Clay time: Queenstown kids (from left) Micaela McLeod, Logan Hanckel, Thomas Jarvis, Tom Mee, Peter Davidson and Ella Gibson take part in Clay Club for dyslexia once a week

Dyslexia isn’t a disease or an illness – it’s known as a “gift” that affects people’s ability to read and write, but in turn they’re creative, multi-dimensional thinkers.

With Dyslexia Awareness Week starting on Monday, Queenstown parents and teachers of dyslexic children think it’s more important than ever to recognise the issue.

A small group of Wakatipu children have recently joined “Clay Club” after school – which helps their learning by creating pictures for words like “and”, “the”, “if” and “but”.

They’ve been through the Davis Dyslexia Correction programme.

It’s a non-government funded course run outside school time by Central Otago’s only qualified pro­gramme facilitator Alma Holden.

Clay Club is a follow-on course initiated by local parents. Kids create “models” for the meanings of base words that are hard to register.

Local mum Caroline Gibson: “We created this initiative to get the kids into a routine to do something productive, plus it’s a forum of support for parents.

“One of the biggest things for these kids is self-esteem and confidence. If they’re in a classroom and they’re not understanding what’s oc­­curring, it’s easier to not put their hands up. An important part for us is instilling that confidence in them.”

Queenstown Primary learning centre co-ordinator Jan Chappell says she doesn’t know how many pupils have dyslexia because most teachers aren’t trained to pick up warning signs.

She thinks more money’s needed to train teachers in this area: “Even though the government has acknowledged it exists, there’s very little money thrown at it.”

What makes it more difficult is that the Davis programme is “very expensive”, she says. “For those whose parents can’t afford it, they aren’t exactly left in limbo but we [teachers] are not trained yet to do the right thing with them.

“Parents have to be aware that their children are not stupid,” Chappell says.

“Just because they can’t read, they may be dyslexic.

“They’re not slow or not trying hard enough.

“Dyslexia’s an alternative way of thinking and could affect one-in-10 New Zealanders.”