How do you get dyslexia accommodations for a dyslexic child in school? Find information in this video and at our website, www.dyslexiaconnect.com .
If your child is dyslexic, or you think that they may be dyslexic, you may wish to seek accommodations for them at school. Accommodations for dyslexia can include additional time on tests and written assignments, more time for exams, and less assigned homework. If your child is dyslexic, the first step that you will want to take is to investigate dyslexia tutoring programs. A dyslexia tutor who is trained in Orton-Gillingham or one of the other well known dyslexia tutoring methods will be able to provide the one-on-one help a dyslexic child needs to make progress with their reading, spelling and comprehension. You can check out our online dyslexia tutoring program at our website.
The first step in seeking accommodations for dyslexia in school is to request an evaluation for learning disabilities. Typically, if a parent requests this, the school will set it up and the testing will occur within a few months. There are some complications that you may face during this process. First of all, you may be told that your school does not acknowledge dyslexia as a real diagnosis, or that they do not believe that dyslexia is a real learning disability. You may also find that the school does not wish to use the term "dyslexia" at all. If this is the case, you will need to seek out an official diagnosis from a doctor or psychiatrist. An official dyslexia diagnosis will give you the evidence you need to seek accommodations in such a case. To find a provider who performs official dyslexia evaluations, try checking with the International Dyslexia Association. You can also contact us, and we can point you in the right direction.
If the school agrees to the evaluation, but the results come back showing that the child does not have any learning difficulties or disabilities, but you know that something is wrong, you may still need to get an official dyslexia diagnosis. The diagnosis will help you pursue accommodations, even if the school evaluation shows that the child does not have any learning difficulties.
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Peter Groth
CEO
Dyslexia Connect Online Tutoring