Recommended Reading
DYSLEXICS NEED UNDERSTANDING…SO DO THEIR PARENTS!
Camilla Otaki November 18th, 2011
Some students feel shocked when their Dyslexia is diagnosed. Questions rage in their minds:
Does this mean that I can’t achieve my goals?
Will people think I’m stupid?
Is there something weird about me?
In fact, the first question you should be asking is:
What am I good at?
You are certainly really good at something, so there is something strong to build on. What makes you good at it? What are your talents?
Answering these questions will provide you with important clues as to how you will learn to deal with your Dyslexia.
It’s vital to understand that having Dyslexia is no reflection on your intelligence. Dyslexics can achieve as much as non-Dyslexics, but they will probably benefit from some different approaches to studying. A Dyslexic student needs to exercise patience and wisdom.
There is no quick fix: you probably need some kind of extra help with your studies, but ultimately it’s up to you to take the necessary steps.
Don’t expect too much of yourself. You will make progress, but perhaps more slowly than others, and in different ways. However, in some areas of your academic work, you will be at least the equal of your classmates.
Don’t allow your Dyslexia to hold you back, and never make it an excuse for your lack of achievement: learn to work with it. You need to embrace your Dyslexia!
- find out about Dyslexia
- discuss your Dyslexia openly with your teachers and parents
- talk to other Dyslexics: is their experience different from yours or similar?
- begin to work out how your Dyslexia affects your work and your life in general
- work out what helps you to learn (e.g. visual aids)
- develop strategies to help you with areas of difficulty (e.g. mind-mapping, labelled folders, colour-coded notes)
- ask for help from a tutor or Dyslexia specialist
Read as much as you can. Listen to audio-books as well.
PARENTS
You need support too! It’s very important that you never panic about your child’s Dyslexia.
You are not responsible for the problem, and fretting about it will add to the pressure on your child. Pressure makes the problems associated with Dyslexia worse; your child needs you to be calm but persistently supportive.
Go online and order some books; find out about Dyslexia and work with your child to develop ways in which you can help to make his / her life easier.
Depending on the severity of the Dyslexia, you will need to give long-term support to your Dyslexic child, so you will need to be committed and very well-informed.
