Dyslexia - how to educate myself more to be able to help DS

[smilesandsun]

Hello,

Just wondering if any parents / teachers / DR's can recommend any courses, (short or long term) that I could do as a parent to help me know how to best help my son with his dyslexia. We have help for him but I feel as a parent that I should learn more about how to support him ongoing.

thx

bump :)

smiles, not sure how old your son is, but I went to a Dyslexia Action day for parents which was quite useful. Haven't been on anything else, but I've found 'Mind Maps for Kids' by Tony Buzan useful in terms of helping DS. His head teacher suggested it.

Also, there's a great website (I think!), set up by New Zealand guy called Neil MacKay. Really useful to read round on there and watch some of the clips.
Here

Let me know if you find out about anything you find useful!

Fantastic that you are so supportive! And a good idea to get as much knowledge as possible as I am hearing some schools can be unhelpful. (Some aren't though! )

Are you UK based? If so how about: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/courses-and-events/training/training-for-teachers-and-parents.html

And good luck!

Check out the tinsley house support thread x

Sounds interesting. Do you have the Timsley House link for the thread as couldn't find it ;)

Look on MNSN - tinsley house support thread part 3 x

Ooh thank you
I will google that

Can only find Pt 2

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/1724666-TINSLEY-HOUSE-SUPPORT-THREAD-PART-3
Hope that worked!

I am glad you are taking the time to educate yourself about dyslexia. Your DS will definitely benefit.
I wanted to add that paying attention to the language you use is very important.
I am severely dyslexic and one of the things that I find most upsetting on a day to day basis is when well meaning people try to 'teach' me how to spell and when friends and family ridicule other people's poor grammar/spelling.
Another thing that was very difficult for me when I was growing up was the expectation my parents had that I would eventually excel at something. I am very good at many things, but it felt as if they could not deal with the possibility that I might not have some hidden genius.

I don't know where you are but the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre in Frensham (Surrey) is running a six week course for parents starting next week, I think. Details on their website or give them a call. I did my assessor diploma with them and can highly recommend.

I see that a thread I started this week advising parents about a trial of a dyslexic writing system was removed. A company based in Hitchin, Start-Bee Writing, are asking for parents of Dyslexic children between the ages of 7 to 12 to trial their Dyslexic writing product and method for one month. They are looking for three students in the Hitchin/North Herts area. I saw their notice on Twitter and went and looked at their Facebook page and forwarded this on.