“I used to think I was dumb.”
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That’s how Aditi Basnet felt before she realised she had dyslexia.
The Kiama local did not understand why she would swap letters and numbers, write down the wrong word or read words in an incorrect order until she was diagnosed with the condition at 12 years old.
But now Aditi chooses to see her dyslexia not as a learning disability but an advantage.
“After I was diagnosed, my marks improved,” the Shellharbour Anglican College student said. “I felt better about going to school and doing homework, and my self-esteem improved.
“I could not understand why I was making so many mistakes before.
“It was frustrating to know the right answer but to put down the wrong answer. I was angry with myself because I could have gotten better marks.”
The 16 year old said her mother tried to get her tested for dyslexia at age six.
“I got average marks during primary school,” she said.
“Everyone said I could not have a learning disability because I was smart. They told my mum I was probably lazy and I should study more.
“It was a six year process until we found an academic who believed children who were bright could struggle because they had dyslexia.”
To create more awareness of the condition, Aditi has teamed up with Shellharbour City Council for the ‘Lighting it Red for Dyslexia’ initiative.
Last night the lights on Shellharbour Civic Centre were turned red as part of a national campaign, organised by Code Read, to increase awareness for the 10 per cent of people who struggle to read, write and learn due to dyslexia.
The colour red was chosen to represent the dreaded red pen that many teachers often use to mark school work.
Approximately one in five people are on the dyslexia continuum. That means in every classroom, there may be between three and five students with dyslexia.
“One of the greatest steps people can take is to get diagnosed,” Aditi said. “I hope the event helps to raise awareness and educate people so they understand that dyslexia is not a disability.
“Dyslexia does not need to have a negative connotation but rather people should see it as an advantage.
“Some of the most successful people in history such as Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci had dyslexia.”
Aditi's dyslexia helps her to be creative and problem solve. She loves to paint, draw and make sculptures.
Aditi has strategies to help overcome her condition.
“I do my school work on yellow paper,” she said. “The yellow paper helps me to see letters and numbers more clearly.
“Since switching paper my marks have improved by 20 to 30 per cent.”
Other ‘Light Ups’ include the Royal Australian Mint and Old Parliament House Canberra, Luminous at Darling Quarter and NSW State Library Sydney, Brisbane Story Bridge, Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, Elizabeth Quay Perth, Adelaide Oval, Wrest Point Hobart and Darwin Convention Centre.
Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said she was delighted that Shellharbour was joining other cities nationwide in highlighting this important issue.
“It is often difficult to get a diagnosis for dyslexia and other learning difficulties, so children often struggle to access support,” Cr Saliba said.
“It’s a misconception that if you read to your child every night they will learn to read. Many children need explicit instruction and early identification and evidence-based intervention is vital.”