What does a parent do when she suspects her child has learning
difficulties? How can she advocate for her child when everyone keeps
telling her that her child will "just" grow out of it, that she'll learn
to read when she's ready? I really want to tells you story about my struggle for success-and how I
found the resources to identify my daughter's reading difficulties, as well
as the supports she needed to succeed.
- Be an advocate for your child. If your child has trouble with reading, you or the teacher may suggest that he receive an evaluation. If you are concerned about your child's progress, and he is on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP),
check in with your child's team of specialists. Although you will have
regularly scheduled meetings, you can request a meeting at any time to
discuss your child's progress.
- Help your child know who she is and what she can do. Having a learning disability does not
mean your child isn't smart or can't learn. Rather, it means she learns
differently. Don't let your child's learning disability define her.
Talk with her about her struggles. Point out that very intelligent
people can have reading difficulties and that you and the school are
working together to help her. At the same time, help her to identify her
interests and pursue them.
- Help your child know how he learns and when to ask for help.
It is important that your child's teachers and tutors help your child
figure out what learning difficulties he has. It's also important for
your child to figure out how he learns best. That way, it will be easier
to ask for help. And when he does ask for help, encourage him to ask
questions that will help him understand what he needs to know to solve
the problem.
- Help your child create systems that work for her.
Lots of children with learning disabilities have difficulty being
organized. It's so easy to lose a homework assignment, and even if they
bring it home, they might forget exactly what they were supposed to do
in the first place. So, work with the school to help your child create
systems that work for her. For example, learning to make lists can help
your child remember what to do next and can help her feel in control.
- Help your child realize he is not alone. Your child
might sometimes feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and alone. In addition to
getting academic support, your child might benefit from talking to a
counselor or participating in a support group, where he can share his
feelings, ideas, and experiences with others who learn differently.
- Make reading to your child a priority. Reading to
your child daily will increase her vocabulary, knowledge of the world,
and understanding of story structure. And by discussing stories with
your child, you will help her develop language skills and critical
thinking skills. By talking and reading to your child each day, by
reading and writing yourself, and by listening to your child read to
you, you can encourage a love of language and a lifelong love of
reading.
- Learn more about reading difficulties. Research in
recent years has contributed to our knowledge about reading
difficulties. As a result, there is now a wealth of information about
reading difficulties designed specifically for parents. You can learn
more about reading difficulties by exploring these
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