Every School Deserves a Dyslexia Specialist

As a dyslexia specialist working in a public school, I am often approached by parents of students who are not in my intervention groups. During the last year of my preparation program word had spread among the parents that I was training to become a dyslexia therapist. 

I would listen to each parent’s concerns. Usually, a parent would suspect dyslexia right away. I always informed each parent that I do not diagnose dyslexia, but would talk to their child’s teacher and set up a time for a reading screening.  

“Reading is not natural. We are not born to read. Reading is a skill. It does not determine your child’s level of intelligence. Let me sit down with your child, and I will tell you what I see.” This can be said to help calm an anxious parent. 

Many of the children I have screened had a few gaps in their foundational reading skills. I would ask the classroom teacher to schedule a conference to discuss my findings. 

On one occasion, I prepared a binder of Spin-and-Read Phonics games created by The Dyslexia Classroom. 

After meeting with the parent, I followed up with how her daughter was progressing. The parent was excited to share how her daughter wanted to play the reading games after school. She noticed an immediate improvement in her daughter’s confidence.

All children deserve to reach their full potential.

Every school deserves to have a dyslexia specialist who can support students and parents. Not every child has dyslexia. Dyslexia specialists are qualified to support all parents who have concerns about their children.