BEST Websites for Dyslexia & Dysgraphia

The second in a series of 5 articles with specific special needs resources

In last week’s article, we mentioned that this month was ADHD Awareness Month, and we provided our readers with some helpful ADHD website resources to commemorate the next 31 days---BEST Websites for AD/HD. That same article was the first in a series of five this month of October, also designated as Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. To continue our series AND address the needs of other learning disabilities, this week’s article will address some helpful resources for two other learning challenges---dyslexia and dysgraphia.

What Is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a lifelong challenge. This language-based processing disorder can hinder reading, writing, spelling and sometimes even speaking. Dyslexia is not a sign of poor intelligence or laziness or the result of impaired hearing or vision. Children and adults with dyslexia have a neurological disorder that causes their brains to process and interpret information differently.
(Source: National Center for Learning Disabilities---NCLD: Please see website link to follow below here.)

Studies show that individuals with dyslexia process information in a different area of the brain than do non-dyslexics. Many people who are dyslexic are of average to above-average intelligence.
(Source: The International Dyslexia Association---IDA: Please see website link to follow below here.)

What Is Dysgraphia?

Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects writing, which in itself requires a complex set of motor and information processing skills. Dysgraphia makes the act of writing difficult. It can lead to problems with spelling, poor handwriting and putting thoughts on paper. People with dysgraphia can have trouble organizing letters, numbers and words on a line or page. This can result partly from:

• Visual-spatial difficulties: trouble processing what the eye sees
• Language processing difficulty: trouble processing and making sense of what the ear hears
(Source: National Center for Learning Disabilities---NCLD: Please see website link to follow below here.)

We hope that the website resources listed below for dyslexia and dysgraphia will be helpful to you or to someone you know.

BEST Websites for Dyslexia

National Center for Learning Disabilities---Dyslexia
http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dyslexia

The International Dyslexia Association
http://www.interdys.org/index.htm

The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity
http://www.dyslexia.yale.edu/

DyslexiaHelp at the University of Michigan
http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/

BEST Websites for Dysgraphia

National Center for Learning Disabilities---Dysgraphia
http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dysgraphia/what-is-dysgraphia

LD Online---Dysgraphia
http://www.ldonline.org/article/5890/

LDA---Learning Disabilities Association of America---Dysgraphia
http://www.ldanatl.org/aboutld/parents/ld_basics/dysgraphia.asp

Handwriting Problem Solutions, LLC
http://www.handwriting-solutions.com/dysgraphia.asp

For information on customizable reading tools:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

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