Self Advocacy: Encourage your child to speak up

In “The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan,” Ben Foss encourages parents to map to their child’s skills in a visual way to highlight their strengths and talents. “The Strengths Star” activity revolves around the eight major categories of strengths that are common in dyslexics. Unlock the World of Dyslexia Resources – Sign In Email Form

The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan is a practical guide that helps parents to help their child accept, understand and embrace their dyslexia. The book also speaks to a parent’s fear about the difficulties their child may encounter in the greater society. It’s unique in that it reframes dyslexia as a characteristic – a personal trait, much in the same way that blue eyes or stature is. Foss asserts that dyslexia should be accommodated in the same way that other disabilities are. The book references 3 types of reading: eye reading, ear reading and finger reading. While it’s true that most people eye read, other types of reading are in no way inferior. All types of reading are purely a way to acquire knowledge, not to synthesize it.  Foss highlights the current state of technology available to help dyslexics to read and write. He encourages parents to identify and leverage their child’s strength profile, to help their child to help themselves and create a community. Parents should focus on learning as a whole, rather than merely the ability to decode words.

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Recommended by Jennifer Biang , Parent Support Specialist

Did you know that many successful architects, lawyers, engineers—even bestselling novelists—had difficulties learning to read and write as children? In this book, Brock and Fernette Eide explain how 20% of people—individuals with dyslexia—share a unique learning style that can create advantages in a classroom, at a job, or at home.

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Recommended book by Deborah Lynam, Director of Parent Community Engagement

The truth is, there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to discuss your child’s learning disability with them. But, make no mistake about it – regardless of the approach – it’s a talk you need to have.