An experienced parent shares her advice for families embarking on their own path with dyslexia.
A Different Way of Learning
Did you know that one in five students in every classroom has dyslexia? As a parent who has spent the last three years immersed in understanding and supporting children with dyslexia, I want to share everything I wish I had known when we first started this journey.
First and foremost, let's reframe our perspective: while dyslexia is a disability—I like to think of it as a learning difference.
While dyslexia presents challenges in reading, writing, and spelling, it also brings remarkable strengths. My children who struggle with reading are incredibly creative, empathetic, have so many qualities that aren't measured in a traditional classroom. They are not slow learners- they just need the information presented in a different way. My children come up with solutions that I have never thought of. Understanding this is crucial for both parents and children on this path.
Quick Facts About Dyslexia:
Before my children were diagnosed, I had never heard dyslexia, but it's more common than you might think, affecting 20% of students.
Dyslexia is inherited—which means it runs in families.
Early intervention is critical: 90% of children can reach grade-level reading proficiency with appropriate help by age 9. Without early intervention by age 9, 75% of children continue struggling throughout their school years.
The type of intervention the school offers is important. It should be structured literacy that is systematic, explicit, and multi-sensory. Because our child only initially qualified for 60 minutes of intervention a week, when kids need an hour at least three times a week, meant we chose to hire a private reading therapist for remediation. It was an investment, but helped our child regain their self-confidence.
Red Flags to Watch For
As a parent, witnessing your child's early attempts at speech and writing can be both endearing and enlightening. We often chuckled warmly when our daughter playfully pronounced "spaghetti" as "basgetti" and transformed "hamburger" into "ham-en-burger." These adorable mispronunciations, which we initially thought were just cute quirks, were actually early signs of her struggles with pronunciation—a common challenge for children with dyslexia.
As she grew, other signs began to manifest. She found it particularly hard to manipulate sounds, a task that seems simple but is intricate and crucial for language development. When we played rhyming games or tried altering the beginnings of words, she hesitated and often couldn’t make the leap, which indicated difficulties in sound manipulation.
Recognizing sight words—those common words like "the," "and," or "was," which children are encouraged to remember without decoding—also posed a significant challenge. She would pause, trying to sound them out each time, unable to recall them on sight, which disrupted her flow of reading.
Her spelling was another puzzle; it showed inconsistent patterns that didn't align with typical learning curves. One day, she might spell a word correctly, and the next, the same word would be jumbled and unrecognizable. This inconsistency was a red flag that her understanding of phonics and word structure was not solidifying as expected.
What stood out to me was the vast gap in what I was seeing in other kids her age. In first grade, they were able to spell phonetically, and she would just copy together a random sequence of letters. She hadn't yet mapped sounds to letters so she was falling behind.
The Science Behind Reading
My journey as a parent took a transformative turn the day when as I was recounting what I was seeing in my child, and they asked me, "Could she be dyslexic?" My brilliant, bright child was not a special education kid I thought. But then I started listening to "Overcoming Dyslexia" by Sally Shaywitz. As I absorbed the information, it felt as though she was describing my child. Every struggle, every challenge that had seemed so specific and isolating to our experience was laid out in her words, and I realized that these were common threads among many children with dyslexia. This moment was not just enlightening; it was revolutionary.
Understanding how reading functions in the brain opened a new realm of insight for me. Shaywitz explained that skilled readers process every single letter in words, which helps them read accurately and fluently. This was a stark contrast to what I observed in my child, who seemed to skip over letters or misinterpret them entirely or was being encouraged to look at pictures to glean meaning.
Furthermore, reading is not just about recognizing words; it involves both decoding and comprehending them. This dual demand explains why my child could sometimes read a word correctly but still struggle to understand the sentence as a whole. It wasn't just about the words; it was about constructing meaning from them, a task that was doubly hard for her.
The research presented in the book provided staggering statistics that reshaped my understanding of what my child needed. A typical learner might require about ten times to learn a new spelling pattern. In contrast, a child with mild dyslexia might need up to 300 times, and those with profound dyslexia could require as many as 3,000 times! This disparity in learning rates was a critical insight. It underscored the necessity for patience and the tailored teaching approaches we needed to employ.
This knowledge equipped and empowered me with the tools to be a better advocate for my child. It was a profound reminder that understanding and support could change the trajectory of her educational journey.
The Right Kind of Help Matters
When it comes to advocating for your child's education, especially if they struggle with reading, time is of the essence. Waiting to see if they 'outgrow' their difficulties or 'catch up' without intervention is not just ineffective; it can be detrimental. Children who receive proper instruction early on do not develop at radically different rates. This emphasizes the importance of stepping in early, ensuring that they receive the right kind of help before they fall too far behind.
It's crucial to understand that not all reading instruction is created equal. As a parent, knowing what works can make all the difference in how you advocate for your child’s education. Here’s what has been proven effective:
What Works:
Structured literacy programs
Orton-Gillingham based methods
Systematic, explicit, and multi-sensory instruction
Programs like Alphabetic Phonics, Take Flight, and Multi-sensory Reading and Spelling
I like UFLI, but this is a tier 1 instructional tool and not appropriate to use as intervention unless the teacher is specially trained, like a CALT
Red Flags in Current Instruction:
Emphasis only on "reading more" or "practicing more"
Heavy reliance on sight words without phonics instruction.
Using pictures to guess words
Leveled readers rather than decodable readers
Title I services without structured literacy components
Essential Resources for Parents
Navigating the landscape of dyslexia as a parent can feel daunting without the right resources. Fortunately, there are invaluable tools available that have not only educated me but also transformed my approach to supporting my child. I'd like to share a curated list of essential resources that have been instrumental in our journey.
Must-Read Book:
"Overcoming Dyslexia" by Dr. Sally Shaywitz (2nd Edition) - This comprehensive guide covers everything from brain science to practical strategies.
Best Parent Training Resource:
Made By Dyslexia's free training program - This UK-based nonprofit offers invaluable insights into dyslexic strengths and educational needs. This absolutely changed my perspective on my child and helped me celebrate their unique strengths.
Valuable Websites:
Your state's special education resources. Here's a link to Kansas resources.
Advocating for Your Child
In the early stages of my child's educational journey, I quickly realized that simply waiting for the school to identify and address potential learning difficulties wasn't sufficient. As a parent, it became clear that I needed to be proactive, especially after noticing signs that my child might be at risk for dyslexia.
Understanding my rights was the first critical step. I learned that I could request a full evaluation for my child at any point in the school year, a request that had to be made in writing. This formal evaluation is crucial as it sets the stage for identifying specific needs and implementing timely interventions. Schools are mandated to respond within 60 days, providing a clear timeframe for action.
I also began meticulously documenting everything related to my child’s education. From saving samples of their work and requesting copies of tests to taking photos when hard copies weren't provided, I ensured we had a comprehensive record. This documentation proved invaluable during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, which I learned to record after checking local laws that permitted this.
Words of Encouragement
In our house, we use the power of "yet." When our children struggle, we remind them they "don't have it yet." This simple word carries the promise that with the right support and practice, they will get there.
Remember: You're not alone on this journey. The challenges are real, but so are the solutions and the incredible strengths that come with dyslexia. With early intervention, appropriate support, and understanding, your child can thrive.
About the Parent: Alana McWilliams is a passionate advocate for inclusive education and effective communication, drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience as a mother of three, including two children with dyslexia. With over 15 years in strategic communications and design, she brings a unique perspective to the intersection of learning and visual communication. She is committed to reforming education and equipping teachers with affordable resources to provide specialized instruction, ensuring all students have the opportunity to read and succeed.
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