Dyslexia is a disorder of constitutional origin manifested by a difficulty in learning to read, write, or spell, despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence, and socio-cultural opportunity. Related disorders include disorders similar to or related to dyslexia such as developmental auditory imperception, dysphagia, specific developmental dyslexia, developmental dysgraphia, and developmental spelling disability.
SIGNS OF DYSLEXIA
The problems displayed by individuals with dyslexia involve difficulties in acquiring and using written language. It is a myth that dyslexic individuals “read backwards,” although spelling can look quite jumbled at times because students have trouble remembering letter symbols for sounds and forming memories for words. Other problems experienced by dyslexics include the following:
• Learning to speak
• Learning letters and their sounds
• Organizing written and spoken languages
• Memorizing number facts
• Reading quickly enough to comprehend
• Persisting with and comprehending longer reading assignments
• Spelling
• Learning a foreign language
• Correctly doing math operations
Not all students who have difficulties with these skills are dyslexic. Formal testing is the only way to confirm a diagnosis of suspected dyslexia. If you have any concerns, please contact your child’s teacher for more information about the referral process and instructional intervention.
LEARNING ALLY
Learning Ally has over 80,000 human-narrated audiobooks available to students with print disabilities. The materials can be delivered through internet downloads and accessed using various mainstream and assistive technology devices. Through a contract with TEA, Learning Ally offers free memberships to Texas K-12 public and charter schools with qualifying students.
TALKING BOOKS PROGRAM (TBP)
The TBP provides free library services to qualifying Texans with visual, physical, or reading disabilities. It is part of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, a program administered by the Library of Congress. While TPB does not offer textbooks, the program does offer thousands of books that students can use at home and at school. Books are available by download to portable devices using the Braille and Audio Recording Download (BARD) service and through iOs and Android mobile apps and on digital cartridge, in Braille, and in large print. To learn more about the TBP, including eligibility requirements, please visit https://www.tsl.texas.gov/tbp/index.html or call toll free at 1-800-252-9605 in Texas or 512-436-5458 in Austin.