Dyslexia Action plan
Here’s how to get started

It is imperative to maintain open lines of communication between your child, your school and yourself via email, phone or regular personal contact.

  1. Start observing your child and making notes their strengths and weaknesses.
  2. Start collecting samples of your child’s schoolwork and items that demonstrate their strengths and weaknesses.
  3. Get a notebook to keep track of any conversations, meetings and phone call regarding your child, include dates, who was invoked and the outcome
  4. Get a folder to keep copies of notes, letters, documents and school reports.
  5. If you have any suspicions talk to your child's school
  6. Find a good GP or Paediatrician who understands Learning Difficulties and can provide referrals
  7. Have a professional diagnosis (Educational Psychologist) or assessment conducted (Contact SPELD (in your state) or the Australian Dyslexia Association ADA http://dyslexiaassociation.org.au/.
  8. Make sure s/he school has a Support Plan that includes access to a Support Teacher for skills teaching and daily accommodations in the classroom and for assessments
  9. Remember Reading Recovery will not help dyslexic children – there is plenty of research to support this statement
  10. Based on your child’s report speak to the school and check that your child’s strengths are being utilised and their weaknesses are being accommodated for and how.

For example you may ask about:

·  Whether my child is receiving small group support. How often?

·  Suggest minimal copying from chalkboard or whiteboard

·  Having notes provided by the teacher

·  Allowed to use a computer / ipad or writing or has a scribe

·  Looks up maths facts - using grid paper not lines

·  Has audio text and audio books available

·  Does the school have access to a Multisensory Literacy program MSL

·  Extra time for tests and exams

  1. Allowed to give oral responses instead of writing
  2. Find a good dyslexia program that you can use at home. Please check the Macquarie University Special Education Briefings http://www.musec.mq.edu.au/community_outreach/musec_briefings

Or find a good tutor - contact SPELD (in your state) or the LD Network https://www.ldaustralia.org/ or the ADA http://dyslexiaassociation.org.au/

  1. Put a support team in place for your child – consider immediate family, extended family and friends, your child’s friends, teachers, local community groups.
  2. Put some strategies in place to maintain and build your child’s self-esteem and confidence.

From Liz Dunoon’s book Helping Children with Dyslexia updated by HG 2014