Dyslexia Awareness Month: Celebrate and Support Those with Dyslexia in Education

byTrey Edgington

6 min to read
A mom wearing a white shirt smiling and looking at her young elementary age son wearing an orange and a blue striped shirt talking about an online assignment for Connections Academy.

Dyslexia Awareness Month is not only a time to advocate for people with dyslexia, but it’s also a time to applaud dyslexic excellence. Many students—and parents, caregivers, and teachers—struggle with dyslexia, but the more we discover about this learning disorder, the better we can destigmatize it and help those affected by dyslexia thrive and enjoy learning.

What Is Dyslexia?

Since a large part of Dyslexia Awareness Month is about education, we should start with a simple definition. Dyslexia is a hereditary, neurological condition that affects a person’s ability to work with language—reading, spelling, and comprehension. A person with dyslexia may also have problems in math, particularly word problems.

Here are a few basic facts about dyslexia:

  • Early intervention is crucial.
  • Dyslexia often goes undiagnosed.
  • Dyslexia is not related to intelligence.
  • Students with learning disabilities are less likely to complete high school.
  • Dyslexia is genetic.

 

When is Dyslexia Awareness Month?

Dyslexia Awareness Month occurs every October in the U.S., with Dyslexia Awareness Day falling on October 8th every year. 

What Is Dyslexia Awareness Month?

First celebrated in the U.K. in 2002, Dyslexia Awareness Month began with local community events. More than twenty years later, Dyslexia Awareness Month has become an international phenomenon.

Bringing awareness to the general public about dyslexia helps people recognize symptoms in others (or in themselves). Knowing what to look for can lead to early intervention and the support they need to overcome challenges at school. The knowledge we gain and share during Dyslexia Awareness Month can show the condition in a more positive light, letting people know that there is hope for a successful future.

Dyslexia Myths

As with most neurodivergent conditions, there are quite a few myths surrounding dyslexia. Some think that dyslexia is connected to vision, where letters are reversed or transposed, or the writing is completely backwards. While that is partly true, dyslexia is a neurological condition, and not every person diagnosed with dyslexia experiences the same symptoms.

It is often thought that dyslexia doesn’t present symptoms until elementary school, but many see signs of the disorder  way before the written word is introduced. Speech may be a bit delayed, processing sounds can be problematic, and rhyming might be difficult according to research.

Another common myth is that dyslexia will go away if kids try harder at reading, or that it will go away when they learn to read. Neither of these things is true. Studies have shown that the brains of people with dyslexia function differently than those without.

Strengths of Dyslexia

When we think of learning challenges, we rarely think of the positives, but with dyslexia, there are quite a few. Not only are there positive aspects of dyslexia, but some of the greatest minds in history are suspected to have had dyslexia like Albert Einstein and Leonardo Da Vinci. 

Students with dyslexia are often:

  • Creative
  • Empathetic
  • Observant
  • Problem-solvers

How to Spot Signs of Dyslexia in Your Child

While dyslexia can only be diagnosed by a professional, there are a few signs to look out for. Preschool kids may start talking late and learn new words slower than others. They may also have problems naming numbers, colors, and letters, and the sounds in words might be reversed.

Elementary school students’ signs of dyslexia are usually more pronounced. Signs may include:

  • Reading below grade level
  • Completing reading tasks slowly or avoiding them altogether
  • Misunderstanding vocal instructions
  • Not remembering the sequence of things

Teens and adults share many of the symptoms listed above, as well as struggling to read aloud and mispronouncing words or names. Adults with dyslexia typically have a difficult time learning a foreign language.

How to Help Your Child with Dyslexia

Though dyslexia can be challenging for students, there are many strategies to help your child, both in and out of school.

How to Help Your Child Diagnosed with Dyslexia in School

Some strategies to help kids with dyslexia in school, like allowing extra time on tests and assignments, may be obvious, but there are many more that may seem unconventional. Teachers and parents can help their students succeed in a number of ways, including:

  • Allowing assistive technologies such as text-to-speech applications
  • Using multisensory aides like flash cards
  • Providing material with larger fonts
  • Setting students up with a study buddy
  • Providing clear instructions that avoid extraneous details
  • Encouraging students to type assignments instead of writing by hand
  • Gamifying reading

How to Help Your Child Diagnosed with Dyslexia at Home

Because dyslexia causes difficulties in performing tasks that others can complete quickly and easily, it can cause embarrassment, frustration, and low self-esteem. But learning the ins –and outs of dyslexia can go a long way toward alleviating those negative feelings.

Encouragement and positivity are key. Even if your student makes a mistake, praise them for the effort they put into their work. Remember to recognize their strengths and help them do the same, no matter the activity. Discourage negative self-talk but listen to what they have to say. Give your child space to air their frustrations but model an appropriate response by showing them how to redirect their thoughts.

Dyslexia Awareness Activities

Now that we’re aware of dyslexia, it’s time to bring the message to others. After all, it’s called Dyslexia Awareness Month. But where do we start? 

Social Media

Social media is an easy and effective way to start spreading the word about dyslexia. Change your profile picture to an image related to Dyslexia Awareness Month or add a Dyslexia Awareness ribbon to your profile. Simple messages with the appropriate hashtags can go a long way to creating a buzz. If you feel comfortable, try sharing your dyslexia stories. Sharing how you and your family live with dyslexia could help someone else, and it destigmatizes dyslexia for everyone. 

Attend Dyslexia Awareness Events

Attending dyslexia awareness events is another great way to meet others and promote awareness. Check for online and in-person events in your area or ask your student’s school counselor if they can help organize an event or recommend a group. 

Talk About It

Start a conversation about dyslexia with friends, family, and coworkers—in a natural way, of course. According to The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, approximately 20% of the population are affected by dyslexia, so there’s a good chance they will know someone with dyslexia who wants to know more. 

Give Back

Organizations that help people with learning differences can always use a little help. Donating a little time or money can make a big difference in researching more about the disorder and providing helpful resources for those diagnosed with dyslexia. 

Dyslexia Awareness Month All Year Long

While October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, dyslexia is still with us and our children all year long. As learning doesn’t stop when the school year ends, awareness and promotion shouldn’t stop after October. Keep checking in on our students, give them the support they need, and share what we know—and what we don’t know—about learning with dyslexia. 

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