As a parent of two dyslexic children, knowing what to do for them educationally is hard. I am a career teacher and I still struggled with how to best help my own children. As I spent years researching , and seeking out help from outside the school systyem, I learned alot. There were lots of accommodations I didnt knowI could ask for. So I comnplied a list of here 4 dyslexic accommodations parents and teachers should know.
Extra time on test
Extra time on test is one accommodation that is usually an offered during the IEP or 504 meeting for students who qualify. This is especially vaild for dyslexic students. Most dyslexic students may need more time to write down text compared to non-dyslexics. Extra time is beneficial and you should ask for it at your next meeting if you don’t already have this as an accommodation.
Audiobooks and Audio dictation
Audiobooks are a game-changer for dyslexic students. They create a level playing field for students with dyslexia, allowing them to stay on track with the rest of the class. They can listen to books rather than struggle to read them manually. This way dyslexics can still interact with the class discussions. There are great resources like dictation.io, that allow students to speak and dictation.io will dictate for students. Students can print their dictation as a PDF, send an email and even edit directly on this site.
Not grading spelling
Teachers can really accommodate dyslexic students by not taking off for spelling. If the assignment is to write a reflection about something they read in class, then not taking off for spelling allows the student to be graded on content. It also allows the student to get their thoughts across without the stress of correcting their spelling. This could slow down their thought process and they may forget what they were writing. On the other hand if the assignment is a spelling test then the teacher should count off for spelling. If this is the case then hopefully the teacher hasa been working on specific spelling skills with the student so he or she has a better chance of being successful on the test.
Using Multisensory Approach
This next accommodation is one I hope to see in all classrooms someday. A multisensory approach is so valuable for dyslexic students but research has shown it also beneficial for students who are not dyslexic. A multisensory approach means teachers use several sensory methods to teach the same skill. I used this multisensory lapbook in my classroom.
These 4 dyslexia accommodations are simple and generally easy for teachers and districts to enforce. Although these skills are a great starting point when creating dyslexia accommodations they nay or may not be rifght for your child or student. Teachers and parents should always remember each student’s accommodations should be specific to that child’s needs. Just like snowflakes, each dyslexic is different.
