What You Can Do

Sunday, Jul. 20, 2003
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GET TESTED
Most parents turn to the school to evaluate their child. But if the school refuses or you disagree with its assessment, find an outside evaluator. The International Dyslexia Association (800-ABC-D123) can help you find a tester.

CREATE AN IEP
If your child is found eligible for special education, the next step is to draw up an Individualized Educational Plan, or IEP. It should set specific goals for progress over the school year and detail such educational needs as books on tape or oral exams.

GET AT-HOME HELP
Computer-based reading programs have recently shown great promise in helping children read. Good ones that promote phonemic awareness and fluency include the Read, Write & Type! Learning System, Read Naturally and ReadIt.

MONITOR PROGRESS
If the IEP goals aren't being met, you may want to provide private instruction or tutoring. Keep tabs on your child's progress. Some parents have hired lawyers and got their district to reimburse them for the costs of extra education.

BOOST STRENGTHS
Don't let your child become defined by his or her dyslexia. These children need to be encouraged to pursue other activities and hobbies—sports, music, art—and praised when they excel, especially in those areas for which they have a passion.

EDUCATE YOURSELF
You need information to be your child's chief advocate. Good books to get you started are Overcoming Dyslexia by Dr. Sally Shaywitz and Parenting a Struggling Reader by Susan Hall and Louisa Moats. If you have Internet access, check out interdys.org, ldanatl.org, ldonline.org, ld.org and schwablearning.org.