Founder and Executive Director of the African Dyslexia Kim and Kanye’s daughter North West has revealed she has dyslexiaOrganisation, Rosalyn Kyere-Nartey, has advocated for the inclusion of dyslexia management in school curriculums.
She emphasized that this approach would foster inclusivity, personal development, and help uncover the hidden talents of children with dyslexia.
Speaking at a Dyslexia Educational Stakeholder’s Forum on the theme “Rethinking Inclusivity in Education, Addressing the Needs of Dyslexic Students,” Kyere-Nartey highlighted the necessity for revising teaching methods to create a conducive learning environment for dyslexic children.
“The policy makers must take cues from these conversations back to the Education Ministry and Ghana Education Service and relook into things so when we are addressing inclusion, it won’t be just about physical challenges but those that are hidden.
The approach of teaching students with dyslexia like the multi-sensory approach, can be applied to all learning so why are we not doing the best thing? The world is going far, and it is time for Ghana to wake up,” she said.
Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading because of challenges in identifying speech sounds and how they relate to letters and words (decoding). It occurs as a result of individual differences in areas of the brain responsible for language processing.
The condition has no relation to intelligence, hearing or vision hence such children can still succeed in school with the help of specialized tutoring and a healthy dose of emotional support and encouragement.
The learning disability affects one in five individuals globally.
Though there is no known cure for dyslexia, early assessment and intervention often results in the best outcomes.
In sub-Saharan African countries such as Ghana, data and statistics is widely unavailable because the condition goes undiagnosed for years and not often recognised until adulthood.
In an interview with the GNA, Rosalyn Kyere-Nartey urged teachers and parents to exhibit empathy towards children with learning difficulties, particularly those with dyslexia. She emphasized the importance of avoiding labeling and punishing these children, as such actions can negatively impact their confidence, talents, and passion for education.
“Most of the time, we label them as blockheaded in our local languages and we worry them so much that many drop out of school and end up leading wayward lives. We are losing talents.
Rosalyn Kyere-Nartey highlighted the global examples of successful individuals who are dyslexic, such as Richard Branson, Will Smith, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, and Steve Jobs.
She emphasized that these accomplished individuals, despite having dyslexia, are known for their creativity, innovation, and problem-solving abilities. Kyere-Nartey expressed optimism that with the right support, Ghanaian children with dyslexia can also flourish.
The forum, sponsored by the British Council, brought together public figures and celebrities with dyslexia to share their experiences.
Notable individuals included Nana Ansah Kwao IV, Chief of Akwamu Adumasa and a media personality, Okyeame Kwame (Kwame Nsiah-Apau), and Reverend John Nii Mota Oquaye, son of former Speaker of Parliament Michael Oquaye.
Okyeame Kwame shared his personal experiences of facing challenges due to dyslexia but highlighted how it influenced his sense of empathy, revealed his talents, and positively shaped his career path.
“My dad was really disappointed in me because he didn’t find out that I had this challenge so, he beat me often and sanctioned my teachers to do same. I grew up quite depressed…because I went through that much pain, I am able to identify the pain of others and come to their aid.
Whenever I am creating music, writing a drama or running something, my creativity is not just based on exciting people but, on how I can use tools to create something that will foster inclusion,” he said.
Nana Ansah Kwao IV also narrated a similar experience with his parents growing up as a child with dyslexia.
“My father was the research manager for Bank of Ghana, being their first born; I was such a disappointment to them. They changed schools severally and did all they could but things were still the same,” he said.
He however touched on the need to raise more awareness and educate people, especially educational stakeholders, on the condition for such children to be assisted and not ostracized.
