Dyslexia has currently become a common condition, noting that almost 20 percent of children are born dyslexic. And just like mental health illnesses, people with dyslexia often faced the stigma and social discrimination on their condition, hence, China Dyslexia Foundation was recently launched in Hong Kong.
In the United States, parents, educational institutions and even the government have been advocating awareness about dyslexia. But in mainland China and Hong Kong, only a few is knowledgeable about the learning disability.
So, what exactly is dyslexia? According to Mayo Clinic, dyslexia is a learning disorder primarily associated with difficulty in reading. It is also referred as a "reading disorder or disability" that affects the way the brain processes written and spoken language.
Despite the fact that dyslexia can also affect writing, spelling and speaking, dyslexic persons can still understand complex ideas and are often very creative. And Understood reveals that there are several people with dyslexia have successful careers in business, science and the arts including director Steven Spielberg, actress Whoopi Goldberg, former quarterback Tim Tebow, actors Orlando Bloom, Patrick Dempsey, Tom Cruise and journalist Anderson Cooper.
While dyslexia is common, it is not a prediction of failure. That's why, the China Dyslexia Foundation (CDF), a non-profit organization, was launched to promote public awareness on dyslexia and help 15 million dyslexic students, Coconuts Hong Kong reports.
In addition, CDF also campaigns to provide a support system for dyslexic children and their families throughout their educational and professional lives. Through the help of several local partners and international experts, the organization also targets to inspire and encourage people to participate in creating awareness about dyslexia and fight social discrimination issues in mainland China and Hong Kong.
Furthermore, CDF will collaborate with experts to help train educational psychologists, social workers and teachers in recognition and assessment techniques. The group is also piloting innovative programs to increase public awareness.
Meanwhile, the CDF launch event was held in Tsim Sha Tsui on Mar. 21. During the event, James Redford's 2012 documentary "The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia," made its Hong Kong debut.
Redford is an award-winning producer and the son of Robert Redford. And his film depicted the experiences of various individuals with dyslexia, including his own son.
Redford also attended the CDF launch event where he shared his personal experiences on raising a dyslexic son. Other attendees also include CDF Chair Yvonne Li and HKU Professor Connie Ho.
