New Zealand art exhibit focuses on struggles of students with dyslexia

From The Dominion Post in New Zealand:

An unusual art exhibition designed to show the problems faced by dyslexic students has gone on display at Bowen Galleries in Ghuznee St.

Dislec sick? is a unique form of artwork that has been put together on 18 schoolbags.

The bags hold quotes from students, parents, and teachers who have dealt with dyslexia issues over the past few years.

The exhibition is the work of Rosie White, mother of four (three of whom have dyslexia) and her daughter, Elizabeth. (Both are pictured.)

The learning disability is close to their hearts because they have struggled over the years with schools and teachers not understanding the condition.

One school even denied Rosie White's son entry into NCEA level two, despite him having the right number of credits.

"It took us a whole term battling with the school trying to get him into the level two class," she said. "And of course by the time they gave in and let him into the class, he was a term behind everybody else."

White said she felt strongly about the injustices that people with dyslexia faced, especially schoolchildren.

"Teachers don't really understand what these kids are going through," she said. "Most teachers just think they are lazy with their schoolwork, but it's not that at all. With the class sizes as big as they are, dyslexic students don't have the extra help that they need to be able to show their potential.

"Dyslexia does not make a person inadequate; it is the people around them that make them that way."

White said she hoped the exhibition would help people understand more about dyslexia.

Despite having to fight for her education rights through school, Elizabeth White said she now had a very positive attitude towards her dyslexia.

"My gift of dyslexia is my treasure. It no longer holds me back; it inspires me," she said. Elizabeth maintains an A average at Massey University.

Cookie Time Trust, principal sponsors of the Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand, and Muddy Waters Wainuiomata have supported the Whites' exhibition.