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Neurodiversity

About Dyslexia

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a common neurocognitive learning disorder that makes it difficult for a person to interpret sound—or phonological—elements of language. Children and adults with dyslexia often find it challenging to read, spell, learn a second language, and more. The disorder affects an estimated 20% of the population.

How Does Dyslexia Affect Adults?

Whether it is writing a shopping list, reading through that list at the store, helping kids with homework, or responding to work emails, dyslexia affects adults every day.

For more information, please see Signs and Symptoms of Dyslexia in Adults

Dyslexia-Friendly Environment in the Workplace

Strategies:

  • Allowing for the use of assistive technology like Dragon dictation software, audio recordings, or a SmartPen to take notes in meetings will help a dyslexic employee put more energy into using his or her strengths to meet organizational goals.
  • Keeping communications brief and to the point.
  • Sending out agendas ahead of meetings.
  • Giving easy access to information needed to do one’s job. 

For more information, please see The Yale Center for Dyslexia Creativity

Film

What is Dyslexia?

In this film, several common learning disabilities are defined and explored. Learn about dyslexia, the most common learning disability, including its symptoms, the neural mechanisms that underlie it, and how difficulty in recognizing and manipulating phonemes - the set of basic sounds that get combined to form words - plays a large role.

eBook

Book

Articles

APA Citation: 

Nalavany, B. A., Logan, J. M., & Carawan, L. W. (2018). The relationship between emotional experience with dyslexia and work self-efficacy among adults with dyslexia. Dyslexia (10769242)24(1), 17–32. https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.1575

APA Citation: 

Bell, S. (2009). Exploring support for dyslexic adults in the English workforce: lessons learnt from the story of an adult dyslexia group. Support for Learning24(2), 73–80. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9604.2009.01402.x

Resources & Organizations

International Dyslexia Association

The International Dyslexia Association, Inc. (IDA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charity, organized and operated to provide advocacy, resources, and services to teaching professionals, advocates, and individuals and families impacted by dyslexia and other related learning differences.

For more information, please see International Dyslexia Association

 

Dyslexia Help Success Starts Here Logo

This website is designed to help dyslexics, parents, and professionals find the resources they need, from scholarly articles and reviewed books to online forums and support groups.

For more information, please see Support for Dyslexics and Web Resources