It is my privilege to welcome you as the founder of Dyslexia Genius. Ours is truly a unique program and one that did not happen overnight. Rather, the vision of Dyslexia Genius was the result of several journeys, including my own, which led us down this path. Dyslexia Genius started in 1997 when “Ibu Dyslexia Malaysia” Puan Sariah Amirin AM PPN, took me as her apprentice and I started to help her developed her now recognized program SPTBiD (Sariah’s Program & Teknik Bimbingan Intensif Disleksia), which have been used successfully to help dyslexics in the Malaysia for over 25 years. Apart from the program, we redeveloped the already used Dyslexia Educational Assessment Tools, into a more comprehensive educational assessment and an assessment report very detailed and easier to understand especially by parents – now known as Diagnostic Dyslexia Assessment Test.
We came together around one common purpose: the need to create a school that would appreciate, understand, challenge, address their difficulties, help them cope with their difficulties and embrace a dyslexic child just as they are.
First and foremost, we seek to create a stimulating, safe and respectful environment for our students. Our school embraces the “whole child” supporting their individual differences and learning styles, while encouraging each child into engaging interaction and meaningful learning. At Dyslexia Genius, we believe that when students comprehend and their intentions and actions are truly understood, development unfolds and students rise to their next level of learning! We strive to help them create meaningful relationships with adults as well as with each other. A foundation for academic and social thinking is established and then built on over time. Our students are encouraged to be abstract, logical and creative thinkers. Based on each student’s unique individual profile, teaching strategies as well as specific curriculums are chosen to fit their evolving developmental profile and individual learning styles. At all times we have to not only consider the profile of each student as an individual but also as part of the group.
The Dyslexia Genius is comprised of an interdisciplinary team of dedicated professionals – from a devoted executive team to a highly trained group of specialist teachers, trained with our SPTBiD program and teaching techniques. Inside each of the rooms in Dyslexia Genius, inspired staff members bring experience, creativity and intention to their work with our school. Our staff is comprised of exceptional individuals working together for the benefit of our children and families.
All these years later, as I look back on Dyslexia Genius’s journey, I am overwhelmed. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of our community, by the dedication of our staff, and by the support and gratitude of our parents. Most of all, I am overwhelmed by the perseverance of our students, by their tenacity, their strength, and the genuine goodness of their hearts. But most of all, a heartfelt thank you and utmost gratitude to my mentor, Puan Sariah Amirin for all the knowledge she poured to me and make me who I am today…a specialist in Dyslexia.
For a Dyslexic child…one of their greatest desires is to have place in our world; they want to be accepted, respected, and valued for their contributions. Our primary mission at Dyslexia Genius is to imprint upon them the knowledge that they do have a place in our world; a learning techniques for them to be able to cope with their difficulties in order for them to be able to follow normal mainstream schools, and that they too can influence and maintain relationships with family, friends, teachers and others in their community. Our success as a school is not measured in centimeters, logarithms or the periodic table. Rather, we see our success in fist pumps, inside jokes and even the hurt feelings which are part of every intense friendship. We see it when one student demands to be on his friend’s team. We see it when a group of students compare levels achieved on the latest video game. No we are not a typical school. Nor would we ever want to be.
From a small and humble beginning but with big dreams – “For Excellence in Education for the Dyslexics”, my team and myself have now developed Puan Sariah’s SPTBiD program into a more complete program – from early intervention program for 4 to 6 years old, from primary one to primary six….now we have added programs for secondary one to secondary five (helping them cope with examinations) and programs for college going teenagers as well as helping adults dyslexics cope with their difficulties out in the real world. We also have on job training programs with help from our ever supporting partners (companies) where we secure practical training for our students to prepare them for what to expect in the working industry.
Now, we work closely with the Special Education Department Ministry of Education Malaysia for education, Malaysian and International examination boards for examination allowance for students, government funded and private schools, where we conduct awareness programs and offer screening test for students, child developmental specialist at private and government hospitals for referral and offer advice, and the community for awareness programs and give expert advice.
Dyslexia Genius caters for dyslexics from all walks of life regardless of race and religion.
I encourage you to take some time – explore our website and read more about our history, our philosophy, our programs and our community. I hope that once you do, you will feel, as I do, that Dyslexia Genius sees each dyslexic student as a unique individual with great potential.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if your child or anyone you know of having dyslexia tendencies. Your call might change the life of a dyslexic person.
Jaldeen Mohd Ali
Founder of Dyslexia Genius Malaysia