Finley Comartin found out he had dyslexia at the beginning of Grade 4, but it took a long time to discover and it wasn91裸聊视频檛 cheap.

Diagnosing the 10-year-old elementary school student cost his Greater Victoria area family almost $4,000.

91裸聊视频淏ecause my son was not a problem child in class, he just kept getting pushed and pushed so we eventually did it ourselves and yeah, I do not think parents should have to pay almost $4,000 just to find out,91裸聊视频� said his mom, Deanna. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 absolutely unfair.91裸聊视频�

Unlike many other learning disorders, to be diagnosed with dyslexia students have to go to an educational physiologist. For students and parents, it can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000, but with ADHA most people can see a general practitioner for an inexpensive diagnosis, according to Dyslexia BC.

Since Finley was in kindergarten, his mother said he 91裸聊视频渨as flagged in the school system as a student to be watched and just to see where he91裸聊视频檚 at. Basically every year he was struggling in school and every year they kind of said, 91裸聊视频極h we91裸聊视频檒l wait and see what happens. We might maybe get him looked at or assessed in Grade 3,91裸聊视频� but it never happened.91裸聊视频�

Deanna believes schools should be detecting dyslexia in kindergarten, so it can be spotted earlier.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 harder to learn later in life than it is to learn when you91裸聊视频檙e younger,91裸聊视频� she said.

Founding member of Dyslexic BC, Cathy McMillan, agrees and has written letters to the provincial government asking for early detection funding for dyslexic students.

91裸聊视频淲e need to start screening for dyslexia starting in kindergarten so that we catch our struggling readers right away. Rather than being reactive, we want to be proactive,91裸聊视频� said McMillan. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e been consistently asking for funding for starting screening in kindergarten.91裸聊视频�

Not only does McMillan think early screening would prevent students from struggling with dyslexia, but the material being used in the classroom should also be updated.

91裸聊视频淎 second ask is funding to switch to use of structured literacy in all classrooms, both in the mainstream classrooms as well as the special education classrooms,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e also been asking for funding to start training teachers so that they can start using the science of reading as well as that they can recognize dyslexia in a classroom.91裸聊视频�

Currently in B.C., the method being used was developed in the 1960s, known as balanced literacy. This only effectively reaches about 40 per cent of students according to McMillan.

91裸聊视频淪o because we91裸聊视频檙e not using more up-to-date materials for teaching reading, it actually appears as if there are more students with reading issues like dyslexia than there actually is.91裸聊视频�

McMillan wants the province to switch to structured literacy or the science of reading. The U.S. is currently making 91裸聊视频渓egislation to ensure that they91裸聊视频檙e switching to structured literacy,91裸聊视频� she said.

Due to the provincial school system teaching outdated material, parents like Deanna pay out of pocket for tutoring. Her son does his tutoring with an American company called Dyslexia Connect. The tutor uses the Orton Gillingham approach, which is 91裸聊视频渁 direct, explicit, multi-sensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach literacy when reading, writing and spelling91裸聊视频� according to Orton-Gillingham Academy.

The Orton-Gillingham is a specialized approach for dyslexic students, but it91裸聊视频檚 expensive. Dyslexia Connect can cost up to $629 a month and even at the lowest rate it costs $229 a month, according to its website.

91裸聊视频淭here is no access to service for dyslexia in the entire province that91裸聊视频檚 equitable,91裸聊视频� said McMillan. 91裸聊视频淲e want them to get resources they need in B.C. public schools.91裸聊视频�

Although Finley has moved up eight reading levels since having his tutor91裸聊视频檚 help, he still can find school to be hard at times. 91裸聊视频淲ell, I91裸聊视频檝e noticed that I have a hard time doing math when everyone else is like, done. Usually, I91裸聊视频檓 one of the last ones to be done doing work,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t can just be quite hard to do most things that everyone else can do.91裸聊视频�

At times Deanna has been worried about Finley91裸聊视频檚 dyslexia as a parent.

91裸聊视频淲hen we would read after school because they always say, 91裸聊视频楳ake sure you91裸聊视频檙e reading 20 minutes a day to your child.91裸聊视频� He would just start crying and not want to read and it was always a bit of a struggle.91裸聊视频�

McMillan remembers in school herself having dyslexia and how hard it was for her to write papers and get good marks. She said she remembers 91裸聊视频渂eing bullied as a child and even into my work world later on. If you91裸聊视频檙e trying to write papers at work, it takes you longer. There were certain times when some of my colleagues weren91裸聊视频檛 very nice.91裸聊视频�

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On Oct. 3 parents, students and advocates rallied outside of the legislature in Victoria, calling for more support for kids with dyslexia.

91裸聊视频淚t was super important for us to go to this event because we ended up paying out of pocket to get him assessed at the beginning of grade four, and it was the best thing we had ever done since finding out he has dyslexia. We now have the tools in place to support him,91裸聊视频� said Deanne after attending the protest.

On Oct. 9 McMillan wrote a letter on behalf of Dyslexia B.C. to suggest measures to address the lack of support. It was sent to the BC Teachers91裸聊视频� Federation, BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, and BC School Trustees Association. Some of the requests the organization has are that schools implement dyslexia screening starting in kindergarten, provide access to structured literacy instruction for all students, and establish specialized remedial centres in each district to cater to the needs of dyslexic students.

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