The more parents, caregivers, and educators know about Dyslexia, the better. The more we can identify, treat, and even celebrate, the more we will have a stronger nation of readers who feel really good about themselves.
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month and as a mother of a dyslexic child, here’s what I want you to know.
What is Dyslexia?
There is no “cure”.
Dyslexia is not a disease and can’t be “cured” – it is lifelong. With the right supports, dyslexic individuals can become highly successful students and adults. There is a genetic component to it and often runs in families.
Dyslexia often has company.
Dyslexia often partners with other learning and attention problems such as ADHD, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. It is found across all backgrounds and intellectual levels.
A more glaring and concerning fact is that children with Dyslexia and other learning disabilities are also far more likely to develop mental illness. Plus, there is much shame about struggling to read, write, and spell. Studies show that those not reading proficiently by 3rd Grade are more at risk of dropping out of school before they receive a high school diploma.
Dyslexia is common.
It is estimated that up to 20 % of the population has Dyslexia. While this learning disability is so common, using the word “Dyslexia” isn’t. This may have been part of our problem all along. If we can’t say it and know the science behind it, how are we going to create solutions?
And even if your child doesn’t have a reading disability, you should know that in New Hampshire, less than 50% of our 4th graders are still not reading at a proficient level. Nationally, only about 34% of our 4th graders read proficiently.
Early detection is KEY.
Early detection is most successful before the third grade. A trained school specialist or an outside specialist like a private neuropsychologist are often the ones who diagnose dyslexia in children. They can help your child get the support they need in school. And remember, you the parent work alongside all of these specialists– it’s a very important relationship I write a lot about.
The New Hampshire legislation just passed a set screening criteria for Dyslexia. Children are screened no later than November 30th of a child’s Kindergarten year or First Grade.
Gaining support to read fluently should be a civil right.
As I mention above, one in five children have Dyslexia. And 70-85% of children placed in special education are dyslexic. So they require explicit, systematic instruction in the five components of literacy: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. This instruction should involve many senses (hearing, seeing, touching) at the same time.
Gaining the support an individual needs to read fluently is a basic civil right. Think about it: if you are unable to read you are unable to vote, understand written information about your health, interpret tax and financial statements.
Dyslexia is hard. But it doesn’t mean failure.
Having Dyslexia does not have to mean failure. Many successful people have dyslexia! Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs, for example. In fact, people with Dyslexia are often more creative and have higher intelligence than the average person, as well as superior spatial reasoning skills.
As a mother of a sensitive, creative out-of-the box thinker and Dyslexic, I have some asks this Dyslexia Awareness Month.
I want more teachers trained to identify and support kids who have dyslexia.
States should train teachers in programs that require explicit, systematic evidence-based instruction like Orton-Gillingham. I also want them to provide time and financial assistance in order to ensure those trained teachers are also certified as practitioners in these programs. The New Hampshire Department of Education offers the LETRS program for free to parents, caregivers and educators. 1,000 educators signed up for the program, isn’t that amazing? Each course can count toward a graduate level degree.
I want to see early and often, proactive screening measures for children.
We should know the signs and symptoms of dyslexia in preschool and kindergarten. Future educators who are in college should train in assessment tools and the science of reading before they are on the job. We also need to be looking at our current curriculum and be open to making change to ensure we are really able to follow the science of reading.
Need more support for your dyslexic child?
If you are looking for more additional support for your Dyslexic Child in New Hampshire contact Seacoast Learning Center and become a member of The International Dyslexia Association. You may sign up for the SCIENCE OF READING & THE ROAD TO EDUCATIONAL RECOVERY happening October 28th and 29th virtually.
For related books about Dyslexia for Children and Podcasts for Adults
NPR Special Series: Unlocking Dyslexia
