Do you suspect your child may have dyslexia? One in five children in the United States struggles with a learning difficulty, such as dyslexia or ADHD; no parent wants to see their child struggle. How can you give any child—dyslexic or not—the best possible foundation for learning to read? Award-winning children’s author Don Winn might just have the advice you’re looking for.
As a dyslexic and dyslexia advocate himself, Don Winn has written multiple children’s stories about dyslexia. His most recent book Raising a Child with Dyslexia: What Every Parent Needs to Know is a guide to help parents recognize dyslexia in their children and ultimately, create a safe space for their child to learn and grow. Winn explores the learning climate for dyslexic children in the home and classroom and discusses what symptoms might be cause to go to a professional.I had a chance to interview him to learn more.
1) What are some signs a child may have dyslexia?
It depends on their age. Many parents (and even educators!) are surprised to know that dyslexia can be detected as early as 18 months of age. Baby talk that extends past the first couple of years of life, mispronouncing common words, trouble with directionality (learning to tie shoes, learning left/right, up/down, forward/backward), difficulty with retrieving rhyming words (cat, hat, bat in response to rat, for example), trouble learning the sounds of letters and groups of letters, poor spelling, trouble with math, difficulty with sequencing (days of the week, learning the alphabet, or performing sequential tasks). Any and all of these point to the need for a diagnosis by a qualified educational or medical professional.
2) How can parents set up a good learning climate within the home?
All kids, not just dyslexics, thrive on routine. Regular, daily reading time together is one of the most important and powerful acts of love any parent can offer their child. And please don’t stop when the child enters school: continuing to read great stories together helps the child learn to love stories, to see aspects of themselves in storybook characters, and especially to learn that any difficulty or hardship can be overcome. If the child is already in school, providing a clean, quiet, organized place to do homework without distractions is invaluable. Parental example is also a great asset for the learning climate. When your kids see you read regularly and see your love of books and learning, it helps them recognize what a vital and fulfilling role reading can play in their lives, even if it may be difficult. Talk regularly about interesting or engaging things you have read and the ideas that they spark.
3) What can parents do to support any educational services they may be receiving at school?
One of the most important things that other parents have recommended is taking the time and making the effort to keep good records. Parents have the right to be present at every meeting at the school that discusses their child’s educational needs. Make brief notes: who said what, what actions were discussed, which actions will be taken in behalf of your child, and by whom? By staying informed of the different teachers/programs that are in play, and then monitoring your child’s responses to those interventions, parents can be active participants by offering valuable input on whether the interventions are working as hoped. It’s not uncommon for a child to act one way at school around their peers, and another way at home. Is the child more or less anxious? More or less inclined to do the hard work needed to do an assignment? More or less hopeful? Parental observation and feedback can help customize a child’s Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) so that it is as effective as possible.
4) How can parents of children with dyslexia advocate for their children in the school setting?
My book offers a primer on all the acronyms, abbreviations, and terms used by the educational system to describe and respond to a child’s educational situation and needs. It can seem like a giant bowl of alphabet soup, but it’s worth the time and effort to familiarize yourself with the lingo and jargon used by the system. Once you know the terms, find out exactly which interventions and accommodations your child’s school is offering.
As discussed above, keeping good (verifiable) records of every interaction, email, or text between you and the school’s staff, testing personnel, and any medical or legal representation that may be necessary is key to effective advocacy.
One thing I can’t recommend strongly enough is to do your best to keep your cool. Having a child with dyslexia or other special needs often brings up a lot of emotion in a parent, and being in a situation with highly trained professionals who may be trying to reduce or refuse services your child needs and deserves can trigger anger easily. But angry outbursts won’t get a child what he or she needs. Here’s what tens of thousands of other parents have observed: keeping calm, being respectful of the teacher’s/staff’s time and schedule, asking effective questions, and providing detailed documentation are the best tools for effective advocacy. Firing off an angry text or just showing up before or after class won’t get a child what they need.
Getting emotional support for yourself as a parent is helpful as well. There are so many feelings surrounding dyslexia and other educational struggles; often, a parent who may have dreamt great things for their newborn child feels that they now have to lower their educational or professional expectations for their child. But I want to assure all parents that no matter where their child is educationally or emotionally, there are powerful, effective things they can do to help their child reach his or her potential. Dyslexia is difficult, but not tragic. Having other parents, friends, a counselor, or other trusted confidant to talk to will give parents a safe place to air and process their emotions so that they can better regulate their emotional responses to school officials and help their child’s educational plan stay on track.
These topics and many more are covered in detail in my new book, Raising a Child With Dyslexia: What Every Parent Needs to Know.
Don M. Winn is an award-winning children’s author, speaker, and dyslexia advocate. As a dyslexia advocate and a dyslexic himself, he frequently addresses parents and educators on how to maximize the value of shared reading time and how to help dyslexic and other struggling readers to learn to love reading. He has written the book, Raising a Child with Dyslexia: What Every Parent Needs to Know and numerous articles about dyslexia and helping struggling readers. His blog archives are available at www.donwinn.com.
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