In 1958, Edna Freinkel became actively involved in helping her mother, Rebecca Ostrowiak, to write down the method Mrs. Ostrowiak had researched for the previous thirty years. Edna Freinkel is the co-author of the series "Teach Any Child or Adult to Read", which was first published in 1965.

Her mother trained her in her methods. The result has been that her life since 1958 has been dedicated towards improving the literacy level of South Africans.

As principal of the the Rebecca Ostrowiak School of Reading in Germiston, South Africa, she has not only personally taught hundreds of children and adults to read, but has also given lectures and run workshops for teachers on a local and international scale, in the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, and Australia. She has also trained qualified teachers for the Rebecca Ostrowiak Diploma Course.

Edna Freinkel has presented many series on radio on various aspects of reading and learning. She has written numerous articles for the lay and professional media and appeared many times on South African television.

Edna Freinkel serves on the Editorial Board of the international publication "DYSLEXIA" - An International Journal of Research and Practice, The Journal of the British Dyslexia Association, published by Wiley.

Edna Freinkel as won numerous awards in recognition of her work, including the Order of the Baobab awarded by President Thabo Mbeki for lifelong dedication to the development of specialised learning methods for the learning impaired in South Africa.

She was also recently awarded two awards by CEO magazine in their SA's Most Influential Women 2007/8 CEO Celebrating excellence in Organisations: Winner CEO SA's most influential Women: Welfare and Community Service Sector.
PLUS
Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Edna Freinkel in recognition of the success, application and personal dedication made to assisting persons with learning disabilities.

You are welcome to write to Edna Freinkel at ostro@mweb.co.za .