5 Things Parents Can Do For a Dyslexic Child

There are some really great resources available for families who are dealing with dyslexia. The International Dyslexia Association lays out a whole game plan for families with dyslexic students. In fact, they’ve written a whole 36-page handbook on it. This book from the IDA is a trusted source for families who want to know everything—from the definition of dyslexia and valid assessments for dyslexia to identifying effective teaching approaches and managing a dyslexic student’s education. The journey with dyslexia is a life-long one, but with the right tools, students can thrive and succeed. One of the best pathways to success is through a quality dyslexia therapy program like the one at Dyslexia on Demand. We partner with families to provide the best help for students to develop skills that help in the classroom and beyond. There are so many ways that parents can help to support their students with dyslexia. Read on to learn 5 things parents can do for a dyslexic child. 

1. Work with reputable professionals. Finding the best professional help for your student is essential. At Dyslexia on Demand, Certified Academic Language Therapists, also known as CALTs, work one-on-one with students in frequent sessions throughout the week. CALTs study for years with rigorous coursework and intensive certification processes.  These highly educated therapists are specially trained experts in the Orton-Gillingham based programs that we implement at Dyslexia on Demand. Orton Gillingham is the gold standard when it comes to teaching students with dyslexia. CALTs work with students to build not only better reading skills but also independence when it comes to academic and other reading tasks. They have the intense ability to be able to individualize dyslexia therapy sessions for your child based on data. The depth of our CALTs’ experience and training translates to great results for our dyslexia students. You can learn more about our dyslexia specialists here. 
2. Become well versed in the world of accommodations and modifications. When you have a student with dyslexia, you’ll want to connect with their classroom teacher and school staff about accommodations or modifications for your student. Accommodations can be provided for instruction and testing at school; they change the way that students access information while maintaining the same academic standards of all students. Some accommodation examples include: the use of larger print, using text-to-speech or speech-to-text software, recording oral responses, or having a distraction-free setting for assessments.  They can help students to demonstrate their abilities. Modifications can also be implemented for curriculum, homework, or tests. Some modification examples include: use of a calculator for math facts or listening to text in audio form for reading comprehension. Work with the team at your child’s school to determine the best classroom accommodations or modifications for your student. 
3. Structured is the way to go. When you are seeking help outside of school for your dyslexic child, ensure that structured literacy instruction is part of the solution. Students with dyslexia tend to have difficulties with speech sounds (phonological) and print processing (orthographic). The neural pathways in the brain that connect speech and print need to work together quickly and accurately. The CALTs at Dyslexia on Demand understand this. When your student works with CALTs at Dyslexia on Demand, they implement a structured literacy approach that is founded in the science of reading. This program helps to remediate underlying language processing skills in each student. 
4. Educate yourself. It is so important for parents to become involved in their child’s educational journey. While the experts at Dyslexia on Demand are specialists, parents can educate themselves to become better advocates and better support systems for their child with dyslexia. One solid resource is the International Dyslexia Association’s website. Another great place to learn about all aspects of dyslexia is through Dyslexia on Demand’s YouTube channel. The more you know, the stronger support you can be for your dyslexic child. 
5. Be a house that reads. Even if your student has aged out of picture books, it can be so beneficial to continue to read aloud in your home. When you read aloud to your children, it’s not just a good bonding or bedtime routine, it helps to support the continued development of reading skills. Reading books aloud—whether they’re children’s books or chapter books—can aid in comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, and knowledge building. Unlike with audio books, the interactive nature of reading aloud with parents allows for discussions and connections like self-to-text and text-to world. 

Dyslexia on Demand was founded to provide a solution to families looking for a way to access the highest level of dyslexia help. Not everyone is geographically close to the certified professional help they need, but Dyslexia on Demand has solved that problem. Reach out to Dyslexia on Demand, to book a consultation with us to discuss what high quality dyslexia therapy will look like for your child.