Dyslexia

[Hurstlandshome]

My daughter has dyslexia. She is a couple of years behind, can read and write, but simply cannot process phonics. I'm unsure how this will translate to exam results in the future.

AIBU to feel annoyed that if she were a boy her job prospects would still be pretty good; tradesmen can earn a fortune, but because she's female her options are limited?

Can anyone give me a steer on possible job routes? And before anyone says 'she can still be an electrician/plumber/builder' - I feel it's unlikely she'll go down this route.

Hi everyone, thanks for all your replies. I honestly feel so much better about the situation after reading this thread.

I spoke to Senco at DD's school and she has arranged for an assessment with an educational psychologist in September. Findings from that assessment will lead the support she'll receive in year 5.

So, something is now happening! Which I think was one of the reasons I was finding the situation so hopeless.

Thanks again

She is dyslectic. You make it sound like she can't read or write at all.
She is just behind. So many dyslexia out there. She will find her fit. And stop being sexist.

nearly every engineer I know is dyslexic.
but don’t give up on her… there is plenty of specialist coaching available for dyslexia and by the time reaches adulthood I suspect everything will be computer processed and her dyslexia will be a non - problem.

Just to contradict what a pp said, dyslexic people are not more intelligent. Dyslexia hasn’t been shown to be linked with IQ either way. Very bright people with dyslexia will still do well as they’ll be bright enough to work around it.

More average people (the majority) with dyslexia may struggle and not reach their potential if they are not recognised and helped. But with help they’ll reach their goals.

I liken it to a teacher taking a class up a mountain. All the children climb well except for one child who can’t seem to manage and begins to fall behind. The child thinks they must be slow, unfit and lazy. One day someone notices that while all the other children are wearing hiking boots, this child is barefoot. They point this out to the child and advise the child to look for stepping stones as they climb. After that, the child can climb just as well as the others.

Dyslexic strengths are caring, physical (dance/sport), art, graphic design, interior design, computer programming, mathematical abilities....
The list goes on, there are lots of them.
MadeByDyslexia has some excellent parent resources which has information on the skills of dyslexic thinkers. They are videos so are really easy to watch and enjoy (rather than feel like you're doing training).
You're not over thinking it - you're a worried parent. It's tough, I've been there. Arm yourself with knowledge and positivity, get yourself some points of contact of people who understand and carry on being a great mum. 😎

I’m dyslexic, a woman and have a Masters Degree and work as a Psychotherapist.
She knows when she is young enough to get the help and support she needs to help her.

I'm dyslexic and a professional with a significant academic training in language and communication. I struggle with systems and maps, and reading alloud makes me dizzy but reading quietly is fine, I'm just a very slow reader and comprehension is slow. I can't spell and my handwriting is unique, but typing is fine and I often Google what spell check can't help with. I write reports on behalf of my organisation all the time. You can't tell at this stage what she'll be able to do.

In the nicest possible way, this is ... dubious. Especially since quite a lot of dyslexics also have dyspraxic traits.

'Caring' is utter patronising bollocks.

OP, I'm glad you're feeling better, and that your DD will get an assessment.

FWIW most of my family is dyslexic, and we've done all sorts of different interesting jobs from academia to engineering (yes, agree with a PP, it's a stereotype for a reason) to computer science to teaching.

I know you said your DD probably doesn't want to be a plumber/builder or whatever (though there's masses of demand for women who want to do these things, IME - probably more than for men!), but there are plenty of physical/manual jobs that she might enjoy. My very dyslexic brother spent ages fighting through education (he has two degrees), but he's much, much happier now he's a gardener and landscaper; he just enjoys it so much more and it suits him. It isn't super heavy work so not necessarily a job that would obviously attract men rather than women.

Sorry to butt in, but you mentioned 'blue paper', OP - but that would usually be for Irlens, not Dyslexia. (Irlens is twice as common as Dyslexia, but hugely under-diagnosed and misunderstood - you can have one without the other, but it's not unusual to have both)

My DC has Dyslexia and Irlens. The first not officially diagnosed until they were 12, the second until a year after that.

They had exam provision of extra time and coloured paper for their GCSEs (it's really important, when you get to that stage, that your DD has exam provision for her needs - it lasts for 2 years, and is usually done at the beginning of Year 10 for GCSEs, and then again at the beginning of Year 12 for A Levels.)

My DC went on to do 3 really 'writing-heavy' A Levels, went on to gain a 1st class degree (again, had the same exam provision as had been given at school - unis are really on the ball with things like this) and has now got a 1st class Masters, and is half way through a PhD. Again, in a really 'writing-heavy' discipline.

Dyxlexia is a bit of a spectrum, OP - some are far more affected than others - but there is help there. It can also be genetic (we have it on both sides of the family) and the Irlens is an added thing on the top, but not insurmountable.

Your DD will do well, OP! Please don't doubt that. With the right provision and support in place, she will achieve her potential.

Good luck!