For the new academic year, many students are feeling excited for the upcoming year ahead, those who suffer from dyslexia may be feeling nervous. School and university can be stressful at the best of times, but for students who are struggling with dyslexia, the challenges of a new school year can be made all the more difficult.
Whether yourself or your child suffers from dyslexia, there are some simple tips you can use to make sure the year ahead goes as smoothly and successfully as possible. Firstly, understand that you are not alone. Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities throughout the world, with the BBC estimating that 1 in 10 children have dyslexia, and many of the cases are undiagnosed until later adulthood.
Secondly, there are also a huge range of resources more readily available at our fingertips. Living in the digital age has allowed many of us to find cures for everyday problems. In fact, dyslexic people can live normal lives and still greatly improve their reading and writing skills. Smartphone applications and software add-ons are now being designed to allow dyslexic readers to more easily access all of the opportunities and possibilities on the Internet. Indeed, Recite Me’s custom toolbar was created with exactly this purpose in mind.
Thankfully, many schools are noticing these challenges, particularly in the United States. Tennessee and Missouri are just a few of the states that are beginning to pass laws to screen new students for dyslexia. Known as the Dyslexia Screening Bill, the new law is designed to identify the condition early on and assist students with extra tuition before the struggles begin. Legal bills aside, the vast majority of schools and universities on either sides of the Atlantic will also offer extra time on examinations and schoolwork for students who have dyslexia.
Dyslexia may be a common problem, but it can also come with a lot of frustration. Being patient and understanding the resources that are out there to assist you means that such a common disability will not hold you back, ensuring that you have the most successful year ahead.
