CYPRUS DYSLEXIA ASSOCIATION
THE CENTRE FOR DIAGNOSIS, REMEDIATION AND RESEARCH FOR DYSLEXIA
The Cyprus Dyslexia Association (CDA) was established in 1993 and
officially registered as a philanthropic association on January 1994. In
its efforts for establishing a Centre for Diagnosis, Research and
Remediation purposes, the CDA leased an apartment at Limassol Avenue
146, 4th Floor Apartment D3, 2015 Nicosia, on “KALISPERAS” building.
Contact numbers 22 319411/2 and fax number 22 318299.
E-mail:
dyslexiacy@cytanet.com.cy and website:
www.cyprusdyslexia.com
The objectives of the CDA as they are in the rules and regulations are
as follows:
a) To help people of all ages who have special learning
difficulty/dyslexia, to develop their educational, cultural and other
capabilities and generally to promote their well fare.
b) To enlighten, inform and sensitize the public and the authorities
with respect to dyslexia.
c) To encourage officials to form and practice a suitable state policy
on special learning difficulty/ dyslexia, for proper confront the
dyslexics and their families.
d) To promote and organize training and educational programmes for
people interested on the subject of special learning
difficulty/dyslexia.
e) To provide assistance, and cooperate with all the communities in
Cyprus and organized groups, irrespective of religion or racial group or
community,
f) To establish a Centre for Diagnosis, Remediation and Research with
the cooperation of authorities in Cyprus and abroad.
1. The Cyprus Dyslexia Association since its establishment has
been in constant and continuous cooperation with the Ministry of
Education and thus resulted the 113(1) of 1999 legislation of “The
Education and Training of Children with special Needs Law of 1999” and
its regulations. From then on, the Association has set one more
objective, to ensure the proper application of the legislation and the
safekeeping and protection of the rights of people with special learning
difficulty/dyslexia in Cyprus. In order to ensure this, our association
closely cooperates with other Ministries, such as the Ministry of Labor
and the Ministry of Health, as well as other governmental and
non-governmental organizations.
2. The functions and activities undertaken by the Centre, which
today employs a psychologist, a social worker and an administrator, are
as follows:
(1) Office for CDA
(2) Library
(3) Information/ Enlightenment/ Consultation and Guidance
(4) INTERNET information / International connections
(5) Pre -Diagnosis by screening test by our psychologists
(6) Psychological and Social Support to parents and children’s groups
(7) Remediation (i) with computer groups
(ii) with personal support
(iii) with group support
(8) Research Center for tests stabilization and statistical purposes
(9) Support groups / Welfare groups.
(10) Training Center (for children, youth, parents, teachers,
specialists)
(11) Research Center
3. Priority of the association is that the Center functions as a
scientific advising and consulting office, an enlightening and
information place, INTERNET information centre, library, meeting place,
a psychological and social support centre, a remediation support centre
with the use of computers and other methods, as a pre-diagnosis center
by the psychologist and the social worker. The association staff consist
now of an administrator officer, a social worker and a psychologist, all
of them of a full time basis. All three employees are trained for
consulting and advising dyslexics, their families, specialists and other
interested people, on legal and educational matters on the subject of
dyslexia in Cyprus. The association also employs an office assistant.
4. The social welfare officer’s work is essential for the welfare
of dyslexic children, adults and their families. She is responsible to
organize, with the co-operation of the psychologist and other
specialists, support groups for children, parents and adults, camps and
excursions for children and young people. The welfare officer is
responsible for support groups and part of the rehabilitation program,
and is bound to undertake research into the problems of youth and adult
dyslexics, that may be used in the future for programs of
rehabilitation.
5. Each year, if and whenever sponsors and financial support are
adequate, the association undertakes at least four projects, in relation
to research, training seminars for psychologists, speech therapists,
teachers and special education teachers, parents. The Cyprus Dyslexia
Association, in cooperation with the European Dyslexia Association and
the International Dyslexia Association has organized the 3rd
International Multilingualism & Dyslexia Conference in Cyprus, on
14th-16th of July 2005. In addition, each year the CDA organizes many
enlightening campaigns with lectures, seminars, conferences on the
subject of special learning difficulty/dyslexia, as well as many other
activities. In the last 4 years, two bicommunal projects were
successfully organized and implemented. This strategy allows the Centre
to be operational and permits planning and organizing of events in
accordance with its financial possibilities.
6. Besides testing for learning difficulties, the psychologist is
responsible for the coordination, on an individual or group basis, of
psychological support for parents through focus groups. In addition, the
psychologist keeps constantly updated and informed about the
implementation of the laws and decisions of Regional Committees of
Special Training and Education for Children, conducting school visits
when necessary. Furthermore, the psychologist has undertaken the
campaign of enlightening and educating, conducting lectures throughout
Cyprus, as well as organizing special education seminars with special
educators from abroad, for parents and special scientists, always in
cooperation with the rest of the staff. Finally, the psychologist
participates in seminars and conferences abroad, in order to keep
informed on the latest developments in relation to special learning
difficulty/dyslexia.
7. The CDA organizes the Pancyprian Dyslexia Conference every
year, since 1999. This Conference in the last 4 years has been
incorporated in many other events organized annually in Cyprus, in
relation to the European Dyslexia Week. The European Dyslexia
Association, to which we are members, organizes the European Dyslexia
Week each year.
8. In addition, the CDA participates in many international or
local conferences every year, thus having the opportunity to observe and
be informed on the latest developments in matters concerning treatment,
as well as policy on the subject of special learning
difficulty/dyslexia.
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Copyright © 2006 Learning Difficulties Network of Cyprus, All rights reserved.
Last Updated 25/2/2007