What is Dyslexia? Infographic

Dyslexia 411 by Green Grass & Lollipops

For more incredible resources on dyslexia visit: 

Get the 411 on Dyslexia

Green Grass & Lollipops, a blog dedicated to dyslexia awareness and education, shared the video below focused on children sharing some quick facts about dyslexia and what they wish teachers and others knew about this common learning disability that makes learning to read, write and spell a challenge.

Motivational Monday

Dyslexia Awareness Month: Suggested Books for Students with Learning Differences

Loneliness is a feeling many young children with learning disabilities experience when compared to their neurotypical peers. As parents and educators, we need to do more to focus our efforts on supporting our students with learning disabilities. Beyond helping them learn to achieve academically, we also need to tend to their socio-emotional needs.

Learning Ally's 1 in 5 initiative is a community developed to support students with learning disabilities, with an emphasis on dyslexia. In addition to a wide array of resources, 1 in 5 provides a list of suggested books to support students with learning disabilities. By reading about other children's experiences, this may decrease the feelings of loneliness and isolation.

To learn more about Learning Ally's 1 in 5 Initiative, visit the link here:

Learning Ally's 1 in 5 Initiative Link

Webinar Wednesday: Flipgrid Unplugged

Flipgrid Unplugged Webinar - Oct 24th! 7-8pm EST

The next Flipgrid Unplugged webinar is right around the corner! Join Flipgrid Ambassadors Tanya Avrith and Holly Clark as they share powerful ways you can use Flipgrid to ignite discussion and build a student voice infused classroom!

Register

AAC Awareness Month: Social Media: A Powerful Tool for AAC Learning and Networking

In our personal lives we see firsthand how social media creates a world of connectedness, allowing us to communicate with friends and family that may not be physically close. Parents and educators, too are turning to social mediate to showcase the work of their children and students, optimize their professional images, or connect with others in their field to share resources and grow their professional practice. When put to good use, the opportunities that are afforded to us through social media are endless. 

The ASHA Leader, an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association publication, published a list created by Lauren S. Enders, a Speech-Language Pathologist, of some of the most popular social media platforms used by the AAC community including blogs, Facebook pages or groups, Pinterest, and YouTube. Although these AAC-related social media sites and pages only make up a subsection of those available, they will get you started in making new connections and finding respected resources. If you need more information on how to serve those using AAC, these sites can help you provide best practices and approaches for your clients or students.

To view the original article, click here. Please add any others you find resourceful in the comments section below. 

Blogs

AAC Intervention: Caroline Musselwhite taps into her 30 years of experience to offers tips, products and presentation handouts.

Jane Farrrall Consulting: Jane Farrall shares excellent information on literacy, AAC and assistive technology. Her site also includes a helpful and frequently updated list of AAC apps.

PraacticalAAC: This prolific searchable blog—created by Carole Zangari and the late Robin Parker of Nova Southeastern University in South Florida—offers daily posts with high-quality resources including articles, videos, product highlights, from professionals and families in the AAC community.

Stories of a Seasoned AAC SLP: This blog from Gail Van Tatenhove offers helpful implementation strategies and stories.
Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs: This blog offers guidance and resources from Kate Ahern who is an assistive technology specialist and teacher of students with complex communication needs.

Uncommon Sense Blog: Written by Dana Nieder, this blog offers an interesting viewpoint because Nieder is a mom to a spunky little girl using AAC and is completing graduate school to become an SLP.

Facebook pages and groups

AAC for the SLP: This group offers a place for SLPs working with AAC users to post questions, find resources and participate in discussions about related issues.

AAC Through Motivate, Model, Move Out of the Way: This group, created by Kate Ahern, aims to “share how to use motivating activities and interactions, modeling and fading supports to increase independence to support AAC users in becoming competent communicators.”

Lauren S. Enders, MA, CCC-SLP: On my professional Facebook page, I curate and post resources related to AAC every day.

PrAACtical AAC: By liking this page, you will see posts from PrAACtical AAC in your newsfeed.

Rachael Langley, AAC Specialist: Langley is an SLP who shares resources such as the latest AAC technology or innovations, as well as original AAC memes and posters.
In addition, check out user groups and pages for dedicated devices and AAC apps. In addition to sharing useful resources, these pages can be a way to get speedy technical support from an employee or an experienced user. Simply search the name of a company or AAC System to find company sites or device user groups.

Pinterest boards

AAC Chicks

Lauren S. Enders, MA, CCC-SLP

PrAACticalAAC

*Leslie DiChiara

YouTube channels: Videos to demonstrate device features and operation as well as models of best practices in implementation.

AAC Chicks

Communicare, LLC

Gail Van Tatenhove

Kate Ahern

We Speak PODD

Source: The ASHA Leader

Motivational Monday

AAC Awareness Month: Top 10 Must-Know Tips for AAC (Augmentative-Alternative Communication)

AAC Awareness Month is here.....Heard of AAC, but are unsure of what it's all about? New to the field and looking for more information? Or are you just learning to expand your knowledge? 

The following article written by Susan Berkowitz for Speech Science features the Top 10 Must-Know Tips for AAC Interventions. Topics covered in the article include, but are not limited to...

• AAC has many myths surrounding it that prevent individuals’ access to it.
• Aided Language Stimulation (ALgS) is a crucial ingredient to teaching someone to use AAC
• Core words should be the initial focus of providing vocabulary to individuals learning to use AAC.
• Planning is crucial when partners are using ALgS.
• AAC system is a compilation of strategies that allow the individual to communicate effectively a variety of intents in a variety of contexts, with a variety of partners.
• PECS is not enough.
• There are many ways of accessing an AAC system.
• Language therapy is language therapy.
• Don’t just focus on answering questions in class or asking for what the user wants or needs. Communication is social.

To read the full article click here....

Source: Speech Science

Motivational Monday

AAC Awareness Month: Deep Discounts with Assistiveware

To celebrate AAC Awareness Month AssistiveWare will be offering a 50% discount on 4 of their popular apps: Proloquo2Go, Proloquo4Text, Pictello and Keeble. Gateway to Language & Learning©, the core word vocabulary available through an in-app purchase in Proloquo2Go, will also be at half price.

The discount, available worldwide on the App Store, will be in effect from October 10th through October 12th.

If you buy more, you save more

The discount also applies to Apple’s Volume Purchase Program for Education. When your school or educational organization purchases 20 copies or more, you get an additional 50% off! That's 75% off the original price!

Spread the word

Do you know people who could benefit from these apps? Make sure you share the news about this limited-time discount!

If you have any questions about the discount please contact the AssistiveWare support team at support@assistiveware.com

* Please note: The discount percentage is based on the US App Store. Exact prices vary from country to country. Bundles will not be discounted during this promotion.

AAC Awareness Month: TouchChat 50% off October 4-6

For the first time ever, the TouchChat app is going to be offered 50% off for 3 days only to celebrate AAC Awareness Month!  The discount will be valid Wednesday, October 4th through Friday, October 6th.

This promotion includes all TouchChat apps worldwide (except Classic TouchChat). However, the discount does NOT apply to in-app purchases.

To purchase TouchChat in the App Store:  simply go to the App Store, search for TouchChat App, make the appropriate selection (make sure it shows up as 1/2 off), and purchase using your Apple ID.

To purchase Touchchat using a Purchase Order:  Purchase orders need to be dated October 4, 5, or 6 and they need to be received  by us through email (info@touchchatapp.com) or fax (330-674-6726) on October 4, 5, or 6.  Any P.O.'s received outside of these dates will not honor the discounted purchase price.  NO Purchase Orders will be accepted by any means outside of fax or email.  Purchase Order pricing will include tax. 

Purchase Order pricing is 

$82.50--TouchChat HD app

$165—TouchChat HD with WordPower app

Note: The discount % is based on the US App Store. Exact prices may vary in other countries.

Dyslexia Awareness Month: Dyslexia Explained eBook

Although dyslexia has become a more common discussion in classrooms and homes, it is certainly not a black and white disability. Just like snowflakes, each person with dyslexia is unique in how their disability manifests. If you’ve heard the term dyslexia and aren’t sure what it means, you’re not alone. Many questions tend to arise when it comes to dyslexia.The incredible folks at Nessy created an eBook, Dyslexia Explained, to provide answers and help others develop a better understanding of dyslexia. Below you can find an overview of the book and the chapters highlighted. Click here to access the full Dyslexia Explained eBook.

Click here to access the full

Dyslexia Explained eBook. 

Dyslexia Awareness Month: A Recap of Past Resources

Dyslexia Awareness Week is aimed at encouraging appropriate screening, assessment and intervention for those living with dyslexia. Additionally, it provides a platform to provide education on and debunk the myths about dyslexia. Take a look back at some of the incredible resources previously posted about dyslexia on Where It's AT to help kick off this week. Be sure to stay tuned here for more valuable resources to come! 

• Understanding the Struggles of the ADHD & Dyslexic Child
• Dyslexia and the Brain
• Learning Ally's 1 in 5 Initiative
• Everyone Reading: Dyslexia - Making it Personal
• Decoding Dyslexia
• Assistive Technology at a Glance
• Embracing Dyslexia
• Why Audiobooks Work Infographic
• Assistive Tech 101: Basics for Students with Dyslexia
• Dos and Don'ts on Designing for Accessibility
• Demystifying the 4 D's: Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia and Dysgraphia
• Dyslexia....There's an App for That!
• Webinar Wednesday: Alumni Webinar: Assistive Technology in the Workplace with Jamie Martin
• Friday "Appy" Hour: Reading With Dyslexia Simplified With Pocket

Dyslexia Awareness Month: 10 Classroom Indicators of Dyslexia

The following list of 10 Classroom Indicators of Dyslexia was created and compiled by Nessy. Nessy has been making fun, educational software for children since 1999 and has developed a reputation for exceptional quality. Nessy offers the complete dyslexia aware solution with a suite of multi-sensory products aimed at making learning to read, write and spell fun. Nessy has a fun, multi-sensory approach to learning through games, videos, worksheets and a suite of apps to help build confidence and teach valuable reading, writing and spelling skills. Visit the Nessy website to learn more about the products they offer.

To read the original article click here.

Signs of dyslexia usually become more obvious when children start school and begin to focus on reading and writing. Here are ten of the most common warning signs.

1. Phonological awareness

This is the ability to recognise individual sounds (phonemes) and work with phonemes to create new words.

Typical problems are:

• Confusing vowel sounds, e.g. writing ‘i’ for ‘e’.
• Difficulty rhyming.
• Chunking words into syllables.
• Blending sounds into a whole word.

2. Typical spelling mistakes

• Spelling words as they sound
e.g. wont instead of want
• Mixing up the sequence of letters
e.g. hlep instead of help
• Reversing the sequence of letters
e.g. was instead of saw
• Missing out a letter
e.g. wich instead of which
• Using the wrong letter
e.g. showt instead of shout
• Adding an extra letter
e.g. whent instead of went
• Using a ‘t’ instead of ‘ed’
e.g. lookt instead of looked
• Can’t remember when to use ‘ck’ or ‘ke’ at the end
e.g. lick instead of like


Words and letters are often jumbled in the mind.




3. Unable to remember times tables and number sequences



A multiplication fact may seem to be learned and then a few days later has been forgotten again.
The same goes for phone and pin numbers. Difficulty remembering a sequence of numbers is a sure sign of dyslexia.



4. Writing

Someone with dyslexia is likely to have lots of ideas but have difficulty putting them into writing.
They will take much longer to write and produce less than other students.
Many people with dyslexia write long, rambling sentences with no punctuation.
Although there may be lots of ideas they often do not know where to start.



5. Reading

Immediately forgetting what has just been read.
Slower reading speed.
Missing out words or skipping lines as they read.



Have you ever read a page, got to the bottom and realised you’ve just forgotten everything you read?This happens all the time to those with dyslexia. Words and their meanings don’t stick very well.
Reading becomes slow when you have to work out every word.
So much mental energy is used on the process that no memory capacity is left to comprehend.

Dyslexia means you may read a word and then further down the page not recognise it again. There is no visual memory of the word.
Their eyes can seem to jump over words, missing them out, skip out whole lines, sometimes they just skip part of a word.



6. Homophones: there – their

A homophone sounds the same as another word but is spelled differently.
They are a nightmare for those with dyslexia who usually have a poor memory for how a word looks and quickly learn to rely upon the strategy of learning to spell a word by building it phonetically. This doesn’t work for homophones.




7. Do you know the Alphabet? Backwards!



Dyslexia causes difficulty recalling sequences accurately so it is very likely that learning the alphabet will be problematic.
Using songs and rhyme often helps but the real giveaway is whether they can say it backwards – a nearly impossible task for those with dyslexia!
Dyslexia is also likely to cause problems learning the names and sounds of letters.





8. Mixing up left and right

It has become a cliché but its true that many with dyslexia cannot learn to automatically remember left and right. They have to stop and think about it.




9. Can’t remember what you’ve been told



A sure sign is difficulty carrying out a sequence of directions.

“Get out your book. Turn to page 23. Read three pages.”

Someone with dyslexia might only remember one of these things and have to ask again. Having to ask again makes them feel stupid.


10. Reversing numbers

Someone with dyslexia might see 57 but remember it as 75
Or write the answer to 6×7 as 24 instead of 42.
The output of the information becomes muddled.



Children with dyslexia that have been taught phonics can often learn to say the individual sounds but not blend them together. They can’t hold the sequence of sounds in their head for long enough. They might just panic and guess wildly.
Remember, no two people with dyslexia are exactly the same so any child with dyslexia is likely to have a mix of these signs of dyslexia.


Source: Nessy