Dyslexia Awareness Month: A Time to Educate, Advocate, Celebrate
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, a time devoted to educating others, advocating for change, and celebrating the approximately one in five individuals whose brains are wired differently. A teacher who understands and recognizes dyslexia can be the one person who saves a child from years of frustration. Dyslexia is the most common of all known learning disabilities, and “when we know better, we do better” (Maya Angelou).
What Exactly Is Dyslexia? Here Are Five Key Facts:
- Dyslexia is Neurological: Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects the brain's ability to process language, especially phonological processing—the skill needed to manipulate sounds in words—which is crucial for learning to read.
- Dyslexia is Common: Dyslexia is the most prevalent learning disability. It can range from mild to severe and affects individuals from all backgrounds.
- Dyslexia Impacts More Than Just Reading: While dyslexia primarily impacts reading, it can also influence other areas such as memory, organizational skills, and processing speed.
- Early intervention is Critical: The earlier dyslexia is identified and addressed, the better the outcomes. Early interventions focusing on phonics and phonemic awareness can significantly improve reading skills in young learners.
- Dyslexia is a Lifelong Condition, But Support Helps: With the right interventions and accommodations, individuals with dyslexia can become confident and capable readers.
What Are Some Common Myths and Misconceptions About Dyslexia?
Despite increasing awareness, many myths and misconceptions about dyslexia still persist, often leading to misunderstanding and lack of support. Common myths include:
- Letter Reversals: Letter reversals are very common for beginning readers and writers, and while some individuals may experience ongoing struggles with letter reversals, this is not a defining characteristic of dyslexia.
- Intelligence: Some of the most creative and intelligent individuals have dyslexia. It is not a reflection of cognitive ability, but rather, a specific difficulty in learning to decode written language.
- A Cure: Dyslexia can not be "outgrown" or “cured.” Dyslexia is a lifelong condition, but with the right support, individuals with dyslexia can become proficient readers and thrive in school and life.
- Try Harder: Dyslexia is not the result of laziness or lack of effort. It is a neurological condition that requires specific interventions and support, and the challenges individuals face are genuine and require understanding and assistance.
- A Vision Problem: Dyslexia is not caused by vision issues. It is all about how the brain processes language, specifically impacting reading, spelling, and writing skills.
What Are Common Characteristics of Dyslexia?
Recognizing the characteristics of dyslexia is step one. Dyslexia often manifests as difficulty learning to read, write, and spell in early childhood. These challenges typically stem from phonological processing deficits, making it hard for children to break down and manipulate sounds in language. Other signs of dyslexia include:
- Difficulty with orally recognizing syllable patterns and isolating, blending, and segmenting sounds within words.
- Struggles with decoding words, especially unfamiliar ones.
- Slow or laborious reading, even with familiar words.
- Difficulty with spelling, often leading to inconsistent spelling of the same word.
- Challenges with learning to write, both in terms of handwriting and expressing ideas on paper.
- Trouble following sequences, such as instructions or the days of the week.
Why Is Early Intervention So Important?
A child who starts behind stays behind, and the gap widens (Matthew Effect). Identifying the warning signs of dyslexia and providing early intervention will profoundly affect a child’s academic trajectory. Furthermore, early identification helps prevent secondary issues such as low self-esteem.
What Are the Characteristics of Effective Intervention?
Evidence-based intervention must be explicit and systematic. Direct instruction in the structure of language, including how to recognize and manipulate sounds (phonemic awareness), how letters and sounds correspond (phonics), and how to decode and spell words must be taught step by step, with plenty of opportunities for practice and reinforcement.
While all students benefit from explicit, systematic phonics instruction, students with dyslexia need intensified instruction that is "relentless and amplified in every way possible so that it penetrates and takes hold" (Shaywitz, Overcoming Dyslexia, 2003, p. 256).
How Do Accommodations Level the Playing Field?
Early intervention and targeted instruction are crucial, but accommodations are equally important to ensuring students with dyslexia can access the curriculum and demonstrate their knowledge. Accommodations do not change the content or lower expectations; instead, they provide students with the tools they need to succeed.
Common accommodations for students with dyslexia include:
- Extra time on tests and assignments.
- Access to audiobooks or text-to-speech technology to support reading comprehension.
- The use of speech-to-text software for writing assignments.
- Breaking down assignments into smaller, manageable tasks.
- Seating students close to the teacher to minimize distractions and ensure they can receive additional help as needed.
How Can We Celebrate Neurodiversity?
We all learn in different ways and are smart in different ways. Here are a few ideas to celebrate students’ strengths:
- Encourage Creativity and Innovation: Celebrate the unique strengths associated with dyslexia, such as creative problem-solving and innovative thinking, by hosting art exhibits, creative writing contests, or brainstorming sessions that allow individuals to showcase their talents.
- Share Success Stories: Highlight and celebrate the achievements of individuals with dyslexia, showcasing their talents and contributions in various fields to inspire and challenge stereotypes.
- Read Aloud: Students with dyslexia excel in language comprehension, so read books aloud to grow vocabulary, critical thinking skills, and a love of reading. You might even choose a book that features a character who is neurodiverse.
Dyslexia may present challenges, but with the right support and accommodations, students with dyslexia can become confident and capable readers. By understanding and recognizing the characteristics of dyslexia, implementing early and effective interventions, providing appropriate accommodations, and celebrating the unique talents of learners, teachers can play a pivotal role in changing the academic and emotional trajectory of students with dyslexia. I’ll share more about this topic during an upcoming EDVIEW360 podcast, "Understanding and Recognizing Dyslexia: Leveling the Playing Field With Intervention.” I hope you'll join me. You can learn more here.