BY LEE SHAW WEI & JASMINE BADUN
KUCHING: A new learning and resource centre belonging to the Dyslexia Association of Sarawak (DASwk) is the first in the state with its own building.
With that, and with the various services it will provide, the centre will be the benchmark for other dyslexia associations in the country.
Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said these in a press conference after presenting a cheque worth RM3,954,500 to DASwk at Baitulmakmur 2 building yesterday (Apr 22).
The centre, which will be completed in two years, can fit up to 60 students at one time, compared to the current building which can take only four to five.
The site is 1.5 acres land in Desa Wira and also provide hostels for students from outside of Kuching.
DASwk former president Dr Ong Puay Hoon said the new building will see the dyslexia association getting stronger and cater to the needs of children and even young adults with dyslexia and other learning disabilities.
“Focused intervention process is usually provided for dyslexic children. With that, the state government is collaborating with DASwk to train teachers to use the methods used by DASwk to help students with problems in reading, writing and counting,” said Fatimah.
According to DASwk, the intervention services for dyslexia will be done face-to-face and one-to-one, which was previously done online during the pandemic.
The minister who is also the association’s advisor said online intervention classes are appropriate during a pandemic but there are more advantages to the classes being done face-to-face.
“When handling learning difficulty issues, intellect aspects is not the only focus as the social and emotional well-being of the individual who has not been able to read and to write, should also be taken care of and it is best handled through face-to-face. Hence, this centre is very important,” said Fatimah.
Ong also disclosed the committee had raised a total of RM500,000 to complete the amount allocated by the state government.
Meanwhile, Fatimah has also received a courtesy visit from a delegation from the State Education Department led by its director Datu Dr Azhar Ahmad.
The Special Olympics Sarawak which is scheduled to be held from the 1st of July until the 3rd at Azman Hashim Community Sports Centre in Sibu was brought up in the discussion.
“There are seven sporting events which will be held during the Special Olympics Sarawak which are bowling, badminton, bocce, swimming, table tennis, track and field and five-a-side football,” she said.
The athletes in Sarawak consist of children and adults from Community Rehabilitation Centre (PPDK), Students in Special Education Integration Centre (PPKI), alongside children and adults in NGOs Special Needs Centre.
The Special Olympics is an international sports organisation dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities, physically, socially and mentally, through year-round sports training and competitions.
In Sarawak, the Special Olympics programme started in 1998 and presently it is led by Fatimah.
Special Olympics Sarawak is established in Kuching, Sibu and Miri with plans to have it in all regions of Sarawak.
