YOU PROBABLY HAVE A MILLION QUESTIONS, OR MAYBE YOU’RE SO NEW TO DYSLEXIA THAT YOU CAN’T THINK OF ANY. DON’T WORRY, I’VE ASKED THEM FOR YOU.
LET’S START WITH THESE…..
WHAT ON EARTH IS A LANGUAGE-BASED LEARNING DISORDER?
What are the signs of dyslexia or language-based learning disorders?
How early can you tell someone has it?
I just found out that my child has a language-based learning disorder. What does that mean?
Is dyslexia about more than just reversing letters?
Does it affect anything other than reading?
Is the disorder a cognitive deficit?
Do language-based learning disorders only affect academic function?
I don’t understand what’s going on. My child can read a word perfectly at the top of the page and then can’t figure it out two lines below. Is s/he just stupid?
TESTING AND EVALUATIONS
I’ve read that there are a couple of different kinds of evaluations. What are they?
Which one should we get?
What do they test?
What happens when we get the report?
How old does a child have to be before you can evaluate him/her?
IEPs
The school says my child needs an IEP. What is it?
Will an IEP go on his/her permanent record?
The school won’t give my child an IEP. What should I do?
OT EVALUATIONS
My child has terrible handwriting. The school says we should get him/her an OT evaluation. Someone told me that might not be a good idea. Is it?
TUTORS
My child has had a reading tutor for a long time but s/he’s still not catching up. Should I get a different tutor?
Are there specialty tutors?
How do I find one?
SCHOOLS
I know there are special ed schools, but it’s not like my child is on the spectrum. Does s/he really need one?
How do I figure out which one?
TUITION
I’ve heard that the NYC DoE sometimes provides tuition reimbursement for families who send their children to private/special ed schools. Do they?
How do you get the money back?
Would I have to pay it all up front?
THERAPISTS
Can you refer me to someone who has experience working with children with LDs?
SUMMER SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS
Should I send my child to summer school?
Will s/he catch up if I do?
VISION
My child says some things look blurry but his/her vision is fine. What’s going on?
DOES MY CHILD HAVE PERMANENT LIMITATIONS?
Is my child doomed to do poorly at school?
Can someone with dyslexia learn a foreign language?
Is it crazy to think my child will be able to learn enough Hebrew to have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah?
Does dyslexia affect more than just reading?
WHAT CAN I DO? WHAT SHOULD I KNOW?
Are there things I can do to help my child learn to read, or read more fluently, or is it a lost cause?
Is it just about practice and repetition?
Are there any specific tools or gadgets I should know about?
My child’s good with numbers but does poorly in math. What’s that about?