As a parent of a child with dyslexia, you face unique challenges every day, but you are not alone in this journey. I’m Laura Lurns, an empathetic parenting coach who believes in your power to empower your child through understanding and acceptance of their dyslexia. Today, Elizabeth Tedchi will share invaluable insights on the importance of early and continuous support, overcoming stigma, and fostering resilience and hard work in your child. You have the strength to make a profound difference in your child’s life, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Seeking Help: A Turning Point in Education
The individual shared their experience of being assessed for dyslexia and dyspraxia at university, highlighting the importance of seeking help. They emphasized the moment they decided to openly discuss their condition and request the necessary support, marking a turning point in their educational journey. Specifically, they mentioned, “I was one of the very fortunate ones that went to university and got assessed for dyslexia and dyspraxia… I needed help and I said you know what it’s about time I spoke about this condition and get the help I need.” This narrative underscores the empowerment that comes from understanding and accepting dyslexia. For parents, this means encouraging their children to embrace their dyslexia as an integral part of their identity, which can lead to proactively seeking accommodations and support, ultimately fostering a path to success.
Embrace your child's dyslexia; it's a unique strength, not a limitation. Seek support and celebrate their creative approaches to learning.
Advocate for Early this topic Assessment
The speaker shared that they were not diagnosed with dyslexia until their final year of university, when a friend’s sister, who also had dyslexia, prompted them to get assessed. This late diagnosis came after years of observing the support the friend’s sister received, which included tailored educational strategies. The speaker’s experience underscores the importance of early diagnosis and continuous support for children with dyslexia. For parents, this means advocating for their children to receive assessments as soon as difficulties are noticed, rather than waiting until later educational stages. Early and ongoing support can significantly impact a child’s educational journey, helping them develop effective learning strategies from the outset.
I think that stayed with me quite a lot in terms of oh my god I’ve got to work hard, I’ve got to work harder… but it was such a struggle where I’d read something he’d say to me right what did you read and I couldn’t tell him what it was.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Father’s Firm Stance and Its Impact
The father of a child with dyslexia took a firm stance against a teacher’s doubts by jumping over the desk and insisting his daughter would study harder, demonstrating his belief in her potential. He reinforced this by sending her home with dictionaries to read every night, aiming to improve her skills through rigorous practice. However, this approach also led to a struggle for the child, who felt burdened by the stigma that she was not trying hard enough or working diligently. This experience underscores the importance of parents balancing the encouragement of hard work with the need to address and overcome the stigma associated with dyslexia. For parents, this means advocating for their children’s efforts while ensuring they receive the necessary accommodations to support their learning journey.
Key takeaways
- Embrace and Acknowledge Dyslexia: It's crucial for parents to encourage their children to acknowledge and embrace their dyslexia. Early recognition can help children find the right support and strategies to manage their learning challenges effectively. By accepting dyslexia as part of their identity, children can work on building their confidence and finding creative ways to navigate their educational and professional journeys.
- Seek Appropriate Support and Resources: Parents should actively seek out support and resources for their children with dyslexia. Organizations like Hy Dyslexia CIC offer workshops, assessments, and other forms of assistance that can be invaluable. Understanding and utilizing available tools, such as software and gadgets designed to help with dyslexia, can significantly improve a child's ability to learn and succeed.
- Encourage Creative Problem-Solving: Dyslexic individuals often possess creative problem-solving skills, which can be a superpower in various settings. Parents should foster this creativity by encouraging their children to find alternative ways to achieve their goals, whether in school or work. This approach not only helps them overcome specific challenges but also highlights their unique strengths and potential.
It wasn’t until my final year of university… within 10 minutes before we did my work she said here you need to take it now… and she had a really I don’t know her approach was very different in terms of how she said things so that maybe just get checked there’s a lot of things you can do.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Taking Action
As Laura Lurns, I want to remind you that you are capable of empowering your child to thrive with dyslexia. Take immediate action by scheduling an assessment with a specialist to understand your child’s needs and begin advocating for the necessary support. The journey ahead may be challenging, but with your unwavering support and encouragement, your child can overcome obstacles and achieve great success. Remember, you are not alone, and together, we can help our children with dyslexia reach their full potential.
Support parents of children with learning challenges with Dyslexia Bundle to overcome challenges.
See what All Access gives your child
Take the dyslexia test
Is your child struggling in school?
Get your free personalized learning roadmap
You describe what you see at home. We turn it into a plan you start this week.
- Answer 5 short questionnaires about what you already notice, 30–45 minutes at your own kitchen table
- Your child sits no test and gets no score: nothing to schedule, nothing for them to dread
- You do the answering, the AI does the writing, and a person reviews it before it reaches you
- Access all 40+ courses instantly: reading, math, focus, processing and more, with new ones added regularly
Why we use AI, plainly: it writes from a knowledge base our team maintains and audits. We work through it line by line and pull anything the evidence stops supporting. The roadmap you get on Tuesday reflects what we corrected on Monday, and a human still reads it before you do.
Your school district must evaluate your child free of charge if you ask in writing, whatever your income and whatever the outcome (US, 34 CFR 300.111 and 300.301(b)). That route takes time and answers a different question than you do. This one starts today, from what you already know.
Your answers stay yours. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not hand identifiable assessment data to outside AI companies to train their models.
A screener is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If your child might need formal accommodations (an IEP or 504 plan), or you suspect a vision, hearing or medical cause, pursue a professional evaluation too. That is the only route to those supports.
