Nod for dyslexia centre

PETALING JAYA: Recognising the need for greater awareness and teaching methodology for children with special needs, the National Organisation for Dyslexia (NOD) Malaysia provides training for educators and parents.
NOD believes that every child should have the opportunity to learn to read and write and where there is a learning disability, access to appropriate methodologies must be available.
To ensure that no child drops out from school due to dyslexia, a neurological condition, NOD provides education programmes and support services for educators, parents and volunteers.
The NGO, which began operation in February, has started conducting classes for students with this special need.
It can be contacted at +603 2201 1646 or via email to support@nodmalaysia.org
To date it has nine students, who get personal coaching from two teachers at the learning centre.
"At NOD we try to teach one on one or not more than two or three, who are of the same level, at a time.
"When there is more than one there is competition and this helps. They would want to perform better than the other. This is because they are smart kids and they want to be good at something," retired associate professor Dr Mullai Ramaiah told theSun. 
Having conducted extensive studies in this area, she said almost everyone can overcome dyslexia, provided the right approach is taken.
She added that the centre will train more teachers when more kids enrol and would prefer to limit to a maximum of 15-20 students to ensure that all get individual attention.
Mullai said among others, NOD aims to increase awareness on early identification and intervention for children with dyslexia or related learning disabilities and providing resources for coaching and teaching these children.
"They are very motivated when the approach is correct.
"We see the difference in just a couple of weeks after they come here and they tell their parents they prefer it here because it is fun and they can see that they are learning," she said. 
NOD is also willing to work closely with the Education Ministry on matters relating to dyslexia and research on the relation between dyslexia, social isolation and crime in Malaysia.