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

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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?

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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

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I’ve heard that the NYC DoE sometimes provides tuition reimbursement for families who send their children to private/special ed schools.  Do they?

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How do you get the money back?

 

Would I have to pay it all up front?

THERAPISTS

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Can you refer me to someone who has experience working with children with LDs?

SUMMER SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS

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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?

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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?