Dyslexic students have a set of simple legal rights that are easy to understand.
Leading educationalists, experts, and great teachers all agree that best practice in the classroom delivers these rights, and in fact helps all students learning. Unfortunately, best practice is not yet common practice and that's not good enough. Together we can change this, and must. Knowledge is power, and advocacy is the tool for change.
Whilst the education system does not recognise and respond automatically to these rights, dyslexic students will require strong advocacy by parents and others who wish to see these students succeed and reach their potential. Until this happens, schools are a battlefield and parents the advocacy army. Parents must, on a daily basis, demand that rights are recognised and dyslexic students are given a genuine opportunity to succeed.
The good news is, that when dyslexic students are given appropriate learning experiences, they become confident, and success follows naturally. They begin to understand themselves, take ownership of their way of thinking, and appreciate what their true potential is. This in turn, allows students to advocate for their own needs and rights which sets them up for success beyond the classroom.
It’s not rocket science!
It's not rocket science!
Imagine a classroom in which the initial response to dyslexic type learning needs was to view them as "preferred ways of learning" rather than automatically as difficulties or even worse, as disabilities.
Recognising that dyslexic students have the right to be dyslexic might for some seem obvious, but for many it is a major paradigm shift. When teachers fully accept that their dyslexic students have needs that must be met, it automatically alters the way inclusion in the classroom is planned and achievements are measured. The surprising outcome is that when a classroom becomes dyslexia aware, all students benefit.
Whilst the education system does not recognise and respond automatically to this right [and the legislation that underpins it], dyslexic students will require strong advocacy by parents and others who wish to see these students succeed and reach their potential.
Dyslexic students’ brains work differently. They generally prefer, and feel more comfortable, working visually - and are big picture / concept driven. The acquisition of basic skills like reading and spelling uses a different part of the brain and therefore provides an unexpected difficulty to both student and teacher.
This difficulty will be become a major learning barrier unless teachers take the right approach and provide the necessary support. When teachers take steps to remove stress, and are empathetic, students become ready to engage in learning challenges - and success can be achieved.
For many, the dyslexia aware classroom will be enough. Others will require interventions that are carefully matched to their learning profile.
Dyslexia doesn't go away, so when students need to show what they know through exams or assessments, simple accommodations are needed, like extra time or the use of a computer. In the early school years, teachers should encourage alternative forms of evidence to show learning, such as mind-maps, oral presentations or videos.
With this simple approach dyslexic students become confident and success follows naturally. They begin to understand themselves and what their true potential is which allows students to advocate themselves, for their needs and rights.
Until the education system fully embraces this, schools are a battlefield and parents the advocacy army. Parents must, on a daily basis, demand that rights are recognised and dyslexic students are given a genuine opportunity to succeed.
It's not rocket science!
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