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Children with Dyslexia need to feel safe, have a voice and choice, know trust AND be empowered both physically and emotionally BEFORE we can expect them to be able to participate in their own education.
Given the widespread scope and prevalence of childhood Dyslexia and its associated trauma, we must look through a trauma informed lens to find healing for our children, both academically and emotionally.
Are you ready to help your child with Dyslexia?
See our path below!
Signs and Symptoms
If your child has not been diagnosed but you suspect they may have dyslexia, here are some signs and symptoms:
Before school age:
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Late talking and learning new words slowly
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Problems forming words correctly, such as reversing sounds in words or confusing words that sound alike
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Problems remembering or naming letters, numbers and colors
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Difficulty learning nursery rhymes or playing rhyming games
School age:
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Reading and spelling well below the expected level for age
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Problems processing and understanding what he or she hears
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Difficulty finding the right word or forming answers to questions
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Problems remembering the sequence of things
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Difficulty seeing (and occasionally hearing) similarities and differences in letters and words
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Inability to sound out the pronunciation of an unfamiliar word
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Avoiding activities that involve reading
Dyslexia can lead to low self esteem
There is a direct relationship between adverse childhood experiences and academic performances for children with Dyslexia. The traumatic effect dyslexia may have on students:
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has long lasting adverse effects -- and most teachers do not pick up on the symptoms
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can have a profoundly negative impact on all aspects of a child's development: physically, cognitively, academically, emotionally, behaviorally, and socially
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can bring a child’s ability to learn to a standstill
Common causes of emotional trauma:
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lack of early identification/diagnosis leads children to believe they are "dumb" when in fact they were not getting the proper tools to learn to read, write and spell
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lack of appropriate interventions that are based on research and follow the Orton Gillingham methodology leads children to believe nothing works for them and they will always be bad at reading, spelling and writing
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using the same teaching methods over and over for students with Dyslexia creates the experience of failing over and over leading to low self worth
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lack of dyslexia education in school for students with Dyslexia leads them to believe they are the only person with this problem and feel very ashamed of themselves
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Teachers embarrassing them by asking them to perform oral reading in front of peers
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therapy services to repair feelings of physical, social, emotional, and academic safety
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compassionately educating the child about their disability to demystify their struggles
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teaching self advocacy skills to the child (usually starting in middle school)
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educating staff about the impact dyslexia has on their students and share accessible resources
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using positive and culturally-responsible policies and practices
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access to research proven and appropriate remediation/intervention programs
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monitoring functional and practical outcomes for the student and adjust as needed
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normalizing Dyslexia by being open and honest about our own struggles without minimizing their own experiences
Our trauma-sensitive approach:
We help families in
these districts!
Torrance Unified School District (TUSD)
Redondo Unified School District (RUSD)
Hermosa Unified School District (HUSD)
Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD)
El Segundo Unified School District (ESUSD)
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD)
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD)
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District (NLMUSD)
Don't see your district listed? No problem.
We cover all of California.
* Information and referrals may be provided and nothing is offered as, nor should be considered as medically diagnostic or as legal or medical advice. Referrals may be made and are for information purposes only, and no responsibility is accepted associated with the consequences that arise from commerce or dealings with an individual, professional, organization or a corporation. A referral does not imply an endorsement, and an omission does not imply a non-endorsement.
© Advocate To Educate 2021