package that was earlier developed by Primary Industry Training Organisation, and then evaluating its effectiveness. The work is the collaborative effort of five tertiary education institutions and outside suppliers; Primary ITO, the Skills Organisation, ServiceIQ, Whitireia New Zealand and Capital Training Limited.
The team are sharing their knowledge, expertise and resources to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes for learners with dyslexia. More importantly, through the project they are helping learners to complete their qualifications and experience success in their careers.
A mentor on the project, David Lees from Primary ITO, is keen to see young people achieve and believes that providing encouragement to the trainees is really important. David worked directly with Chris and is delighted with his success - “the real contribution a mentor provides is purpose, motivation and organisation.” he told us.
Project leader, Mike Styles from Primary ITO adds, “It is exciting for the team to see how, through this work, adults with dyslexia have a better chance to achieve to their potential.”
The project is due to complete in 2018.
Other work by Ako Aotearoa in this area
This current project has built on earlier teaching and learning projects, co-funded by Ako Aotearoa:
Evaluating a mentoring scheme for trainees in the Primary ITO - A 2014 regional funded project
How to make learning interventions which support dyslexic trainees in classroom and workplaces - A 2016 regional funded project
Professional Development workshop
• Ako Aotearoa Professional Development workshop for tertiary educators - Supporting adults with dyslexia in tertiary education and training: An introduction
Teacher with dyslexia story – A teacher gives personal feedback on the impact of attending the PD workshop
ends

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