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The Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) is delighted to be an IDA Global Partner and to contribute this article to the IDA's Perspectives on Language and Literacy.
From humble beginnings in 1991, the DAS is grateful that our initiatives have resulted in a vibrant charitable organization with over 160 full-time professional staff who provide an array of services for people with dyslexia, not only in Singapore but also South East Asia. DAS specialist psychologists conduct 900 full assessments each year from preschool students to adults. DAS Educational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists provide intervention for over 2,000 preschool, primary, and secondary school students in 10 centers all over Singapore. The DAS Academy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the DAS, delivers professional training workshops and courses including a Masters in Specific Learning Differences accredited by a recognized university in the United Kingdom. The DAS Academy also has a training contract with the Singapore Ministry of Education and conducts courses in neighboring countries. A second subsidiary company, DAS International, offers individualized services to international schools and private clients. Increasingly, the DAS Group will provide support for people with dyslexia who also suffer from other Specific Learning Differences (SpLD) such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyspraxia, dyscalculia, and Asperger's syndrome. The annual turnover of the DAS in 2011 was around $10 million.
We believe the following initiatives have contributed to the significant growth of the DAS:
A Social Enterprise Approach
Although we are a charity, we view ourselves as a sustainable business with a social mission. Our business is to help people with dyslexia and SpLD achieve. Financial surpluses are reinvested for the benefit of our clients. What we...