The Internet is filled with misinformation about dyslexia and other LDs. As a service to the dyslexic community, the IDA has produced a series of Fact Sheets that address some of the most commonly asked questions. The library of articles is steadily growing, but here are five of the most pertinent to parents.
1. My child has been diagnosed with dyslexia, and I feel like Common Core is a strain on her. What can I do?
Barbara A. Wilson, M.Ed., President and Co-founder, Wilson Language Training addressed this in IDA Fact Sheet, Common Core State Standards and Students with Disabilities. She focuses on the Applications to Students with Disabilities documentation and how that applies to students with dyslexia. She offers specific examples of accommodations that can be requested to help your child succeed.
2. My son is so far behind that I’m wondering if homeschooling is a better option for him. Is it possible to effectively homeschool a child with dyslexia?
Michael Minsky helped write the IDA Fact Sheet, Why Homeschool a Student with Dyslexia, to answer some of the common questions. He addresses the challenges and benefits of homeschooling along with an idea of what such an education would look like for a child with dyslexia.
3. My daughter is studying a foreign language for the first time. It seems like her dyslexia is making this a real struggle. Is this normal?
Leonore Ganschow, Ed.D., and Elke Schneider, Ph.D. worked together to write IDA’s Fact Sheet, At-Risk Students and the Study of Foreign Language in School. The team addresses why struggling with a foreign language does not mean a child is dyslexic and why students with LDs often do struggle with learning a second language. This Fact Sheet breaks down the specific struggles common in students with mild, moderate, and severe learning differences and how we can assist them.
4. My son is both dyslexic and gifted. What does that mean, and what can I do to help him?
The Fact Sheet, Gifted and Dyslexic: Identifying and Instructing the Twice Exceptional Student, is a great place to start. Jeffrey Gilger, Ph.D., discusses how common 2e is, what causes it, how it is identified, and how it is treated. Dr. Gilger is a Professor and Chair of Psychological Sciences, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California, Merced and former member of the IDA Board of Directors.
5. My daughter is in high school. How do I prepare her for life as a college student with a LD?
The IDA Fact Sheet, Transitioning from High School to College: Help for Students with Learning Disabilities, addresses the appropriate plan of attack. Cheryl Ann Chase, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, and Patricia Saddle, M.A., L.S.W., Independent Educational Consultant discuss the transition process, which should actually begin in 9th grade. The team lays out appropriate accommodations for standardized tests, services available on most college campuses, how and when Learning Differences should be disclosed, and what to look for in choosing a college.