About | dyslexia

About Dawn Matthews

Dawn says,

“The trick to success in life is to turn your disadvantages into advantages. If you are yourself dyslexic then help other dyslexics because you are the best qualified to do this. The blind are best at leading the blind.

But first you have to get the bits of paper, the qualifications, to be able to do this. And then learn from those more experienced than yourself. I hope to empower other people through my learning program, seminars, teaching and success to be able to be the best they can.

Oh yes - and work twice as hard as everyone else, whatever odds you have to overcome. And the secret to this - choose a career that you love.”

Dawn has managed to achieve the following:

Born in Perth Australia 1952. Moved to UK 1962

BA Hons. Art and Design Newcastle Upon Tyne University 1975

Post Graduate Certificate of Education Newcastle Upon Tyne University 1976

Attended conferences at Dyslexia unit Aston University Birmingham, Newcastle University and learnt from several leading dyslexia consultants, including Jill Cotteral, author of many early books on dyslexia, Michael Newman, research professor at Aston University Dyslexia department. Dr Cheyne then President of Northeast dyslexia Association England and Catrina Collins of Edinburgh. 1976-7

Completed dyslexia course Helen Arkell Center London 1976

Registered tutor for Newcastle Dyslexia Association 1976 - 1981

Established and ran dyslexia youth social group 1978 - 80

Help set up Newcastle Upon Tyne Dyslexia Institute - giving TV and press interviews - 1980

Moved to Scotland 1981

Registered tutor and consultant - Dyslexia Scotwest Glasgow and Dyslexia Institute Glasgow 1990-2001

Set up and sat on Education Committee to raise awareness and deal with issues of dyslexia with Dumfries and Galloway Education Authority 1991 and sat on committee for 6 years.

Helped John Raven II re-standardize his Cognitive tests “Standard and Advanced Matrices”, both as a supervisor and tester.

Set up and ran Self-help group for parents and dyslexics Dumfries and Galloway 1991. Ran for 6 years, meeting every month.

Dyslexia teacher and consultant Dumfries and Galloway education Authority 1995. Taught in many schools with pupils on individual basis and in classrooms as well as giving seminars at schools with both learning support staff and management.

Ran dyslexic unit and taught at Kilquanity Free School Galloway, Scotland 1996 - 8

Helped set up local Dyslexia Association Dumfries and Galloway 1997

Set up dyslexic unit with funding from the Lotteries Commission at The Galloway Small School Dumfries 1998. Taught both learning support and English at this school for 2 years. Some of my pupils won prizes and international awards for their written work.

Moved to Australia July 2001

Wrote Cert.1 in literacy and Numeracy for Dyslexics 2002. Now running at Central TAFE Perth Dawn also taught lecturers to teach this course giving seminars and personal training. This was the first accredited course ever written specifically for dyslexics in the Southern Hemisphere and included the assessment test for entry onto this course.

Gave seminars at schools, TAFEs, dyslexia SPELD 2001 - 3.

Wrote dyslexia teaching course and gave seminars at Read Write Now WA 2002 - 2003

Ran dyslexia summer school Dyslexia SPELD Foundation 2002

Attained Cert IV in workplace training and assessment. Challenger TAFE Perth. WA 2002 and piloted this course.

Helped set up Dyslexic Centre Australia Inc, a national Charity centre helping all people that learn differently. “Proudly Supporting everyone who Learns Differently” Registration no A1014055R. Charitable collections license no 20981 in Rockingham 2008. Dawn is still president of this organization.

Self employed as a tutor, assessor, and councillor. Working with anyone who learns differently or experienced learning problems, including giving seminars, Skype assessments and lecture tours.

Voluntary work in several aboriginal schools to develop a program that helps them become literate very quickly and reach their full potential.

Internationally selling artist/printmaker.

Dawn’s artwork is in public and private galleries and collections world wide including, many banks, hotels, hospitals, ferries, hospices, restaurants, stock exchanges and public galleries in Scotland and across America. Her art works had been exhibited world-wide including,

USA, UK, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Argentina, Italy, United Arab Emirates and Holland.

Dawn herself is dyslexic, dyspraxic. has Irlen Syndrome, Central Auditory Processing Disorder, Tinnitus, Epilepsy, Heart ayrythmias and extreme auto-immune disorders. Her work keeps her going from day to day and makes the suffering worth while!

Published works.

Thousands of limited edition hand printed, hand separated screen prints.

Various forms of monoprints, etching and paintings.

Books

“Dyslexia a Guide for Class Teachers”

“Dyslexia - A Guide for Parents” published 1995 republished 2001 by

Dyslexia Scotwest Scotland.

“Understanding the Dyslexic Child”,

“Understanding the Dyslexic Pupil” and

“Understanding Your Dyslexic Child” published by First and Best in Education

UK. Cert.1 in Literacy in Numeracy for People with Dyslexia. National Accreditation Number 51153 A certified TAFE course, running at Central TAFE Perth.

“Dyslexia - How to Win “

“Dyslexia - a Guide for Class Teachers” second edition for Australia

“Dyslexia - a Guide for Parents” second edition for Australia

“Dyspraxia - a guide for Parents and Teachers”

“Fun game to learn Stupid words”

“Writing is Fun”

“Monster worksheets”

“Fun Phonics Spelling and Reading Program”

ADHD Drug Free Cures

Dead Easy Phonics complete literacy course

Friendly phonics app 1 basic letter sounds.

More apps to come soon