Dyslexia-personal experiences and help

Just a few words of encouragement. Two of my four children, now in their thirties, are dyslexic. My son struggled at primary school ( at that time dyslexia was a middle class fantasy!)but was lucky enough to be brilliantly supported at secondary level. He has a degree in Business Studies and is a qualified management accountant - he had to work hard but is very determined ( and now loves reading)
My daughter was diagnosed at an earlier stage and was supported throughout school (she also has Lupus) and also had help at university, her current job offers support. Every child is different, but they all have their strengths, they just need encouragement to find them.

What skills are taught to train teachers daph re dyslexia?

I'm going to do that FutureLearn course too, Rinouchka. Despite teaching languages for years, I have never had any formal SN training. It just isn't on the agenda during 'training days' and I've never had the opportunity or be able to afford specialist courses. What I've gleaned has been self-taught.

It is possible to teach dyslexic children foreign languages (especially German), although they do face a number of barriers, such as short-term memory problems and phoneme recognition. The FutureLearn course should be interesting.

rinouchka if he is lucky enough to attend a special school then he will fly. You will be astounded at how well he will do. Keep your eyes on the horizon.

I am so glad to read this thread. Our first grandson, aged 8, is very badly dyslexic. We are just in the process, as a family, to find strategies to help him develop and reach his considerable potential.

I am beginning a course about dyslexia online via the University of Lancaster. Then,
last night, at our DiL's suggestion, I enrolled in a free online FutureLearn course for teaching a second language to a dyslexic child( we are a multilingual family). I begin in late April.

Helping our GS is an an informed, loving work in progress. He also begins a new school in September which is a centre for dyslexia. Next term, we are home schooling him with all hands on deck. This has not been an easy decision but is the best one for him at the moment as he has become dispirited and is losing his sparkle.

trish the bloody thing was that they were both getting excellent help, but it was cut totally arbitrarily. Daughter is lucky and can pay, but how many children were hung out to dry because of this governments austerity programme.

Yes following on from tanith both boys have always had a good mastery of the spoken word. In fact the eldest receives huge praise from school and his work experience company, indicating his maturity etc. In his speech.

Thanks for the posts
tanith I think one of the hardest things to accept if you are someone who loves reading is that someone will never have the pleasure you have from it. That said don't underestimate the appreciation of language dyslexics can have. Of my 3 DSs the dyslexic is probably the one who appreciates poetry most and loves spoken language in plays and films. Try reading poetry with your GD she may enjoy it.
whitewave I despair of education when the true abilities of a child are not supported by the system and parents have to pay to get the help they need.
Creativity is a often a strength with dyslexics and should be really encouraged. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this was appreciated more. Level c in English is so stupid. Can you imagine asking someone with sight impairment to lead someone along a path somewhere and failing them if they can't do it?

trish my grandsons are now 12 and 16. With the eldest it was clear from a very young age that he totally lacked eye, hand brain coordination. He simply couldn't master the art of holding a pencil. He watched tv and read sort of sideways. "To stop it moving" He worked so hard - it was heartbreaking to see him, and got very little forward. He was diagnosed at about 6 years old and immediately was given help at school. He has a lap top rather than a pen and paper. My younger grandson isn't quite so badly affected , but also received a dyslexic diagnoses. Help at school was cut completely without a days warning. My daughter now has to pay £50 per hour per child for extra tutoring. Revision is utterly exhausting and a teenager is difficult to persuade that it is worth the candle. But daughter keeps going.

On the up side. Both are extremely creative. They can envisage complete projects and how to get there very quickly. They are therefore wizards at problem solving. Eldest is on track for top marks in science, computer engineering and maths. English is a real struggle but he needs at least a c or whatever this daft government deems it to be at the moment in order to progress

My opinion is that dyslexia is simply a different way if learning and the educationalists have been clueless in the past in teaching this large minority. They will continue to be at this rate.

My 12yr old Granddaughter was diagnosed last year and I'd like to thank you for posting what he said about it being exhausting to read. I've bought her lots of books to try and give her my love of reading but nothing has. I've been so disheartened to see her take a book I've searched for that I think will really interest her only to see it consigned to the shelf never to be looked at again.
I had never considered it would exhaust her to read just that she really couldn't be @rsed .
I just ordered her a book called Fantastically Great Women which has pictures and just one page on each Women , maybe I can read a page with her at a time that way it won't be too tiring..

thanks trisher