Creating Resources for Dyslexia Support: Empowering Parents with Practical Tools for Children with Reading-Based SLDs

Supporting a child with dyslexia or a reading-based Specific Learning Disability (SLD) can be a journey filled with challenges, growth, and discovery. As part of our ongoing commitment to empowering parents, I developed "Supporting Your Child with a Reading-Based SLD," a new guide specifically crafted for families navigating the world of dyslexia.

Click here for the flipbook:

Addressing the Needs of Children with Dyslexia

Children with reading-based SLDs often face struggles with decoding, spelling, and reading comprehension. However, these students are often just as capable and talented as their peers—they simply process reading differently. This resource is designed to help parents provide the supportive environment their child needs to thrive.

Key Strategies and Resources Included

To ensure a comprehensive approach, I focused on integrating practical, research-backed strategies into this guide. Here’s a closer look at some of the core strategies parents will find:

1. The Orton-Gillingham Approach: A structured, multisensory approach to reading, Orton-Gillingham emphasizes sequential and cumulative learning. Each lesson builds on the previous one, reinforcing key skills and helping students develop reading fluency. This method has become a gold standard in dyslexia support, offering clear, incremental steps to help children decode and engage with text.
2. Accessible Reading Tools and Technology: For many students with dyslexia, tools like audiobooks and text-to-speech programs are transformative. These technologies help students access age-appropriate content and engage with text in ways that build comprehension and vocabulary without the stress of decoding every word.
3. Building a Structured Learning Environment: Routine and structure are critical for children with dyslexia. Establishing a consistent daily reading routine and breaking down reading tasks into smaller, manageable sections can reduce anxiety and improve focus, allowing children to experience steady progress.
4. Encouraging a Growth Mindset: Self-confidence is essential for students with reading-based challenges, and fostering a growth mindset is key. In this resource, parents are encouraged to focus on praising effort over results, teaching children that persistence and resilience are what lead to improvement.

Collaboration and Professional Support

Parents are also guided on how to work with teachers and specialized educators, including those trained in evidence-based approaches. This section emphasizes the importance of partnership between home and school, helping ensure that children’s needs are met across environments.

The Goal: Empowering Parents and Children Alike

Our ultimate aim with this guide is to empower parents with strategies they can implement at home, making reading a more accessible, less frustrating experience for children with dyslexia. By equipping parents with these tools, we help them become advocates and partners in their child’s learning journey.

If you’re a parent, educator, or supporter of inclusive education, I invite you to explore "Supporting Your Child with a Reading-Based SLD." This guide, along with others in our series, is part of our commitment to creating learning environments where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

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