Dyslexia Advocate:  How Parents and Students Can Cope

To learn about what parents and students can do to address reading challenges, EducationWorld spoke with Sonya Bridges, President and Director of A Family Affair Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to raising awareness about the challenges of dyslexia and adult illiteracy and supporting those who face reading difficulties. Bridges has authored the children's book A Snail's Pace, which addresses setting goals, self esteem and the importance of perseverance.

See Part 1 of this interview for advice on how educators can support struggling readers.
 

EW:  When a student struggles with reading, what strategies should parents be asking the school to use—whether in the child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or simply in the course of regular-education instruction?

Bridges:  All school districts are different, but in general, I would say that if a district provides dyslexic therapy, they are on the right track. The key is to provide the therapy more than once a week, and ideally, every day.  Dyslexic therapy is a structured, specialized system of teaching. The therapy is based on the workings of the dyslexic brain. Effective dyslexic therapy is research-based, multisensory, systematic, individualized, explicit and cumulative. My recommendation is to use the Orton-Gillingham curriculum. It is centered on phonics, and it teaches the functions of reading, writing, fluency, spelling, comprehension and oral and written expression. A typical therapy lesson would look unlike what goes on in a traditional classroom. You would see an intensive lesson that moves at a rapid pace. There would be skywriting, manipulating alphabet letters, or analyzing vocabulary. Or, you might see word decoding, echo reading, or writing in sand or shaving cream.
 

EW: What can parents do to support dyslexic students at home? 

Bridges:  Encourage, love and support them. Read to them. Spend one-to-one time at the kitchen table with them. Tell them how great they are, and expose them to activities that build their confidence. Never give up on them.

More specifically, I like to summarize my advice into six major recommendations:

1. Trust Your Gut
   A lot of times kids with learning challenges face self-esteem problems. They may experience bullying, lack of confidence, and fear of failure. Remember that you know your child better than anyone. Monitor your child’s development and be his or her biggest fan and source of encouragement.  Never allow your son or daughter to feel inferior to anyone, and help him or her believe that being dyslexic is a gift.
    
2. Draft a Homework Contract
   Unfortunately, many dyslexic students may detest school and homework. Homework is extremely important, however, since it reinforces material learned in class. A homework contract may help families.  By drafting a homework contract, parents can teach goal-setting and organization skills, which may not come easily to dyslexic students.
   
   Examples of parent agreements include:  (1) Provide assistance when needed and as teachers or dyslexic therapists recommend; (2) provide the tools, space and transportation necessary for homework completion; and (3) offer rewards when relevant.
   
   Example of students agreements include: (1) Keep an assignment logbook and don’t keep any assignments a secret; (2) establish a schedule and stick to it; (3) give plenty of notice when supplies are needed; and (4) bring home returned assignments and show grades to parents.
   
   Parents should also provide “payoffs” for children when they honor their end of the contract—for example, chore-free weekends, an allowance, movie night, or even longer-term rewards such as a car or a school vacation trip.
    
3. Color-Code Textbooks
   I recommend color-coding textbooks. This allows dyslexic students to seek out colors when trying to locate study materials, cutting down on frantic searches and helping with organization.           
    
4. Occupy the Other Side of the Brain
   Insisting that a student remain still or not “fidget” while working may make things worse, since ADHD and sensory integration problems often accompany dyslexia. Experiment with sensory objects such as squishy balls, chew necklaces or gum to determine whether they might enhance concentration. By holding an object in his or her non-writing hand, that particular side of the brain is engaged, and the child may be better able to focus on the homework task.
    
5. Ramp Up the Positivity
   As much as I disliked school, I enjoyed shopping for supplies. My mom would always try to make it exciting, too. She would say in a positive tone, “New year, new supplies.” We would go shopping for clothes, and she would try to keep reiterating that a new school year is a fresh start. The challenge for parents is to maintain this positive attitude toward school throughout the year.   
    
6. Set Goals
   Brainstorm three to five goals that your child wants to accomplish this year. Is it finding a new favorite author? Staying organized? Helping another student with dyslexia?
   
   I encourage parents to work toward the goal of their son or daughter enjoying reading, but with a dyslexic child, this can be easier said than done. Parents should attempt to expose kids to different types of reading material—including magazines, comic books and Web sites—and show them that reading can be done for pleasure, outside of homework. Have fun picking out books together, or try attending author readings or library events.
    

EW:  What should kids with dyslexia understand about their personal challenges? 

Bridges:  Young people should understand that dyslexia is a gift rather than a challenge or disability. With hard work, a child can achieve his or her dreams. 

Parents can help kids find their "sweet spot" in life, where they hear their "inner music." Every young person has talents and strengths, and with support, they can capitalize on them.

See Part 1 of this interview for advice on how educators can support struggling readers.

Article by Celine Provini, EducationWorld Editor
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