10 Important steps to take when your child has been diagnosed with dyslexia.
Early Intervention is essential to helping your child cope.
Having dyslexia can be tough but it does not define a person. People with dyslexia are amazingly talented and gifted. They are blessed with seeing things in a different way to others. So many successful people cope with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia etc. in their everyday lives. You must look beyond the label and say to yourself ‘okay so my child is dyslexic, now what can I do to help?’
1. Learn all you can about dyslexia.
Understanding his/her challenges is key to getting your child the best help. Learn what dyslexia is and isn’t. Discover how the dyslexic brain works differently. Get an idea of what your child may be experiencing. Speak about it to them openly at home. The Dyslexia Association of Ireland (D.A.I.) is a great place to start.
If your child has been diagnosed with a co-occurring condition(s) look up information on those too, here and below.
2. Investigate dyslexia treatments and therapies.
Refer to your child’s report for a list of recommendations. The psychologists report can often appear very wordy. Ask them to go through it and explain it to you, take notes. Arrange an appointment with us here in school and we can also help you to understand.
If your child’s report suggests intervention from outside agencies such as an Occupational Therapist or Speech and Language Therapist you must act on it. If any appointments are made, make sure and let us know. We are all in this together and being on the same page is incredibly important.
Become a member of the D.A.I. They will have a list of workshops and qualified tutors in your area should you need them.
3. Discuss dyslexia supports and services with us here at school.
Make sure copies of any reports from doctors or specialists have been given to us here at school. We will discuss any supports and services that might be helpful, such as accommodations and assistive technology like text-to-speech software.
4. Talk with your child about dyslexia.
Consider what to say (and what to avoid saying) when introducing him/her to the concept of dyslexia. Help your child understand how dyslexia might affect them in certain areas, including their social life. Visit this link from the D.A.I. for some tips.
It is a huge relief for a child to learn that many other children are also like them. Letting them know about all the famous people who are dyslexic always impresses them!
5. Teach your child to self-advocate.
Talk through some of the ways s/he can ask for help when they need it. Learning how to self-advocate is a skill that can offer benefits throughout their life.
Like us all, they will have good days when the struggle is less and others when they really find things tough during the day. It is interesting to try and find out exactly what is going on in their heads. Help them to express themselves.
6. Know the signs of mental health issues.
Kids confidence with learning and attention issues can really take a bruising knock. Some children can cope better than others. Every child is different, but it can take some children a long time to pick themselves up and dust themselves down again. Building confidence is Number 1. Really focus on their gifts and talents whatever that may be. Help them experience success outside of ‘schoolwork’.
7. Learn what you can do at home.
Look into fun ways to encourage reading and writing outside of school. Visit the local library, become a member. Audio Books are fantastic and are the key to unlocking the wonder of reading for even the most struggling student. Visit museums and interactive family days out. Tap into their interests and use their strengths. Create a homework space that works for your child. Learn ways to build self-esteem and help your child stay motivated.
Research information on dyslexia and if your child has a co-occurring condition(s) look up stuff on the internet about those too! Social media sites such as Facebook has so much more to it than just cat videos and random photos. Liking pages related to dyslexia and co-occurring conditions can be very useful as the articles or information published can be short and you won’t have to wade through pages and pages of a book. Although, that is good too! Not a fan of a Facebook? Sign up anyway with an account that is just for dyslexia and other relevant info.
8. Do your computer/ tablet skills need brushing up?
This is crucially important. Assistive technology plays a vital role in helping your child cope. Look out for courses run by the D.A.I. or local workshops. In the autumn/ wintertime many secondary schools run night classes on developing computer/ tablet skills. Keep an eye out and enrol.
9. Find support.
Connect with other parents of children with dyslexia in your community. It can be tough going at times. Having people around you who know exactly what you are going through is immensely important for your own mental health. Share experiences and information. Meet up, go for coffee, arrange a walk, meet up for the match, call round for a cuppa! Sharing knowledge and expertise is crucial and will ease the bumps along the way. Your child will receive the positive knock on effects of it too.
10. Keep in touch with us!
It is very important for you to know what we are experiencing in the classroom when working with your child. Staying in contact with us can keep you on the same page about whether the supports and services are working as well as how your child is getting on.
Finally, sit together and chat together about dyslexia. Explore dyslexia success stories. Encourage them to read books or watch movies that feature characters with dyslexia. Let them know that his/ her reading and writing issues don’t define who s/he is or limit what they can do.
Explain to them that their brains just learn differently. Remind them to never let dyslexia be an excuse to get out of pushing themselves. Dyslexic people are very talented but just need to work harder than others to get there. The road has many twists and turns, but the future is so bright.
Strive to be the best that you can be!
Early Intervention is essential to helping your child cope.
Having dyslexia can be tough but it does not define a person. People with dyslexia are amazingly talented and gifted. They are blessed with seeing things in a different way to others. So many successful people cope with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia etc. in their everyday lives. You must look beyond the label and say to yourself ‘okay so my child is dyslexic, now what can I do to help?’
1. Learn all you can about dyslexia.
Understanding his/her challenges is key to getting your child the best help. Learn what dyslexia is and isn’t. Discover how the dyslexic brain works differently. Get an idea of what your child may be experiencing. Speak about it to them openly at home. The Dyslexia Association of Ireland (D.A.I.) is a great place to start.
If your child has been diagnosed with a co-occurring condition(s) look up information on those too, here and below.
- Asperger’s Syndrome
- Autism Ireland
- A.D.D./ A.D.H.D.
- Dyspraxia Association of Ireland
- Dyscalculia
- Dysgraphia
- Speech and Language Difficulties
- Visual Difficulties:
Children with dyslexia can have difficulties with their vision. This can be referred to as Visual Stress. Some of these difficulties may not show up in a regular eye test and a referral to an optometrist or orthoptist may be needed. There is a short piece on this on the British Dyslexia Association’s website to help you understand if your child may benefit from an examination. Glasses with tinted lenses, printing on pastel coloured paper and turning down the brightness of the computer screen can help. For more information you should talk to your G.P. or optician. You can also visit this website for more information on glasses with tinted lenses.
- Hearing Difficulties: Has your child's hearing been checked? In younger years or even now your child may have or had ‘glue ear’ which could have hindered auditory perception of sounds in words? Again, your normal hearing test may not be enough. Speak with your G.P. or audiologist for more information.
2. Investigate dyslexia treatments and therapies.
Refer to your child’s report for a list of recommendations. The psychologists report can often appear very wordy. Ask them to go through it and explain it to you, take notes. Arrange an appointment with us here in school and we can also help you to understand.
If your child’s report suggests intervention from outside agencies such as an Occupational Therapist or Speech and Language Therapist you must act on it. If any appointments are made, make sure and let us know. We are all in this together and being on the same page is incredibly important.
Become a member of the D.A.I. They will have a list of workshops and qualified tutors in your area should you need them.
3. Discuss dyslexia supports and services with us here at school.
Make sure copies of any reports from doctors or specialists have been given to us here at school. We will discuss any supports and services that might be helpful, such as accommodations and assistive technology like text-to-speech software.
4. Talk with your child about dyslexia.
Consider what to say (and what to avoid saying) when introducing him/her to the concept of dyslexia. Help your child understand how dyslexia might affect them in certain areas, including their social life. Visit this link from the D.A.I. for some tips.
It is a huge relief for a child to learn that many other children are also like them. Letting them know about all the famous people who are dyslexic always impresses them!
5. Teach your child to self-advocate.
Talk through some of the ways s/he can ask for help when they need it. Learning how to self-advocate is a skill that can offer benefits throughout their life.
Like us all, they will have good days when the struggle is less and others when they really find things tough during the day. It is interesting to try and find out exactly what is going on in their heads. Help them to express themselves.
6. Know the signs of mental health issues.
Kids confidence with learning and attention issues can really take a bruising knock. Some children can cope better than others. Every child is different, but it can take some children a long time to pick themselves up and dust themselves down again. Building confidence is Number 1. Really focus on their gifts and talents whatever that may be. Help them experience success outside of ‘schoolwork’.
7. Learn what you can do at home.
Look into fun ways to encourage reading and writing outside of school. Visit the local library, become a member. Audio Books are fantastic and are the key to unlocking the wonder of reading for even the most struggling student. Visit museums and interactive family days out. Tap into their interests and use their strengths. Create a homework space that works for your child. Learn ways to build self-esteem and help your child stay motivated.
Research information on dyslexia and if your child has a co-occurring condition(s) look up stuff on the internet about those too! Social media sites such as Facebook has so much more to it than just cat videos and random photos. Liking pages related to dyslexia and co-occurring conditions can be very useful as the articles or information published can be short and you won’t have to wade through pages and pages of a book. Although, that is good too! Not a fan of a Facebook? Sign up anyway with an account that is just for dyslexia and other relevant info.
8. Do your computer/ tablet skills need brushing up?
This is crucially important. Assistive technology plays a vital role in helping your child cope. Look out for courses run by the D.A.I. or local workshops. In the autumn/ wintertime many secondary schools run night classes on developing computer/ tablet skills. Keep an eye out and enrol.
9. Find support.
Connect with other parents of children with dyslexia in your community. It can be tough going at times. Having people around you who know exactly what you are going through is immensely important for your own mental health. Share experiences and information. Meet up, go for coffee, arrange a walk, meet up for the match, call round for a cuppa! Sharing knowledge and expertise is crucial and will ease the bumps along the way. Your child will receive the positive knock on effects of it too.
10. Keep in touch with us!
It is very important for you to know what we are experiencing in the classroom when working with your child. Staying in contact with us can keep you on the same page about whether the supports and services are working as well as how your child is getting on.
Finally, sit together and chat together about dyslexia. Explore dyslexia success stories. Encourage them to read books or watch movies that feature characters with dyslexia. Let them know that his/ her reading and writing issues don’t define who s/he is or limit what they can do.
Explain to them that their brains just learn differently. Remind them to never let dyslexia be an excuse to get out of pushing themselves. Dyslexic people are very talented but just need to work harder than others to get there. The road has many twists and turns, but the future is so bright.
Strive to be the best that you can be!
