Remember the headlines recently concerning a cure for dyslexia
being based on techniques inspired by NASA and used on
astronauts? A member of the dyslexia list, Trevor Pearce, wrote
directly to NASA for clarification and got the following reply:
> In our experience, the prolonged exposure of Astronauts to the
> microgravity environment of space flight does not give rise to any
> physical symptoms or signs that would suggest dyslexia. To the
best of
> our knowledge, NASA is not funding or engaging in research
concerning
> dyslexia. Similarly, we do not have (or are unaware of) evidence
that
> any of our medical or rehabilitative interventions for the Astronauts
> might be effective in treating dyslexia.
>
> Richard S. Williams MD
> Acting Chief Health and Medical Officer
Well, well. Maybe another example of journalists preferring a good
headline anyday to the truth.
Curiously, several members of the senco-forum list claim to have
been using the same techniques for years. They refer to it as
Austronaut Training or the Reflex Inhibition Programme, though
they stress that their methods do not need access to any
expensive equipment.
So are we talking about exercises to help autronauts restore their
sense of balance after prolonged weightlessness? If so, how do
these affect or improve dyslexia?
Dave Laycock
Head of CCPD
Computer Centre for People with Disabilities
University of Westminster
72 Great Portland Street
London W1N 5AL
tel. 020 7911-5161
fax. 020 7911-5162
WWW home page: http://www.wmin.ac.uk/ccpd/
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