WHO ARE WE
Established in May 2014, Dyslexia Victoria Support (DVS) is a distinguished parent community group, recognised both locally and internationally for its commitment to advocating for evidence-based literacy education. DVS is the largest state-based parent support group in Australia.
DVS is led by volunteer parents, we operate with support from educators, healthcare professionals, academics, and individuals with literacy difficulties.
Embracing the Science of Reading (SOR), we champion research-backed approaches to address literacy difficulties.
In 2018, members of the DVS Admin Team were honoured with the Victorian Premier’s Volunteer Champions Award for their outstanding teamwork.
DVS serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking guidance and assistance with Specific Learning Difficulties, particularly dyslexia. We endorse educational methods such as Direct Instruction (DI), Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP), explicit teaching instruction, decodable books and audiobooks.
Our recommendations are based entirely on programs rigorously peer-reviewed and published in reputable scientific journals. We recommend the programs as researched and evidenced by AUSPELD.
DVS does not endorse vision therapy as a solution for literacy challenges, including practices such as Behavioural Optometry or the use of coloured overlays, coloured glasses, coloured rulers, or coloured paper for literacy or numeracy purposes.
As an engaged stakeholder group, DVS collaborates with various international groups, and Australian governmental bodies, alongside disability organisations, Journalists, academics, healthcare professionals, educators, specialist tutors and other parent associations.
DVS PARENT SURVEY – LITERACY IN VICTORIAN SCHOOLS REPORT
NOVEMBER 2020
Click here to view the Report: PDF
Victoria’s education system has long failed children with literacy difficulties. Rather than being equitable, it’s discriminatory. Rather than being inclusive, it’s marginalising. All children deserve policy makers, educators and parents who are willing to step up to the collective responsibility of teaching all children to read and write in their early years of school.
“The ability of a population to read and write at standards considered competent, and not merely functional, confers widespread opportunities to succeed academically and gain post-school training and education, even in the context of inter-generational academic under-attainment. This in turn affords opportunities for larger numbers to be part of the social and economic mainstream, and sits at the core of reading ability as a pressing public health issue and as a modifiable form of social inequity and disadvantage.” (Snow, P. (2020). SOLAR: The Science of Language and Reading. Child Language Teaching and Therapy. Published early online August 4 https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0265659020947817)”
DVS parents contend with the academic, social, emotional and financial costs that follow when their child’s reading difficulties are not addressed at school. This parent survey gave Victorian parents of children with literacy difficulties the opportunity to share their experiences. Thank you to those who shared their personal experiences. You are not alone.
Click here to view the Report: PDF
"The best way to advocate for a child with dyslexia is to be so well-trained and informed that no one can (or wants to) argue with you." ~ Dr. Kelli Sandman-HurleyDVS facts
- Dyslexia Victoria Support Fact Sheet (Dyslexia and anti-discrimination law in schools by Margaret Ryan)
In 2018 Dyslexia Victoria Support was awarded the Victorian Premier’s Volunteer Champions Award for Teamwork.
Carolyn Merritt, Heidi Gregory, Sarah Asome
Described as the ‘heart and soul’ of Victoria’s Dyslexia Community, the DVS Administration Team work around the clock to give online support and advice to thousands of people on screening, assessments, assistive technologies, and targeted interventions. The team displays initiative, courage and open mindedness, and have developed essential resources, fostered local support groups, convened events and advocated for people with dyslexia.
Disclaimer: Please note that Dyslexia Victoria Support (DVS) Australia does not officially endorse, represent, sponsor, or have any legal connection to any of the resources listed. Many parents have found these resources to be very useful in their journey to learn more about dyslexia and how to better advocate for their children.