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Open Polytechnic Learning Delivery Directorate has achieved the New Zealand Dyslexia-Friendly Quality Mark

14 December 2022 Supporting learners, Educational outcomes, Learning designs and teaching strategies

We are delighted to announce that the Kuratini Tuwhera - Open Polytechnic Learning Delivery Directorate has achieved the New Zealand Dyslexia-Friendly Quality Mark (DFQM).

The DFQM recognises the actions taken by tertiary organisations to ensure an inclusive environment for learners with dyslexia.

Erin Fitzgerald, Disability and Access Lead of the Learning Delivery team, remarked on how “kind, positive, patient and helpful” the facilitators were during their DFQM journey. Manager Dr Lynne Brice believes that “the DQFM process has been the significant jump in [their] understanding and responsiveness towards dyslexia.”

“We’re now an organisation that has dyslexia front and centre of our attention to ākonga experience and success,” she remarked. “We plan to prioritise research and development in this area, and through the Te Pūkenga network we have the opportunity to share this expertise more widely.”

8 organisations have already achieved the DFQM, with 11 more currently going through the accreditation process. A new cohort is set to start on 1 March 2023. Our warm congratulations to Open Polytechnic on this significant achievement. We look forward to the DFQM awards ceremony in 2023, where we will officially celebrate this achievement.

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