All Sections All Sections Winnipeg Free Press Subscribe
Articles Read Your Balance +tax

February 28, 2021

Winnipeg
-12° C, A few clouds

Full Forecast

Contact Us Subscribe Manage Subscription Chat with us
Log in Create Free Account Help Chat with us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • My Account
    • Manage my Subscription
    • Change Password

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
    • Log in
    • Create Free Account
    • Help

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
  • Coronavirus Coverage
  • Replica E-Edition
    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times
  • Above the Fold
  • Front page
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Book Club
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Canada
  • Local
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • World
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Archives
  • Canstar Community News
    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Classifieds
  • Contests
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • Sponsored
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Flyers
  • Homes
    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Puzzles
  • Photostore
  • More

©2021 FP Newspaper Inc.

Close
  • Quick Links

    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • Above the Fold
    • Home
    • Local
    • Canada
    • World
    • Classifieds
    • Special Coverage
    • Flyers
    • Newsletters
    • Obituaries
    • Photostore
    • Archives
    • Contests
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Content
    • Privacy Policy

    Ways to support us

    • Pay it Forward program
    • Subscribe
    • Day Pass
    • Read Now Pay later
  • Replica E-Edition

    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times

    Business

    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Arts & Life

    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Sports

    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • Opinion

    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor

    Media

    • All Media
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos

    Homes

    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Canstar Community News

    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Coupons

    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • About Us

    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
Canstar Community News
  • The Herald
  • The Lance
  • The Sou'wester
  • The Metro
  • The Times
  • The Headliner
  • Sports
  • Correspondents
  • Columns
  • Contact Us
  • Publications
  • Building Unity: Our Community Centres

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Parents, families help kids with dyslexia

By: Helen Lepp Friesen - Community Correspondent
Posted: 2:56 PM CST Friday, Feb. 8, 2019

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Print
  • Email

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 8/2/2019 (750 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Twila Richards’ daughter Milla was in Grade 6, she was diagnosed with dyslexia.

"I knew that my daughter was several years behind in school," Richards says. "I took her to an educational psychologist who diagnosed her with dyslexia. Hearing that she had dyslexia allowed her to understand why reading and spelling were so difficult for her. People understand her struggles when she tells them, ‘I have dyslexia.’"

Twila Richards, with her daughters Milla (left) and Marin, has helped Milla overcome dyslexia using the OG multi-sensory method of learning.

SOU'WESTER

Twila Richards, with her daughters Milla (left) and Marin, has helped Milla overcome dyslexia using the OG multi-sensory method of learning.

The International Dyslexia Association defines dyslexia as "a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities."

Dyslexia Champions of Manitoba is a non-profit, incorporated organization which represents a diverse group of individuals who bring different backgrounds and perspectives to work together to provide support to families that live with the challenges of dyslexia. The organization provides education, resources, advocacy, and training opportunities for educators, resource professionals, and parents.

Sharon Gurney, one of the founding members of DCM and now its vice-president, says, "the organization is celebrating its sixth year of its mission to "work together to champion the gifts, and support the needs of Manitobans with dyslexia.

"Although much has been accomplished, a great deal of work lies ahead. We are advocating for early identification of dyslexia before kids fall behind and begin to fail. The children then need evidence-based literacy intervention in schools to facilitate reaching their full potential. Manitoba can follow the lead of other jurisdictions that have integrated this support within the public-school system."

Christine van de Vijsel, president of DCM, is passionate about the need to support classroom teachers who seek effective ways to reach their struggling readers.

"Our organization offers professional development opportunities for teachers so they can bring these skills into their classrooms.  Teachers can bring their students from utter despair to the jubilation that school success can bring."

Trained tutors live in all areas of the city, including Fort Garry.

Through DCM, Twila Richards learned about the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching reading and took advantage of the training offered by DCM.

Stay informed

The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19.

Subscribe to COVID-19 Briefing
Sign Up

Developed in the 1930s, the OG multi-sensory method was especially developed for students with dyslexia. Students are taught in an explicit, cumulative, diagnostic way that activates specific areas of the brain to hear and learn sounds and the letter patterns that represent those sounds.

Individualized lessons are based on each student’s specific needs.

"Teaching my child with the OG approach allowed her to improve from reading end-of-Grade-1 texts to being able to fluently read mid-Grade-6 texts within the space of a year," Twila says. "With OG instruction, people with dyslexia learn how to read and spell, and develop a love for both."

Milla now not only enjoys reading but also writing. In 2017, she published a novel entitled Moon Wolf. Twila was so inspired by how OG helped her teach her daughter how to read that she started her own tutoring business, 4 the Love of Reading.  

For further information about resources about dyslexia and services available contact: www.4theloveofreading.ca and www.dyslexiachampions.org

Helen Lepp Friesen is a community correspondent for Fort Garry. You can contact her at helenfriesen@hotmail.com. This column was written with files from Twila Richards

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

  • Report Error
  • Submit a Tip
  • Refund

The Winnipeg Free Press invites you to share your opinion on this story in a letter to the editor. A selection of letters to the editor are published daily.

To submit a letter:
• fill out the form on this page, or
• email letters@freepress.mb.ca, or
• mail Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 3B6.

Letters must include the writer’s full name, address, and a daytime phone number. Letters are edited for length and clarity.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Top