Unlocking hidden potential | The Star

GROWING up, Ahmad Fitri Isahak felt immense pressure having to live up to his siblings’ academic potential.

He was 25 years old and in the final semester at university when he found out that he had a learning disability – dyslexia.

“I was studying for my Computer and Software Engineering degree at Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom.

“A day before the final examination, my academic supervisor told me I failed in my final dissertation.

“He said that I might be dyslexic. Luckily, the university allowed me to repeat the semester and I graduated,” said Ahmad Fitri during a Malaysia Dyslexia Association (PDM) event to celebrate World Dyslexia Awareness Day which falls on Oct 8.

Operating since 1995, PDM is a non-profit organisation that provides support and help for children with dyslexia to catch up academically.

Ahmad Fitri, now 50, recalls how he struggled to articulate difficult concepts despite being able to understand them.

“In university, although I produced the materials for my project presentation, I found it challenging to explain them to an audience,” he added.

However, it was only last year that Ahmad Fitri decided on getting proper assessment done to ascertain if he was indeed dyslexic.

The Mimos Bhd senior executive said being dyslexic proved to be a hindrance in completing daily tasks.

“The assessment report identified my strengths and weaknesses and has helped me tremendously at work,” he said.

The father of five said his experience has spurred him to support his two dyslexic children.

StarMetro also spoke to two parents and a teacher at PDM to learn about their experience raising and teaching children with dyslexia.

Support and guidance

A confident Aisyah performing at the World Dyslexia Awareness Day event.

Dr Shazali Johari, a Universiti Putra Malaysia lecturer, discovered two years ago that his daughter Aisyah, now eight, is dyslexic.

“She was enrolled at a Chinese kindergarten. She told me that she had difficulty following lessons.

“At first, I thought it was due to the language barrier. I spoke to her teacher, who said she struggled to follow instructions.

“Meanwhile, the ustazah at her Quran recital class said Aisyah had the habit of gazing elsewhere even though her lips were reciting the verses.

“The ustazah knew she had memorised the verses and was not actually reading them,” he said, adding that he then decided to have Aisyah assessed.

Since then, his daughter has been attending intervention classes at PDM’s centre in Jalan Ampang after school.

Shazali said the extra classes were useful in helping Aisyah build her confidence and social skills.

“Here she is active in extracurricular activities and always volunteers to help her teachers, unlike at school,” he added.

“My advice to parents with dyslexic children is to never feel ashamed.

“Our children simply need encouragement to thrive.”

Hasrina quit her job to look after her two dyslexic children aged eight and 11.

Housewife and mother of four Hasrina Ismail said her two youngest children – a boy and a girl aged 11 and eight, respectively – were dyslexic.

“When my youngest still could not read at seven, I was prepared as I had dealt with her brother with a similar problem.

“I sent her for an assessment. I discovered that she had trouble recognising alphabets because the letters appeared backwards to her.

“I then enrolled her for intervention classes. She can now read two-syllable words and write her own name,” said Hasrina, who with her husband’s support quit her job as an IT executive to look after her children.

“The school syllabus is more advanced nowadays. Parental support is crucial in ensuring dyslexic children reach their full potential,” she added.

Dekiran Juan, who has been teaching at PDM for the past seven years, said dyslexic pupils needed personalised lessons.

“Each child will also respond to a different teaching method. They also have different learning curves,” she said.

“I do not give my pupils homework. I will settle questions I give them in the classroom before they head home.”

Juan, who has 28 years’ experience teaching Mathematics, took the job at PDM hoping it would enhance her resume.

“After two years, I wanted to quit. But I stayed on after one of my pupils cried when he learned that I was leaving.

“Teaching dyslexic pupils requires utmost patience and dedication but it is a very rewarding job,” she added.

Women, Family and Development Ministry data reveals that as of Sept 30, 260,000 individuals have been registered as having learning disability.

Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the ministry, through Social Welfare Department (JKM), was encouraging more of such individuals to get registered.

“The department has collaborated with various government and private agencies as well as non-profit organisations to help people with dyslexia.

“These include organising a community support programme to help them integrate in society,” she said when met at the PDM event.

She added that JKM was formulating an early development module to streamline teaching objectives for dyslexic children.

“Many parents are unaware and may have overlooked tell-tale signs of dyslexia in their own children,” she said.

Abdullah says many parents are concerned about how their dyslexic kids will cope in school.

PDM president Abdullah Syakirin Mohammad said the association currently operated four centres in the Klang Valley.

Apart from the one in Jalan Ampang, the other centres are in Bandar Baru Bangi, Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Subang Jaya.In total, PDM currently has 34 staff including teachers and support staff, catering to over 170 pupils aged four to 10.

Abdullah said the association regularly conducted assessments for children suspected of having learning disability.

“Each session lasts about two hours and involves a set of tests designed and conducted by certified psychologists.

Creative works by dyslexic children on display at Malaysia Dyslexia Association’s centre, with some (inset) going on sale.

“The result is usually produced in a week or two, depending on the number children in the queue,” he said.

Abdullah said those found to be dyslexic would be enrolled in a three-month course before being reevaluated.

“They will be monitored. If they make minimal to little progress, their course may be extended by another three months,” he added.

Relating the history of his involvement with PDM, Abdullah said it started after he discovered in 2020 that his son was dyslexic.

“I began looking for a support group and that was when I found out about PDM and started getting involved.

“Many parents who come here express their worries about helping their children cope with the learning process at school.

“Thankfully, awareness about dyslexia is growing, thanks to various campaigns by PDM with government bodies,” he said.

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