Dyslexia Friendly

https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/choosing-starting-school/leaving-high-school/types-of-college-accommodations-and-services

Dyslexia can make it hard to find the right words, develop ideas, and communicate them in a logical, organized way. Your teen might stammer a lot or have trouble finding the right word to say. At school, this can look like difficulty expressing ideas—like making a point or supporting an argument.

The same issues that make it hard for kids with dyslexia to read and write in their native language make it even harder to learn a foreign language. High-schoolers with dyslexia might dread the school’s foreign language requirement and feel doomed by it. Your teen may guess at what foreign words mean and how they’re pronounced.

Dyslexia can affect the ability to process all kinds of language. This makes it hard to understand humor and other tricky language. Your child might need someone to explain punch lines, especially when they use puns or have hidden meanings.

Kids with dyslexia often struggle with spatial concepts and related things like driving and navigation. Your teen might still confuse left and right. At school, that can look like trouble reading charts and graphs.S

SOURCE: https://www.understood.org/

Why: Your child needs a safe place to raise his concerns about growing up with dyslexia. Ask about his interest in college, work and other options after high school. Let him know he’ll be able to lead a full adult life.

What to say: “It’s totally normal to wonder how dyslexia may affect what you do when you’re an adult. I believe you’ll have lots of opportunities to pursue your passions. Your trouble with reading and writing won’t disappear, but with determination and hard work, I’m confident you can achieve your dreams.”

SOURCE: https://www.understood.org/

Why: Your child’s classmates may be familiar with his learning differences, but friends from outside school probably aren’t. Let your child know you’ll help him figure out how to discuss his dyslexia—if and when he wants to.

What to say: “It’s up to you whether you want to talk about your dyslexia with people. If you don’t feel comfortable getting into a deeper discussion with someone, you can always say, ‘It’s not that I can’t learn to read. I just need to learn in a very different way.’”

SOURCE: https://www.understood.org/

Why: Because kids with dyslexia may receive extra attention from adults, they sometimes worry about how their brothers or sisters view them. Let your child know that you’ll make sure his siblings don’t feel slighted.

What to say: “Your sister sees how hard you’re trying to learn to read. She knows I need to spend a little more time with you on homework. If the tables were turned, I’d do the same for her. I’ll make sure she understands that.”

SOURCE: https://www.understood.org/

Why: Your child probably wonders whether you realize how dyslexia affects his everyday life, too. Show him you understand and support him.

What to say: “I know that your dyslexia affects all kinds of everyday activities, like reading the menu at the diner or learning the rules of a new board game. But I’m so proud that you’re interested in learning even though dyslexia makes that trickier. I’ll always make sure you get the help you need—at school, here at home and out in the community.”

SOURCE: https://www.understood.org/

Why: Children with dyslexia may worry that their teachers think they’re not trying. They need to know that the school understands their challenges—and has ways to help.

What to say: “I know some of your classes can feel really hard because there’s so much reading. But schools are finding better ways to teach smart students like you all the time. Your teachers are committed to helping you succeed and they’re specially trained, so they know how to do it. We’re going to have some meetings with them. You’ll be invited, too. This way you can see how we’ll all work together, and you’ll have a say in the plan.”

SOURCE: https://www.understood.org/

Why: Specific words can help make this “thing” causing your child’s reading and writing issues feel more defined and manageable.

What to say: “You may hear the word dyslexia at school or at the doctor’s office. Now that we know dyslexia is causing your reading challenges, we can use that word, too. Soon we’ll start working with your teachers to create what’s called an Individualized Education Program, or IEP for short. It will list your goals for reading and writing this year, how to reach them and how your teachers are going to help.”

SOURCE: https://www.understood.org/