extra help for dyslexia

[JacR]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and I am hoping someone 'out there' may be able to offer advice. My daughter is nearly 10 and was diagnosed with dyslexia 2 years ago. Her school has always been reluctant to agree with the diagnosis and we have had to push to get her extra help. As her confidence is slowly ebbing away we now want to search for an out of school tutor to give us all the tools to unlock the words for her. Does anyone have any information on where we could look and what qualifications we should seek in a tutor?

Any help is very gratefully recieved.

Sorry in advance if this gets long or garbled!!

DS1 also severely dyslexic, diagnosed at 7 although what a fight to get there - they don't want to label children a) too soon or b) because then it will cost if they have to put support in

The things that work best for him are (in no particular order)
a dyslexia specialist teacher in school working with him for approx 1hr a week - doesn't sound much but it really works
"dragon naturally speaking" software on computer - he can dictate into it (it's voice recognition software, he wears headphones and a mic as a headset) and it takes the pressure off him having to spell stuff that he basically can't do
We work on a dyslexia programme - rarely - at home. Ironically I'm a SEN teacher, but given that he is so worn out by having to work twice as hard as everyone else during the school day that I can get bugger all out of him at home!
Using cream paper. Not all people with dyslexia have visual processing difficulties, but many do. So for some of them, avoiding the contrast presented by black print on white paper, by using pastel paper or coloured 'overlays', can work. Possibly worth a go.
Ask to meet with the SENCO at her school to see what they are able to do, before you start spending a fortune on other things, imho.

if you desperately want a tutor, then agree with cat - BDA is the place to be :)

My DS also is dyslexic and gets no help at all at school. In fact, I went into the school on Friday to meet his new teacher and he did not even know anything about it,and did not know that had I had given the educational psychologist report into the school.

I do recommend that you find a tutor, at least it makes you feel like you are doing something.

I found a tutor through a dyslexia website - the tutor teaches at the dyslexia unit of a secondary school and does tutoring in her spare time. So I am hoping that the 1 hr a week with her, and the bit of homework she sets will help.

Wow, what fabulous replies. Thanks to all of you. I also find that trying to work at home is a real struggle as she is knackered at the end of the school day. I have an appointment to see her teacher and I think that (as with frankie3) the info from her previous teacher has not been passed on. I'll search the BDA and search for local tutors. Thanks again:)

Whereabouts in the UK are you based. I may be able to help if you happen to be in Salford/Manchester.