October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month. Reading is critical to education, and the more parents, concerned family members, teachers, and others learn about dyslexia, the better equipped they will be to provide guidance and support to anyone, child or adult, who may be challenged by it.
So, first, let’s look at what dyslexia is. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). Also called a reading disability, dyslexia is a result of individual differences in areas of the brain that process language.”
“Dyslexia is not due to problems with intelligence, hearing or vision. Most children with dyslexia can succeed in school with tutoring or a specialized education program. Emotional support also plays an important role.”
“Though there’s no cure for dyslexia, early assessment and intervention result in the best outcome. Sometimes dyslexia goes undiagnosed for years and isn’t recognized until adulthood, but it’s never too late to seek help.”
For further information, visit the Mayo Clinic website.
The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, the Cleveland Clinic, and the National Institute of Health provide a wide variety of resources for parents, grandparents, teachers, and other interested adults. In addition, the Maryland State Department of Education provides an age-based checklist of skills for parents to consult if they have concerns about a child’s reading development.
Here are some library resources to investigate…
Overcoming dyslexia : a major update and revision of the essential program for reading problems at any level, incorporating the latest breakthroughs in science, educational methods, technology, and legal accommodations by Sally Shaywitz, M.D. and Jonathan Shaywitz, M.D. (2020)
From one of the world’s leading experts on reading and dyslexia comes the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and practical book yet to help one understand, identify, and overcome the reading problems that plague American children today. For the one in every five children who has dyslexia and the millions of others who struggle to read at their own grade levels–as well as for their parents, teachers, and tutors–this book can make a difference. Dr. Shaywitz’s book is a trusted source to turn to for information, advice, guidance, and explanation. Her cutting-edge research is translated into an easy-to-follow plan of action, offering help and hope to all who have reading problems and to their families as well.
The Adult Side of Dyslexia by Kelli Sandman-Hurley (2022)
This book shares interviews and insights from adults with dyslexia, sharing the obstacles they have faced in life and the things that helped them overcome them. Based on lived experience, these accounts provide practical tips and advice for those supporting young people with dyslexia and those who have been recently diagnosed.
The neurodiverse workplace : an employer’s guide to managing and working with neurodivergent employees, clients and customers by Victoria Honeybourne (2020)
Estimates suggest that up to 20% of employees, customers and clients might have a neurodivergent condition – such as dyslexia, autism, Asperger’s, ADHD or dyspraxia – yet these individuals often struggle to gain and maintain employment, despite being very capable. This practical, authoritative business guide will help managers and employers support neurodiverse staff, and gives advice on how to ensure workplaces are neuro-friendly. The book demonstrates that neurodiversity is a natural aspect of human variation to be expected and accepted, rather than a deficit to be accommodated.
Dystinct Magazine is the ultimate resource of inspiration and expertise for families and educators of children with learning difficulties. Dystinct Magazine seeks to find the extra ordinary that lies within the ordinary. Every child with learning difficulties is blessed to be distinctively different. We have set out to identify and nurture these differences to instil a strong sense of achievement in children who are often forgotten about. We also bring to you relevant Up-to-date evodemce based advise from leading experts in the industry to help you navigate the path to success. We have exclusive interviews and content within the magazine, giving you fantastic insights into the world of learning difficulties – dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and dyspraxia. At Dystinct, we care about our children and want to help them find their wings and fly. This is a platform for children with learning difficulties to have their stories told and voices heard.
Dyslexia tools : workbook for teens : 120 exercises to improve reading skills by Dr. Gavin Reid and Jenn Clark (2021)
Boost your reading skills with dyslexia exercises for teens. Living with dyslexia can be hard, but with practice it’s possible to build your reading and writing abilities–and Dyslexia Tools Workbook for Teens can help. It offers a whole bunch of exercises to develop your spelling and language fluency in a range of different ways. As you work through this book, you’ll gradually improve the skills that will help you succeed in school and in the future.
Learn to read for kids with dyslexia. Volume 2 : 125 more games and activities to teach your child to read by Hannah Braun (2020)
Kids diagnosed with dyslexia have a tough time learning to read. With the right tools–plus the time and attention you already give them–they can become avid readers. This fun-packed, follow-up to the bestselling activity workbook, Learn to Read for Kids with Dyslexia, Volume 2 offers over a hundred new games to help kids ages 7-12 manage dyslexia. Featuring a research-based approach to reading skill development, this new volume uses the latest learning methods to strengthen auditory discrimination skills, support letter formation in writing, and, ultimately, make learning more fun. From rhyming games to word pattern activities, these engaging, entertaining activities help kids with dyslexia improve their skills so they can develop a life-long love of reading.
And here are some resources that discuss dyslexia in a way that can help children understand what dyslexia may mean for them or for a friend or sibling:
My Life With Dyslexia by Mari Schuh (2021)
Meet Scott! He likes coding and playing basketball. He also has dyslexia. Scott is real and so are his experiences. Learn about his life in this illustrated narrative nonfiction picture book for elementary students.
Understanding dyslexia by Jessica Rusick (2022)
In this title, readers learn common symptoms and behaviors of dyslexia and how it affects kids at school and in relationships. Text includes suggestions on how to be a kind and respectful friend to someone who has dyslexia and appropriate activities kids can enjoy together. A famous person who has overcome the challenges of dyslexia is highlighted.
It’s Called Dyslexia by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos (2022)
A girl with dyslexia learns it takes a lot of hard work to learn to read and write and in the process finds her special talent, writing poems.
Additional resources to look into:
- BookFlix is available on the CCPL website. Kids can choose a book from a variety of categories, and the book will be read aloud to them. They will see the pictures from the book and the text is highlighted as it is read to help children follow along. There are fiction and nonfiction books available for children ages PreK through 3rd grade.
- BOOKSHARE.org is a free online resource library for families with a child who has a qualifying disability that interferes with reading books, such as dyslexia, blindness, low vision, retinitis pigmentosa, and cerebral palsy.
Take a few minutes during Dyslexia Awareness Month this October to learn something new. What you learn could make a significant difference in the life of someone you care about.
