Dyslexia advocacy, with Dr Sandra Marshall

In this episode, we talk to Dr Sandra Marshall, BMBS FRACGP Dip Child Health, a General Practitioner in South Australia and Chairperson of Code Read Dyslexia Network. Sandra shares her insights for parents and teachers on advocating for kids living with learning difficulties.

Show notes

Dr Sandra Marshall realized that there was a problem with how reading is taught in Australia when her own sons started to struggle in primary school. After trying to get help for her sons, Sandra found perhaps her most important calling and knew that the journey ahead wouldn’t only mean advocating for her own boys but for kids and their parents all over Australia who were on the same journey. Sandra, a GP by day, donned her superhero cape, and by night became (at least in our opinion) the most influential figure in dyslexia and evidence-based teaching of reading advocacy in Australia.

With unerring humility, patience and grit, Sandra and her muse and mentor, ex-principal Ophie Renner, rallied the troops – parents, teachers, principals, specialists in the area of reading (and the odd politician along the way) and set out on a remarkable journey.

Fast forward a decade and a bit, and there has been a tectonic shift in how we teach reading in Australia. The earth shook when South Australia implemented the Phonics Screening Check (PSC), despite opposition from all of the expected places, but also from some surprising corners! The good doctor and her band of merry followers were instrumental in this, and now, South Australia is considered worldwide to be a leading light in the adoption of evidence-based teaching of literacy.

In this interview, Michael and Bill talk with Sandra about the road behind, the long road ahead and importantly, how Sandra has been so incredibly successful at getting people on board and keeping them on board. Sandra has the special sauce in working with people to make change and has much to teach us all about how we can successfully advocate for our own children and also other vulnerable kids living with the Ds.

Links from Episode

Code Read

Sandra is the Chair of Code Read – see the links below

Code Read is reliant on continued fundraising to operate. Please register for the 2022 Equal Right to Read Virtual Run to support Sandra and others to continue advocating.

https://codereadnetwork.org/get-involved/equal-write-to-read-virtual-run-back-in-march-2022/

So many parents don’t know where to go, and as Sandra says, there’s plenty of snake oil out there. This webpage gives guidance on where to go to get help:

https://codereadnetwork.org/help-is-here/where-to-go/

or for incredible resources, go to:

https://codereadnetwork.org/help-is-here/resources/

If you are in SA, you can also go to www.fullartonhouse.com.au, or if you are looking for a specialist tutor/teacher, you can find one at https://dyslexicstrengths.com.au/south-australian-literacy-specialists-tutor-register/

David Pescud’s ABC’ Conversations’ Interview

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/conversations-david-pescud-rpt/8345200

David’s was the impetus behind the formation of Code Read and financially backed the formation of this national body (as long as Sandra agreed to be the Chairperson!) David is interviewed by the amazing Richard Fielder on ABC’s ‘Conversations.’

 

South Australian Evidence-Based Teaching of Literacy Study Tour:

Salisbury Primary School

Sandra discusses the need for teachers to be able to go into other schools doing great things in the teaching literacy space. We do something like this, and we’re pretty good at it! Email Bill [e-mail] to express interest in this professional learning opportunity.

A shout to everyone involved over the journey – all DAGBAGS, Dyslexia SA, Code Read

DAGBAGS/Dyslexia SA members/admins/and helpers along the way:

Adrian Borg Alex Ward Alexander Edmondson Allison Quinlan Allyson Dutshke Amy Bunder Andrew McPhail Andrew McPhail Angela Weeks Anna Bampton Anne Bampton Annette Brock Belinda Pringle Bill Hansberry Chantal Denier Cherie Collings Christopher Pyne Claire Morrison Colleen Stevens David Pitt David Pescud Deb Fairey Denis Donovan Denise Sawyer Donna Willett Dr Judy Gould Dr Bartek Rajkowski Dr Marie Gould Eleanor Gardner Eliza Bampton Estelle Chapp