What is a Specific Learning Disorder?
A specific learning disability is a disorder that interferes with a student’s ability to listen, think, speak, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. Students with a specific learning disability may struggle with reading, writing, and math.
dyslexia
Understanding Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a common learning difference that makes it harder to connect sounds, letters, and words. This can make reading and writing more challenging, even though it has nothing to do with intelligence. With the right support, people with dyslexia can thrive.
At Stark Griffin™ Dyslexia Academy, we’re here to help every step of the way. We offer professional training courses, accurate diagnostic testing, and personalised therapy — giving individuals, families, and professionals the tools they need to understand and manage dyslexia with confidence.
dysgraphia
Understanding Dysgraphia
Dysgraphia is a learning difference that makes writing more difficult than usual. It can affect handwriting, spelling, and putting thoughts down on paper, even though it doesn’t reflect someone’s intelligence or creativity. With the right support, people with dysgraphia can learn effective strategies to succeed.
At Stark Griffin™ Dyslexia Academy, we provide more than just awareness — we offer professional training courses, accurate diagnostic testing, and personalised therapy. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or professional, SGDA gives you the tools to understand and support individuals with dysgraphia.
dyscalculia
Understanding Dyscalculia
Dyscalculia is a learning difference that makes working with numbers more difficult. It can affect skills like basic calculations, understanding maths concepts, and remembering number patterns. Just like dyslexia and dysgraphia, it’s not linked to intelligence — people with dyscalculia simply process numbers differently.
At Stark Griffin™ Dyslexia Academy, we offer complete support for dyscalculia. From professional training courses to accurate diagnostic testing and personalised therapy, we help individuals, parents, and professionals understand and manage the challenges of maths-based learning. With the right guidance, confidence in numbers is possible.
dyslexia
Dyslexia is a hereditary learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). Also called reading disability, dyslexia affects areas of the brain that process language.
Read more
dysgraphia
Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder of written expression that impairs writing ability and fine motor skills. It is a learning disability that affects children and adults, and interferes with practically all aspects of the writing process, including spelling, legibility, word spacing and sizing, and expression.
Read more
dyscalculia
Dyscalculia is a condition that affects the ability to acquire arithmetical skills. Dyscalculic learners may have difficulty understanding simple number concepts, lack an intuitive grasp of numbers, and have problems learning number facts and procedures. Even if they produce a correct answer or use a correct method, they may do so mechanically and without confidence.
Read more
Who is the Stark Griffin™ Dyslexia Academy (SGDA)?
SGDA is the culmination of the diagnosis of Specific Learning Disorders in South Africa and since 2010 we have been working towards providing equal opportunities for every student, especially the dyslexic learner.
Eleven years of extensive research and determination has finally paid off. On 25 July 2019 the HPCSA (Health Professions Council of South Africa) classified, listed and acknowledged the STARK GRIFFIN™ DYSLEXIA ASSESSMENT as the official standardized diagnostic instrument to diagnose and sub-categorize seven types and six severity levels of dyslexia. The Stark Griffin™ Dyslexia Academy (formerly known as ‘Die Rooi Appel’) was founded by Sandra Stark and Marius Spangenberg in 2009.
Our conviction is that the advantages of specific learning disabilities far outweigh its associated challenges.
SGDA strives for excellence by raising the bar on diagnosis where centralized professional marking is done at head office preventing diagnosing irregularities as well as unwarranted recommendations for accommodations. The HPCSA as well as the DBE are advocates for this expert professionalism in diagnosing specific learning disabilities.
The Stark Griffin™ Dyslexia Academy (SGDA) is a registered company that provides professional development and capacity building to individuals who work with the dyslexic population. We incorporate the neuroscience of dyslexia to enable HPCSA registered psychologists, psychometrists, audiologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists and optometrists to specifically diagnose dyslexia in seven categories and
six severity levels.
We foster the best practices of inclusive education to construct learning enrichment curricula and teacher training programs to assist and accommodate the learner who experiences barriers to learning. Our main focus at SGDA is the direct diagnosis of learning disorders.
Who is SGDA?
The Stark Griffin™ Dyslexia Academy, is a registered company and diagnose dyslexia in seven specific sub-categories and six severity levels.
The Stark Griffin™ Dyslexia Assessment is the ONLY HPCSA approved and listed assessment for the direct diagnosis of DYSLEXIA.
We provide professional development and capacity building to individuals who work with the dyslexic population. We incorporate the neuroscience of dyslexia to enable HPCSA – registered psychologists, psychometrists, counselors, audiologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists and optometrists to assess decoding and encoding processes in individuals who struggle with reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic.
We foster the best practices of inclusive education to construct learning enrichment curricula and teacher training programs to assist and accommodate the learner who experiences barriers to learning. Our main focus at SGDA is the direct diagnosis of learning disorders and providing equal opportunities for every student especially the dyslexic learner.
Our conviction is that the advantages of specific learning disabilities far outweigh its associated challenges.
Stark Griffin™ Dyslexia Academy-
Professional Training in Learning Disorder Assessment
Training and Support for Everyone
At Stark Griffin™ Dyslexia Academy, we empower professionals, teachers, and parents with the tools to understand and support dyslexia. From specialised courses to testing and therapy, we provide complete care for every child.
Books For Sale!
This is Me!
An inspirational read for the Dyslexic. From cover to cover inspirational success stories of 23 amazing South African Dyslexics who struggle with reading and writing. Read about their journey of discovery, learning and understanding. Finally, recognizing that the sky is the limit for dyslexics.
Help, my child has been diagnosed with Dyslexia!
A comprehensive guide book explaining dyslexia and the way forward for parents, once they find out their child has been diagnosed with Dyslexia.
Help, my child has been diagnosed with Dysgraphia!
When a child has been diagnosed with Dysgraphia, the road ahead might seem concerning and confusing for parents. They have so many questions that need answering. By learning what to watch for, parents can be proactive about getting help for their child. This book explains strategies and therapies that can help a child improve his writing.
Help, my child has been diagnosed with Dyscalculia!
When a child has been diagnosed with Dyscalculia, the road ahead might seem concerning and confusing for parents. They have so many questions that need answering. This book explains everything about dyscalculia, offers ideas and tips on how parents can do to help their children. This book answers important questions like “does my child still have a future?”
Meet our team!
Sandra Stark
Principal CEO
Marius Spangenberg
Founding CEO
Alexia de Sa’
Registered Psychometrist
Office Hours: 016 454 0281
Mon – Thurs: 07:30 – 16:30
Fri: 07:30 – 13:00
psychometrists@sgda.co.za
Get in touch with us today!
Our Contact Details
Address: 6 Severn Drive, Three Rivers Proper, Vereeniging, 1929
Tel: 016 454 0281
Email: admin@sgda.co.za
Working hours: Monday – Thursday: 07:30 – 16:30
Friday: 07:30 – 13:00
Stark Griffin™ Dyslexia Academy offers specialised training for HPCSA-registered professionals who want to accurately identify and diagnose dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia. Our courses give you the tools and confidence to carry out reliable assessments and provide informed recommendations to clients, schools and families. As the only programme in South Africa with an HPCSA-endorsed testing system, we equip you with a trusted method that meets professional standards and supports your practice. Whether you are a psychologist, psychometrist, audiologist, occupational or speech therapist, or optometrist, our training helps you expand your expertise and make a real difference.
PLEASE NOTE: Refer to Our Frequently Asked Questions for General Queries Regarding Courses.
A learning disability with no diagnosis is a diagnosis of no learning disability.
Get in touch with us today!
Our Contact Details
Address: 6 Severn Drive, Three Rivers Proper, Vereeniging, 1929
Tel: 016 454 0281
Email: admin@sgda.co.za