How disabling is mild dyslexia?

[Anonymous]

Can dyslexic kids go on to college, fruitful careers and so on?

[Anonymous]

Yes. Source : my brother did. Also, I suspect I may have been diagnosed with dyslexia if I were a kid today. We both got IB diplomas fwiw, went to top 25/30 schools (with minimal accomodations),one of us graduated with distinction and the other with highest distinction, grad degrees, have worked full-time (in careers not just 'jobs') since graduating. We each lead productive, normal lives.

[Anonymous]

My kid has severe dyslexia and as a 4th grader can only read at a 1st grade level. He is very smart, and all the testing shows it. But, as he gets older it gets harder and harder for him. I can't imagine how he would be successful in high school or college without intervention.

[Anonymous]

I know a high school football coach who had pretty severe dyslexia as a child.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Very important to pick the right college that has the right supportive services and accommodation if needed.

[Anonymous]

I have about eight very severe learning disabilities and I went to college (although it's a two year degree) (although it took me five years because I had to go part time so I wouldn't kill myself) and have a fruitful career.

Here's an example of my life: I'm 44. I went to a place set up where you could drop off your absentee ballot. I got lost. It was on the same street I lived on, but a mile away, and I got lost walking. I wandered around the area. I considered just giving up and going home before I thought of all the people waiting hours in line to vote. I had to ask four people for help before one pointed me in the right direction. While walking I thought "Am I really smart enough to vote if I'm too dumb to find the place to bring my ballot?"

Things like that happen to me multiple times per day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid has severe dyslexia and as a 4th grader can only read at a 1st grade level. He is very smart, and all the testing shows it. But, as he gets older it gets harder and harder for him. I can't imagine how he would be successful in high school or college without intervention.

Yes, intervention is critical. Also, my brother (I posted above) was very interested in history. As a kid, he watched tons of documentaries on the history channel. He would do his schoolwork, but this was another way to access additional information. He read plenty as he got older too...
Intervention and strategies are definitely critical...

[Anonymous]

Dyslexic, dyscalculia, auditory discrimination, dysgraphia, ADHD here. Graduated from college and earned a PhD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can dyslexic kids go on to college, fruitful careers and so on?

OP, Sally Shaywitz's Overcoming Dyslexia is a good book to start with. It highlights the experiences of several dyslexic people of various different ages: college students, medical students, computer programmer, etc. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/801940.Overcoming_Dyslexia?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=urGqS9mNBX&rank=1

[Anonymous]

I have an aunt with dyslexia- PhD in chemistry. Sister with dyslexia with advanced degree and solid job.

[Anonymous]

Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence. In fact, dyslexics are often above average in intelligence. But you will need to remediate. If you have cash - go to ASDEC in Rockville for an Orton-Gillingham tutor. Warning - not cheap but public schools will outright ignore your child (well all here in DMV except Frederick). If no cash go to the Masons. https://www.childrensdyslexiacenters.org/. Good luck - dyslexics are our entrepreneurs! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I know a number of lawyers with dyslexia. Audio, dictation, and a good proofreader are key.

[Anonymous]

Yes, people with dyslexia go to college. My son has profound dyslexia and dysgraphia and he is currently a senior in college. He is currently applying to graduate schools. He is at a top 20 school for his major.

You need to ameliorate the dyslexia to the extent you can. Accommodate what you can’t. For example, my son gets audio textbooks and uses a software program that reads PDFs as well as uses word prediction. He has an electronic reader for tests.

You also need to support your child’s strengths, because that is how they find their niche.

Sally Shaywietz’s “Overcoming Dyslexia” is a great place for you to start.

[Anonymous]

There is a long list of highly successful people that have not only held careers, but have made a profound impact on society (Albert Einstein, Andy Warhol, Henry Ford, Charles Schwab, etc. And don't forget Jennifer Aniston). Just google it. Also, MIT is full of dyslexics and NASA actually seeks them out (over 50% of employees are dyslexic). Get your child a certified OG tutor and if you can afford it, 4-5 days a week. It's a lot of upfront money, but if your child is young enough consistent OG tutoring will remediate. In addition the Sally Shaywitz, read "The Dyslexic Advantage." When my child was first diagnosed, I had tremendous anxiety about what it meant for her, but with a year of OG tutoring I see the light and I have also come to understand her dyslexia as a true gift.

[Anonymous]

My DS11 has "moderate" dyslexia and he's doing great with the reading portion of the LD. After years of remediation, he is better at reading aloud in class than most of his other classmates because of intensive and sustained practice.

It's the other stuff that will need to be consciously attended to - like handwriting, spelling, executive function, and like a PP said, getting lost. We attempt to work on it like he's working on reading. We'll print a map of the neighborhood and circle our house and then randomly circle another point and tell him to find it. If he doesn't have an innate sense of direction, that's fine but there are other learned skills that can compensate for that.