SPELD NZ Inc
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Read more about SPELD NZ Inc:
Vision and Mission
Our Vision: To ensure Every learner with Specific Learning Disabilities has equitable educational experiences.
Our Mission is:
- To educate the public in the problems and needs of people living with Specific Learning Disabilities.
- To train teachers and other specialists in relevant preventative, diagnostic and remedial techniques in regard to Specific Learning Disabilities.
- To provide tuition and other approved support services for people identified as having Specific Learning Disabilities.
- To protect the name and image of SPELD NZ and to ensure that all services provided under this umbrella meet the required standards.
History: SPELD was established in 1971 and was first known as the Dyslexia Association of NZ Inc. (changed to SPELD in 1973). Its establishment followed a public meeting in Christchurch attended by 500 frustrated and concerned parents, teachers and health professionals in regard to the education sectors continued inability to recognise and meet the needs of children and young people with dyslexia. The objectives of this inaugural group were to provide immediate assistance to children and adults in need of specialist help for dyslexia, and to convince the Department of Education of its responsibilities to this end (Buchanan, 1996). From this one passionate group a network of independent branches rapidly established across the country. Each branch being an autonomous legal entity, but who all worked under the umbrella of the national body.
The Need: It is estimated, that in New Zealand, there are over 70,000 children and young people of school age living with a specific learning disability. Currently SPELD NZ INC provides services to over 2000 families. SPELD NZ INC. is a charitable, not-for-profit organisation that relies solely on membership fees and the generosity of Grant providers to sustain its service delivery. As a direct result of limited resources there are thousands of children and young people moving through the schooling system without the essential support to equip them with the resources and training to manage their learning disability. The frustration, anxiety and tension that occurs for people with specific learning disabilities often manifests in behavioural problems, low self-esteem and inability to lead successful lives in this 'literate world'.
However, many of these people are remarkably talented, such as these well known Kiwis - Sam Neill (Actor), Richard Taylor (Weta Workshops) and John Britten (Design Engineer) all whom, despite having this problem, became highly successful in their chosen fields.
Recent research, by world-renowned experts, Drs Gavin Reid and Jane Kirk found that 50% of the young inmates in an Edinburgh Youth Prison suffered from dyslexia, compared to 10% in the general population. SPELD provides assessment for these people and trains teachers to work effectively with pupils who have specific learning disabilities.
Qualified SPELD testers first identify the student's areas of strengths and weakness. The tests are quite thorough, covering general cognitive ability, number skills, reading, memory, laterality, motor-coordination and other specifics. The specially trained tutors plan remedial programmes based on the detailed assessment. The tutoring is one-to-one and it is focused upon the individual needs of the child, based on the findings of the in-depth assessment. There is no cure for dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities however SPELD NZ INC does have the tools and expertise to provide these children and young people with the appropriate skill base to enable them to achieve their full potential.
Organisation Structure: SPELD NZ INC is the umbrella organisation to 30 branches. The branches are as follows: Auckland, Bay of Islands, Blenheim, Canterbury, Dunedin, Eastern Bay of Plenty, Franklin, Gisborne, Hauraki, Hutt Valley, Kaipara, King Country, Mana, Manawatu, Manukau City, Nelson, North Taranaki, Rotorua, South Canterbury, Southland, South Waikato, Stratford, Waikato, Wainui, Wairarapa, Wanganui, Wellington Central, Western Bay of Plenty and Whangarei.
Organisation Strengths:
- SPELD has 30 membership associations throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand and is run by a Board and Executive committee made up of volunteers, parents and tutors.
- SPELD NZ INC has a National Office, salaried Chief Executive and Funding Co-ordinator.
- 35 testers nationally providing assessments for children and adults with specific learning disabilities
- 540 NZQA trained SPELD teachers providing one to one tuition nationally
- 13 Directors providing training for new tutors nationally
- Over 2,000 children nationally currently receive 1:1 regular weekly tuition
- Establishment and running of a professional standards committee
- National Board
- Robust strategic plan
Future Opportunities: SPELD NZ Inc. is moving into an exciting time. We have many new projects that will raise the profile of SPELD NZ Inc. further into the communities and throughout the country. We wish for our services to be more accessible and affordable for the children in need. We are also planning to implement research into the effectiveness of our services. SPELD NZ Inc. has begun the process towards reviewing its current structure with a view to moving from 30 branches to one national organisation. This will allow for greater efficiency and consistency in our service provision.
Winning a donation from Sovereign will help us achieve:
We will use a donation from Sovereign Sunshine to assist with the costs of providing assessments and regular tuition to children and young people with specific learning disabilities. All children and young people should have the opportunity to learn and to reach their full potential. A donation from Sovereign Sunshine will subsidise at least 8 students to receive assessments and tuition either completely free or through partial payment. This will allow these children and young people to share in the excitement of learning.
SPELD is a not-for-profit organisation and the tuition services must be paid for by families receiving the service. Every effort is made to keep costs as low as possible, however costs range from $60.00 to $700 depending on location. Additional to this are tuition fees, which we try to keep as low as possible, but can be around $1400 a year.
It is SPELD NZ's belief that all children and young people with specific learning disabilities should have access to this service regardless of economic circumstances.
SPELD NZ currently provides services to over 2,000 children and young people. We know there are at least 70,000 more children and young people with specific learning disabilities that a floundering in our education system.
The ability to provide a number of subsidies to students that would otherwise not be able to receive essential learning services is paramount to the philosophy of SPELD NZ.
Our details:
| Registration No: | CC24395 |
| Region: | Hawke's Bay/East Coast, Waikato/Bay of Plenty/Rotorua, Manawatu/Wanganui/Kapiti, Northland, Taranaki, Wellington, Auckland, Central Auckland, South Auckland, North Auckland, West Auckland, East Auckland, Canterbury/South Canterbury, Southland, West Coast, Nelson/Marlborough |
| Category: | Children's disability support, Children's learning related disorders, Parental advice and support, Teenage advice & support |
| Contact Person: | Lyn Davis (Funding Coordinator) |
| Address: | National Office PO Box 24-042 Royal Oak Auckland |
| Telephone: | 09 627 0839 |
| Email: | fundraising@speld.org.nz |
| Website: | www.speld.org.nz |
| No. helped nationally: | 2,200 |
| No. helped per project: | 2,200 |
