Dyslexia FAQs

Imagine what it would be like to look at a page of text and see distorted letters swirling before your eyes. Try to picture not being able to discriminate between the letters b d p q. This is the case for many dyslexic people. Dyslexia affects areas of the brain that process language. Broadening your understanding dyslexia can help you to begin understanding the difficulties of living with it.

October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month. The focus for this next month will be to shine a spotlight on the varying dyslexic needs, struggles, and signs and raise awareness about the struggles associated with dyslexia. Often times families of individuals diagnosed with Dyslexia are left with many questions concerning the effects and the resources available for improvement. By recognizing the significant educational implications of this learning difference, there is more opportunity to ensure early diagnosis and intervention for dyslexics. The University of Michigan has created a list of frequently asked questions to help provide information and insight. As we know, the earlier the diagnoses and interventions, the more opportunities to reduce the educational implications this learning difference can have.

http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/answers/faq

Accommodating Students With Dyslexia

Dyslexia is one of the most common disabilities affecting approximately 1 in 5 individuals (see the previous WIA blogpost focusing on Learning Ally's 1 in 5 Initiative). It does not reflect an overall defect in language, but a localized weakness within the phonologic module of the brain, which is where sounds of language are put together to form words or break words down into sounds. 

Often times individuals with dyslexia are mistaken as less cognitively intact while the truth is....most of the time these said individuals are of average to above average in intelligence and exceed in their creativity. Although we are living in 2018, schools are still not designed to be accessible for all learners and many educators are not provided the proper training to identify and tools to support dyslexic students. This ripple effect causes many students to go through their educational career compensating for their deficits, experiencing undue stress and prohibiting students from reaching their full potential. The underlying message here is knowledge and tools are powerful and impactful, which is why I am sharing the following article, Accommodating Students with Dyslexia by Jessica Hamman, focuses on five easy-to-implement accommodations that can make class less stressful and more manageable for students with dyslexia. 

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

Learning Ally's 1 in 5 Initiative

Learning Ally is known for their subscription based human narrated audiobooks and vast professional development opportunities. However, when I recently attended the Dyslexia: Making It Personal session with Mark Brugger at the Everyone Reading Conference in New York there were several "hand outs" available for participants to take at the conclusion of his session. As all like-minded educators do, I naturally I grabbed one of each and began looking them over. Although all were excellent (and will be shared at a later date), one in particular caught my eye with its simplistic, yet incredibly insightful graphics focusing on the identification of dyslexia and varying methods of support. I have posted it below with a link should you be interested in printing it for yourself. 

Click here to download this infographic

After scrolling through the information and graphics, at the bottom of the page I noticed the link to Explore1in5.org, so naturally I did what most of us would do and I visited the webpage. Little did I know what lie ahead...

Explore1in5.org exceeded my expectations for a webpage because it is so much more than that. Upon visiting the site, I discovered a community for dyslexic students to learn more about their diagnosis, to connect with others and share their personal experiences. Even if you're not a member of the Learning Ally community, the website and resources available on there are free and accessible for all. Before reading further ahead, I encourage each of you to watch the short video below to see how far reaching Learning Ally's 1in5 Initiative is. 

So what does the 1 in 5 Initiative offer? 

• To start there are bi-monthly student to student webinars about dyslexia related topics. These webinars are created by students and are geared for students. 
• The Tips, Tools & Tech section offers information to promote self-advocacy and understand the impact it has on their success. Here, students can listen to inspirational testimonials from other dyslexic students and be given the tools to overcome stigmas and insecurities. Additionally,  students can learn about various assistive technology tools to support learning difficulties and view demonstrations of the tools in use. 
• Videos and printed resources help explain what dyslexia is by listening to others share their feelings when first diagnosed and the experiences of their personal journey. 
• The Share Your Story section allows students to share their own personal experiences in a safe and supportive community. 
• Through the "Connect with Us" section, there are many ways to keep connected with the 1in5 Community by subscribing to the newsletter, signing up for text tips, participating in a student webinar and creating connections through social media! 
• Additionally, there are resources for parents too through printed materials and online webinars. 

What is the YES! Program? 

Although only available currently in Colorado, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Utah, Learning Ally's YES! Program is an in-person program that pairs younger students with learning differences with an older student who is trained to help guide them through a series of goals. The purpose of YES! is to train students with learning differences to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, to help them build confidence and to provide them with the tools to become strong self-advocates. Each student is assigned a Youth Ambassador who will monitor member progress, act as a resource and provide guidance. Through the four annual events, your student will:

• Build Self Esteem and Confidence
• Receive Support and Suggestions
• Expand Communication Skills
• Learn About Dyslexia
• Learn Self-Advocacy Skills
• Build Friendships and Network

Parents will also have the opportunity to attend informational presentations at each event and will have the chance to network with other parents.

So why wait....visit the 1 in 5 Initiative site today and get connected! 

Source: Learning Ally, 1in5 Initiative