Uniquely Gifted

Dyslexia

Please note: Being listed here is not per se an endorsement of any particular site or email list. I have included annotations for those sites or lists that I am familiar with and strongly recommend.

Sites

Dyslexia is a catch-all phrase for reading problems.  Different kids have different causes for their dyslexia, so there is no "one-size fits all" solution. If your child has reading problems, it is important to check for vision difficulties with a developmental optometrist who will check for how well the eyes work together rather than only acuity (see Vision Problems) and also for auditory processing problems with an audiologist who will check for processing issues such as ability to processing verbal information, especially with background noise rather than just acuity (see Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)).

International Dyslexia Association.  If you enter the Parent's section, and go to the Dyslexia FAQ, there's a link on the right of the page for Common Signs of Dyslexia (there's no direct link to this list).
http://www.interdys.org/

Dyslexia Adults Link (DAL) is a site for adults with dyslexia, includes information for parents and teachers, and is the host for Dyslexia Online Magazine
http://www.dyslexia-adults.com/

Dyslexia Awareness and Resource Center
http://www.dyslexiacenter.org/

Early detection and intervention are crucial for children with dyslexia.  Noted dyslexia researcher Sally Shaywitz, M.D., recommends the DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills), which is available for free at
http://dibels.uoregon.edu

Dyslexic Teens
http://www.ldteens.org/

                                     Books on Dyslexia

The Gillingham Manual: Remedial Training for Students With Specific Disability in Reading, Spelling, and Penmanship by Anna Gillingham and Bessie W. Stillman. A manual for teaching the Orton-Gillingham method of dyslexia remediation.

My Thirteenth Winter : A Memoir by Samantha Abeel is an amazing account by a gifted young woman with dyslexia and severe dyscalculia. A beautifully written look from the inside, by a talented writer, this is a must-read for parents, teachers, and kids with LDs. Ms. Abeel also wrote and published a poetry book, Reach for the Moon, when she was 13 years old.

Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level by Sally Shaywitz. Alfred A. Knopf. Dr. Shaywitz is a noted dyslexia researcher. This book emphasizes the importance of early detection and intervention.

Reading Rescue 1-2-3 : Raise Your Child's Reading Level 2 Grades with This Easy 3-Step Program by Peggy M. Wilber.  Some families have had good success with this program, based on research and using a combination of auditory training, phonics, and whole language.

Straight Talk About Reading : How Parents Can Make a Difference During the Early Years by Susan L. Hall & Louisa C. Moats.  Contemporary Books.  Has a good chapter on reading difficulties and disabilities.

To Read or Not to Read: Answers to All Your Questions About Dyslexia by Daphne M. Hurford.  Touchstone.

Overwhelmed by all the terminology and abbreviations? In addition to the acronyms page at this site, there's an excellent Dictionary for Parents of Children with Disabilities (in PDF format, you need Adobe Acrobat to read it) at http://www.usd.edu/cd/dictionary/.  It is also available as a website (but may take a long time to load) at http://www.usd.edu/cd/dictionary/dictionary.htm
There's a shorter "Glossary and Guide to Acronyms" (also in PDF) by Leslie Packer, Ph.D., at http://www.tourettesyndrome.net/Files/Conditions/Glossary2002.pdf
Another dictionary can be found at http://www.feat.org/legal/speddict.htm and another list of acronyms at http://www.feat.org/legal/terms.html. 

Last updated Friday October 06, 2006

"Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction."
       ~ Anne Sullivan (Helen Keller's Teacher)

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