IT support for twice exceptional

[flowerpowergirl]

My DS (8) is gifted and dyslexic. Not really badly dyslexic but enough to hinder his potential. And like all mums I want to help him maximise his potential! He is at a British International school (we live abroad) who are supportive but I think not experienced with his particular needs. I have posted here before and had great advice about reading. Now I'm investigating the best IT support for him. I have had some apps recommended - ITunes U and Livescribe. We are trying a touch typing course and I am considering Dragon VR software. Basically I want to go into school at the beginning of next term with a list of things that will help him in a practical way in class. Any ideas? All suggestions would be much appreciated! I should add that he is desperate for his own tablet which I will buy for use in school (no games!) if there is good reason...

Teach him to type! My ds1 is dyslexic and his ed psych suggested typing as a way to help, you learn finger patterns for words which is a different way of processing words and she said some find it easier. Certainly it helped his confidence, it's hard bing clever and dyslexic because if you aren't careful people think you just are careless.

At 8 his hands should be just big enough to touch type.

I would now be described as twice exceptional now days.
Typing changed my life I could finally put the words on the paper at the speed that they are happening in my head. The spell check also helped, but you do have to know what letters are in the word to start with and later in life spell checks struggle with scientific words.
The other thing that helped was getting the correct mindset, it is unfair you do have to work harder than everyone else.

However, if you accept that the sky is your limit.

Typing, definitely. It takes a while to learn.

I don't have problems with dyslexia, but I'm sure that I can type much faster than I can write legibly - copy-typing at 78wpm and typing-out-of-my-head at up to 115wpm which is waaaaaay faster than I can write. The motor skills required are entirely different, and the processing is different too, so it should help.

If he's going to be typing his work, make sure that he has easy access to a printer at school. Otherwise his work may end up staying unmarked because the teacher can't access it.

Also ask if he can keep his work in a folder rather than an exercise book. It's easier than having to glue sheets of paper in to books.

Check whether the school would prefer the spell-checker and automatic caps to be switched off. If he does any SATs-style tests, they usually expect them to be switched off, which can be tricky for a child who is used to having them switched on.

There is a special learn to type programme for dyslexic children. I can't remember the name of it but surely if you google...

Thanks all. We are doing a touch typing course recommended by a dyslexia centre in the UK. He is reluctant so I am trying to come up with rewards that don't mean I'm giving him loads of chocolate and/or screen time - already giving chocolate for reading! Poor thing it is an effort for him and i agree with you all that typing is the key but he doesn't find it easy. The school have said he can type his work once it is quicker than writing. We are a long way off! Good point about the printer.

Any tips other than typing?