Dear Editor:
Kudos to Jane Seyd for reporting on Jeff and Rick Moore's Supreme Court case on the school district's response to dyslexia (Dyslexia Case Goes to Supreme, Wednesday, March 21, North Shore News). Kudos also to Rick Moore for his tireless efforts and care for his son and others like him.
We have started a journey like Jeff's with our son Derek, but so far the North Vancouver school district has shown itself well. Derek was new to Eastview elementary this fall, quickly recognized as needing additional reading support by the Learning Achievement Centre teacher, fast-tracked for assessment by the psychological education assessment team and chosen to participate in the 10-week intensive Literacy Centre at Montroyal elementary this spring. So far, professionals like Karen Roberts, Jeff Ballou and Susan McLane are demonstrating competency, care, teaching and assessment skills for children like our Derek.
I suspect that Rick Moore's advocacy is one of the reasons that the Literacy Centre at Montroyal and Sherwood Park exist. At each location, there are three terms offered to Grade 3 students, seven students per term. This is a wonderful format for children with dyslexia (and other reading and writing needs) to be learning within. But if dyslexia really affects 25 per cent of the population, then there are many who have either not been diagnosed or who were not selected for the program. If that were us, I guess we'd be asking Rick for his notes.
Further, the Literacy Centre is for Grade 3 students only. When children in North Vancouver enter the intermediate years, when they are asked to read to learn instead of learn to read, what happens then? Are our dyslexic students offered the best learning environments and opportunities? We will find out.
We hope that the North Vancouver school district continues to support children with dyslexia and other learning issues in these intensive ways so that they can function and thrive within the public school system and, in turn, as professionals in our city one day.
Jenn Ohlhauser North Vancouver
