What you don't expect is the anguish you will go through to ensure your child learns to read, write and spell. You expect to walk into the school with all the answers - because, it's actually pretty simple:
- It's called Dyslexia
- It affects reading, writing, and spelling
- He learns different - he needs multi-sensory (all senses approach)
- He needs to learn systematically - start at the beginning and follows a logical order.
- It needs to be cumulative - each step must be based on concepts previously learned.
- It must be explicit - all concepts must be taught - don't assume he knows the concepts.
- A multi-sensory structured literacy approach is most effective.
What I actually experienced is a lack of knowledge about Dyslexia that left me baffled. I thought that the diagnosis of Dyslexia would open doors to new options that would help my son. But, teachers looked at me dumbfounded when I said it was dyslexia. I heard, "isn't that where they flip the letters around?" But, that was all that was really known about Dyslexia.
When I asked for the proven interventions that the International Dyslexia Association, Understood.org, Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity and countless other websites speak of, the school team looked at me like I was crazy. Either they had never heard of these Multi-Sensory Structured Literacy Programs, they are too stuck in their mindset to consider that what they are doing doesn't work, or they are unwilling to consider another alternative. And all of those choices are not acceptable for your child with Dyslexia.
I took my plea to the top of the ladder - I went straight to the Director of Curriculum for Special Education and was given excuses. Excuses from funding issues to we just don't have those programs here.
I was excited when she told me if I could find a Multi-Sensory program that meets two criteria; Scientifically Researched and Peer Reviewed to meet the IDEA guidelines for funding special education programs on the Florida Center for Reading Readiness they would consider bringing them to the district.
I had a mission! I spent hours pouring over the FCRR website. I googled every Multi-Sensory Program based on the Orton-Gillingham method I could find. I found that the FCRR Program Reviews had not been updated for many years. Despite that, I still found two programs that fit her criteria. I emailed her my findings and waited and waited and waited. I never received a response.
I was excited when she told me if I could find a Multi-Sensory program that meets two criteria; Scientifically Researched and Peer Reviewed to meet the IDEA guidelines for funding special education programs on the Florida Center for Reading Readiness they would consider bringing them to the district.
I had a mission! I spent hours pouring over the FCRR website. I googled every Multi-Sensory Program based on the Orton-Gillingham method I could find. I found that the FCRR Program Reviews had not been updated for many years. Despite that, I still found two programs that fit her criteria. I emailed her my findings and waited and waited and waited. I never received a response.
With no response, I then decided it was time to go to the School Board to raise awareness for Dyslexia. So, on January 25th, 2016 - My son and I went to speak at a School Board meeting. The room was packed, standing room only. There had been an awards presentation before the board meeting - please excuse my nerves as I stumbled across the words as I started speaking.
For a PDF copy of the speech Click here
I took my inspiration for my speech from one of my favorite Dyslexia Advocates, Dr. Kelli Sandman-Hurley from the Dyslexia Training Institute. You can find her speech to a California school board here.
Thanks!
