2003 China Outreach

The following account provides detailed information on the September 11-22, 2003, trip to Beijing, China to visit with the Learning Disabilities Research Association of China. (LDRAC). Jim Huff, Director of Outreach, Learning Disabilities Association of South Dakota (LDASD) Dee Thompson, Executive Director, LDASD, and Harry Quian, interpreter, received a personal invitation from Professor Liang Wei, Director of LDRAC. The invitation from LDRAC requesting our presence in Beijing indicated that if we paid for our airfare, LDRAC would provide for our lodging, food and activities. We accepted the invitation and personally paid for our own individual airfares and travel expenses to China.

Presentations and visit to LDA China, Beijing, China, September 11-22, 2003.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

VISIT TO BEIJING, CHINA (LDRAC)

OUTCOME OF VISIT TO CHINA

While in Beijing, China, we met with key members of the Learning Disabilities Research Association of China, visited three experimental schools in Beijing, met with administrative/school officials/teachers/professors/parents and students of the schools. Multiple lectures on the identification, remediation and accommodation of learning disabilities were presented by us to professors, teachers, parents and research psychologists. Please view www.eastudy.com

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: (2003 China Outreach)

During the 40th International LDA of America Conference held in Chicago, IL. in February/March, 2003, Professor Liang Wei and Associate Professor Chungfeng Xie attended our presentation on “Outreach to Native Americans with LD on Reservations in South Dakota”. They were interested in our presentation both because of the topic relating to learning disabilities and our techniques for outreaching to rural reservations in South Dakota. Their interest is in outreaching to rural areas in China. They indicated that more than 70% of China’s population is rural. Subsequently, we introduced both Professor Liang and Associate Professor Xie to Dr. Larry Silver and other key leadership/ staff members of LDA of America. We also met Mr. Harry Quian, who served as the Chinese delegation’s interpreter. Mr. Quian is a US citizen born in Beijing, educated in both China and the US and now residing in Carmel, Indiana. Mr. Quian was invited by us to attend the LDASD Conference in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on June 19-21, 2003. Harry accepted the invitation and was a special guest of LDASD. While in Chicago, Dr. Liang extended a verbal invitation for us to visit Beijing, China.

Harry telephoned Dr. Liang, while attending the LDASD Conference. Once again a verbal invitation was extended by Professor Liang for us to visit China. We accepted and subsequently a formal letter of invitation was sent to us by Professor Liang.

VISIT TO BEIJING, CHINA (LDRAC): (2003 China Outreach)

After agreeing on a mutual date to visit Beijing, China, we arranged for our travel Visas and purchased our airline tickets. Mr. Harry Quian’s family (wife and two children) accompanied us to China. We all departed from Chicago O’ Hara airport on September 12, 2003 and arrived in Beijing, China on September 13, 2003. Harry served as our interpreter in China.

The purpose of our visit to China was to exchange and share information and techniques on the identification, remediation and accommodation of learning disabilities in both China and South Dakota. While in Beijing, the highlights of the visit are as follows:

1)      Visited three experimental schools and observed students in the classroom setting
          who exhibited some characteristics of learning disabilities.
2)      Reviewed and observed the scientifically based “Tiered Step Method” for teaching
          math that was developed by Professor Liang. This method works with both the LD
          and non-LD student. Dr. Liang is scheduled to present at the 41st Learning Disabilities
          Conference of America in Atlanta, Georgia.
3)      Attended meetings where teachers and parents described profiles of students
         exhibiting characteristics of learning disabilities, i.e. ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia,
         Asperger’s syndrome, etc.
4)      Attended a special meeting with LDRAC volunteers, directors, staff and key officials.
5)      Observed techniques presently being used within the Beijing school district for
          teaching Chinese children to speak English using phonological processes at the
          kindergarten level.

OUTCOME OF VISIT TO CHINA: (2003 China Outreach)

First hand observations were made that verified the existence of multiple learning disabilities in both children and adults in China. A one-on-one visit with a particular teacher, who had studied in the US, verified that he had learning disabilities in both Chinese and American languages.

We are personally sponsoring two graduate students from China to visit South Dakota for a one-month period (November 2003). The two Chinese visitors will be studying at various South Dakota universities, visiting K-12 classrooms in South Dakota public schools, observing how inclusion works in the South Dakota and working with school psychologists in diagnosing various
LD conditions.

We received very positive reviews on our presentations on “Walking in the Shoes of a Dyslexic” and “101+ Organizational Tips”. We also received positive feedback on our ability to answer questions relating to learning disabilities in South Dakota.

Dr. Liang has again extended an invitation for us to return to China for the first International Conference of LDRAC to be held in Beijing in mid October, 2004.

We developed a deep respect for the research and efforts of Professor Liang/LDRAC and associates in addressing the issues of learning disabilities in China.

(2003 China Outreach)