Author: American Dyslexia Association

  • Sophia the Bionic Cat by Karolyn Smith

    Sophia the Bionic Cat by Karolyn Smith

    On behalf of 3 Paws Up, It is my honor to share our story with the readers of the American Dyslexia Association:

    My name is Karolyn Smith, I am the 2014 Veterans of the Year for the 71st District of California, Author of ‘Sophia the Bionic Cat’, Public Speaker and 3D inventor.

    I was born and raised in San Diego and am the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran and the granddaughter of two WWII Veterans. For the longest time as a youth, I found my calling as a velodrome cyclist and went to my first Olympic Trials at 19, but failed to make the team. A year later, I would be invited to move down to Australia, where I would be the only woman racing on behalf of the USA. That year abroad at such a young age gave me a lifetime of experience that would help me out later in life.

    Shortly after the horrific events unfolded on September 11, 2001, I would hang up my bicycle and, at the tender age of 29, enlist in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer. As I found myself the oldest enlistee in basic training, I also found myself the most advanced, which allowed me to experience leadership responsibilities and advanced training that my peers didn’t experience. I would graduate top of my class and 18 weeks later be stationed in Hauau, Germany with the most historic Military Police unit in the Army, the 18th MP Brigade. Six months later, I would deploy.

    In April of 2004, with the 127th Military Police Company (709th MP Bat, 18th MP Brigade), I deployed in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and would break the first of many glass ceilings in my life; I was a crew serve machine gunner. After 13 roadside bombs, mortar attacks, and sniper attacks that took the life of my Team Leader….we suffered, I suffered. When we came home a year later…We had lost two.

    I came home with injuries, PTS(d), spinal injuries, and a mild traumatic brain injury that were left untreated by the VA system because they were not used to a woman who had been in combat. After 11 years of suffering, my life was saved by a private non-profit called Operation MEND UCLA, which provided advanced medical care, including a bio-tech spinal fusion, which is creating my own genetic bone back into my spine. Once that searing pain was gone, a little kitten by the name of Sophia waddled, skipped, and hopped into my life…with her best friend in tow.

    Sophia was an 8-day-old premature kitten found abandoned in a field here in San Diego. She was found with her umbilical cord wrapped around her paw and with no mother, food, or shelter found around her. Sophia was taken to the San Diego Humane Society, where an amputation was performed of her right rear paw, but because she was born premature and it was evident she never received the vital mother’s milk, the amputation was proving too much, and she was not recovering from the surgery. On that same day, a young male kitten was brought into the shelter as part of a litter. This young male was pulled out of his litter and placed with Sophia because the Nursery Advisory saw something in him that was unique and thought he might be able to help encourage little Sophia; he was then placed in her enclosure, and something magical happened.

    Leonidas snuggled up to Sophia and never left her side for nearly a week. He could often be found cleaning her ear of her amputated side, but not her ear of her un-amputated side. Within a week, Sophia began to lift her head…and then she began to eat…then she began to crawl….Soon, they would both be put up for adoption as a bonded pair.

    As I was recovering from my surgery, I saw a Facebook post from the San Diego Humane Society, and there were these two faces- two little fluffy, furry faces cuddling each other, and then I read the story and cried. I cried because Sophia’s story was my story; just replace the name, and I was drawn to her. I called the Humane Society and asked about adopting her, and they said I would need to adopt both, and I was hooked- who would break up a sweetheart couple anyway! When I walked into the Humane Society, they knew who I was by that time, as I had already been selected as the 2014 Veteran of the Year for the 71st District of California. They created the byline “Disabled Veteran adopts disabled Kitten,” and in partnership with the Humane Society and Fresh Step cat litter, we would create our first PSA commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY2F1vUju3c

    As my twelve-year career in high-threat risk mitigation (in and out of the military) would teach me, I knew that Sophia’s good leg would, at some point, have to fail. While my degrees were not in engineering, they were in Homeland Security and Risk Mitigation. What I did know is that if you use what you do know, and not focus on what you don’t know, you can apply skills and help solve any issues that come your way. I started researching companies that created prosthetics for animals and was amazed that no one had created a prosthetic for cats. So in partnership with Fablab San Diego, I created the first ever 3D printed Prototype prosthetic for cats, and started with little Sophia! The first one in history!

    Every time I went to the lab, there would be kids asking about the story, which gave me the idea of writing a children’s book, as I don’t have kids of my own; my injuries prevented that gift for me. So I created “Sophia the Bionic Cat” https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684193451?tag=legasthenie0c-20 which is now also available on Barnes and Noble (online and in stores!). This book is based on the true story of how this journey of mine, Sophia, and Leonidas unfolded in a way that we hope inspires children, but we took one more step. We found a person who created the “open-dyslexic” font, and our book, to this point, is the only true story children’s book that is written in this font. I chose this method of font because when I get tired, I noticed that when I am reading, my brain injury can often act like it’s dyslexic, which can be a result of a traumatic brain injury, and that is what I deal with. I wanted my book to show a range of topics, but in a way that lends power to the topic instead of powerless feelings about the topic. So, while reading the book, if the reader has dyslexia, they will read the book the way I wrote it; if they don’t, they won’t notice anything other than a true story about how technology and love help overcome.

    Sophia the Bionic Cat by Karolyn Smith, available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

    From our book, we created 3 Paws Up, an approved 501(c)3 here in San Diego that will have ‘Ambassadors’ hand deliver our book (and other inspirational true stories that we help other Veterans create) to children in critical care hospitals, nationwide. 

    I’m writing the second book in Sophia’s series as we have just partnered with the Colorado School of Mines, the number 2 school of engineering in the US as we continue to enhance Sophia’s prototype so other animals around the nation can also have a better life through what we discover. I spend my time now as a public speaker telling my story, and I am honored to be able to stand on stages around the nation and share my life, it’s a way for me to heal and a way to open the minds of those who would never consider using the ‘open-dyslexic’ font in their projects, but now we get to talk not just about me, but about all of you, and I’m honored to be able to help do that. I can’t begin to express my truest thanks to the American Dyslexia Association for accepting our project, ‘Sophia the Bionic Cat’ as worthy of the ADA’s seal of approval. It’s through innovative projects and collaborative partnerships that we can create dialogue that can bring the best solutions.

  • Dyslexia, My Gift by Nathan Tabor

    Dyslexia, My Gift by Nathan Tabor

    I wrote this column to encourage others with dyslexia.  The layout is simple.  The paragraphs without parentheses are my original words.  The paragraphs with parentheses are my editor’s corrections.

    If you aren’t a good writer hire an editor.  You can get a column like this edited for $5-25 dollars.  How? Google “hire an editor” and find a solution that fits your needs.

    Go try!  Go do!  Do NOT let anything hold you back.

     

    Dyslexia, My Gift

    Growing up I didn’t know I had dyslexia.  I couldn’t read until I was in the third grade.  I’ve struggled my entire life to comprehend what I’m reading, to spell words properly, to understand the meanings of words and enunciate them.   Having to go back and read something three, four, five or more times is frustrating.   Especially when I still don’t understand it.   Now, if I hear something I don’t have the same struggles.

    (For some kids, school always came easy. Reading, and even writing, seemed to be second nature to them. But in my case, school was a constant struggle. I couldn’t read until I was in third grade. I struggled to comprehend what I read, to properly spell words, to understand the meanings of words, and to enunciate them. Reading something three, four, five or more times was frustrating—especially when I still didn’t understand it. I dreaded tests. In fact, I hated them. My palms would sweat and my stomach hurt. To this day, I still hate the thought of taking a test.)

    Oh, how I hated tests. My palms would get sweating and my stomach would hurt.  To this day I still hate the thought of taking a test.  Most of my teachers in school and professors in college and grad school assumed I wasn’t serious.  I’ve always used humor to cover up my inabilities.

    (What I didn’t know all those years was that I had dyslexia. Most of my school teachers and college and grad school professors assumed I wasn’t a serious student because I always used humor to cover up my inabilities.)

    Focusing on a task has always been difficult.  From school projects to work projects.  I will be deep in thought working on a proje …. “Squirrel, did you see that squirrel run by!  That was amazing!  It had a bushy tail and was holding an acorn in its mouth” … what was I doing?  It’s annoying, frustrating but I’m learning to manage it.

    (Focusing on any task has always been difficult for me… from school projects to work projects. I will be deep in thought working on a proje…. “Squirrel! did you see that squirrel run by? That was amazing! It had a bushy tail and was holding an acorn in its mouth!” …What was I doing?)

    In my mind, I know the difference between edition and addition.  It’s simple.  But at times when I write something out I will be thinking edition and write addition but my mind doesn’t throw a red flag.  Sometimes I can read over it numerous times and never catch it.

    (My dyslexia has been both annoying and frustrating, but I’m learning to manage it. In my mind, I know the difference between edition and addition. It’s simple. But sometimes when I write, I will be thinking edition and write addition instead. And my mind doesn’t throw a red flag.  Sometimes I can read over it numerous times and never catch it.)

    The embarrassment of being in a meeting and having to write something down.  The immediate thought is “oh, I hope they don’t use a word I can’t spell!”  Until a few years ago I would cover it up or use another word.  Now I announce up front that I can’t spell very well and then make a joke about growing up in the rural south.

    (It’s embarrassing to be in a meeting and have to write something simple on a piece of paper.  Sometimes my immediate thought is, “I hope they don’t use a word I can’t spell!” Until a few years ago, I would cover up my inability to spell or simply use another word to substitute for the one I couldn’t spell. Now, I have learned to let go. I announce upfront that I can’t spell very well, then make a joke about growing up in the rural south.)

    My handwriting looks like a chicken did a rain dance.  Until recently I just thought I had poor handwriting until I realized I do it on purpose so you can’t tell if I’ve misspelled a word.  There, their, there is just plain ignorant!  Whoever came up with words like this should be taken out and beaten.  I often misspeak, misuse or mispronounce words and don’t even realize it.  It is or can be quite embarrassing when it’s brought to my attention.

    (My handwriting looks like a chicken did a rain dance. And until recently, I just thought I had poor handwriting. When in fact, I discovered that I have always written illegibly on purpose so no one can tell if I’ve misspelled a word. I often misspeak or misuse or mispronounce words without realizing it. It’s often quite embarrassing when it’s brought to my attention. And for the record, from a dyslexia sufferer’s point of view, the words there, their, and they’re are just plain ignorant! Whoever invented words like these should be beaten.)

    Now, problem solving is another thing.  Give me a mind game, puzzle or challenge and my mind works in odd ways.  I can walk into a room and immediately notice if a corner is lower than the other corner.  It can be a 40-foot wall and I can tell if it’s a half inch off.  At times, this is an amazing trait to have but most of the times it’s annoying.  Pictures that hang an eighth of an inch off or anything that should be symmetrical and isn’t.

    (Now, problem solving is another thing. Give me a mind game, a puzzle or a challenge, and my mind works in odd ways. I can walk into a room and immediately notice if one corner is lower than the other corner. It can be a 40-foot wall and I can still tell if the floor is a half inch off. I notice pictures that hang an eighth of an inch off level. And I notice anything that isn’t symmetrical when it should be. At times, this can be an amazing trait to have. But most of the time, it’s annoying.)

    Numbers and math come easy to me.  I remember telephone numbers that I haven’t dialed in 20 years.   Invoice amounts from years ago I can recall with exact precision.  If you are ever around me watch for my fingers to tap together or on my leg.  Repeating the pattern.  Everything must be in even numbers and I don’t even realize I’m doing it.

    (Numbers and math come easy to me. I remember telephone numbers that I haven’t dialed in 20 years. I can recall invoice amounts from years ago with precision. If you are ever around me, watch for my fingers tapping together or on my leg, repeating a pattern. Everything must occur in even numbers—and I don’t even realize I’m doing it.)

    I remember faces but have a hard time recalling names.  I have a horrible memory of things in the past but am good at thinking outside the box.  I enjoy public speaking and communicating with people verbally.   I’ve completed two books, written hundreds of columns and am working on my third book.  Thankfully there are amazing editors in the world!  I can’t tell you the names of roads I’ve driven on for the past 30 years but have an amazing sense of direction of recognizing land marks.

    (I can remember faces, but have a hard time recalling names. I have a horrible memory, but I am good at thinking outside the box. I can’t tell you the names of roads I’ve driven on for the past 30 years, but I have an amazing sense of direction and recognition of landmarks. I enjoy public speaking and communicating with people verbally. I’ve completed two books and written hundreds of columns. And I am currently working on my third book. Thankfully there are amazing editors in the world!)

    Dyslexia has been like a double-edged sword.  What I’ve come to realize is I am who I am.   I’ve started looking at my dyslexia more as a gift than a burden.  I’ve started focusing on the things I’m good at and finding help with areas I struggle with.

    (For me, dyslexia has been a double-edged sword—both a gift and an affliction. What I’ve come to realize is, I am who I am. I’ve now started looking at my dyslexia as more of a gift than a burden. I’ve began focusing on the things that I’m good at and finding help in the areas where I struggle.)

    About Nathan Tabor
     
     

     

    Nathan has successfully founded and operated more than two dozen businesses since 1999, grossing over $150 million in sales. His experience spans the areas of commercial real estate acquisition and redevelopment, automobile sales, direct product sales, web-based marketing, and strategic partnership facilitation.
     
     

     

    He’s had amazing successes and epic failures, and learned more from his failures than his successes. After years of struggling to keep all of the balls in the air, he learned that there are laws and processes that, when implemented, will deliver the desired results.

     

     

  • Free app for spelling: FCJ Spelling App

    Free app for spelling: FCJ Spelling App

    FCJ Spelling is an app designed to help people improve their spelling with a special emphasis on dyslexia. It contains 10 exercises, customizable words, the option of a color overlay, and a fun word card game.
    The app allows teachers to monitor their students’ results remotely. Once all the students in a class have been added, the teacher can view all their students’ results with the press of a single button. All results are encrypted and private.
    The app was developed by three 13-year-old Irish students: Billy Lee and Eamon Lalor, and was programmed by Niall Kehoe. The team would welcome any suggestions on how they might improve the app in later editions.
    The app is available on the iOS App Store free of charge at the link below, and the authors hope to release an Android version in the near future.
    Apple iTunes store:
  • The daily sex (dyslexia) tips of a writer

    The daily sex (dyslexia) tips of a writer

    Tobias Stone was diagnosed with Dyslexia when he was 18, having failed to get into university. Thanks to his diagnosis, he was able to complete a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree at two of the world’s top universities. He is currently completing his PhD, after a total of 13 years at university on and off, and is now a professional writer. His teachers were wrong when they said he couldn’t go to university. His message to other dyslexics: Dyslexia does NOT mean you are stupid, just that you find some things harder than other people. But you can also do different things better than other people. Never give up!

    Here is an excerpt of his motivational article on Medium.

    The daily sex (dyslexia) tips of a writer

    I once saw a t-shirt that said ‘Daily sex, can you help?’
    Then ‘daily sex’ was crossed out in pen and corrected as ‘dyslexia.’
    I liked that. I was 19 at the time.

    At 18, after failing to get into university, and having dragged myself, with great pain and anguish, through my exams at school, I found myself in an enforced year off. Ostensibly, I was re-sitting some of the exams I had failed so I could reapply to university, but that was about as pleasant as regurgitating the same meal, and re-eating it, day after day. In the middle of all this, I went to see an educational psychologist. The worry was that I was bright yet underachieving, and there were massive inconsistencies in my abilities. Even in the IQ test they gave me, there were inconsistencies. The IQ test is a series of little tests added together to reach your average score. In one test, I got the highest score the examiner had ever seen, and yet I was unable to answer two of the questions at all. Clearly, something was wrong when I was getting between 0% and 100% on different questions, rather than an average of similar scores.

    So they gave me a dyslexia test, and it turned out I was ‘considerably’ dyslexic (around 7 on a scale of 1–10), and unfortunately for me, I was a bit more clever than I was dyslexic, so I had been able to compensate for the dyslexia fast enough that it had not become obvious to my teachers…

    Continue reading:

  • Free dyslexia-friendly science eLearning website, totallearn.co.uk

    Free dyslexia-friendly science eLearning website, totallearn.co.uk

    Studying for exams is a chore for everyone, but it can be much more difficult if the text is not accessible to the learner. eLearning has a role to play in helping these students to learn.

    The website totallearn.co.uk is developing a large number of science eLearning modules to help with study. These are made accessible by having a “click to hear” function.

    All text on the totallearn website can be clicked on and will be read aloud to the user.

    The developer, Michael Collard, is a former science teacher who is able to describe difficult concepts in a clear, straightforward manner.

    There is also a science blog on the site that is equally accessible and updated several times a week.

    The developer welcomes comments and requests as the website develops. Write him at: [email protected]

  • How to Motivate Students to Write for a Cause

    How to Motivate Students to Write for a Cause

    How to Motivate Students to Write for a Cause: Getting Non-dyslexic & Dyslexic Teens to Write about Health & More

    Loving to write as she does and knowing that helping students polish their writing skills boosts their confidence, Davis-Kyle, author of the Kindle book, How to Motivate Students to Write for a Cause: Getting Non-dyslexic & Dyslexic Students to Write about Health & More, is dedicated to instructing beginning writers of all ages. Her 2015 Kindle book, The Busy English Teacher’s Fun Activities & Exercises for Pre-Teens: Nutrition Tips & More, blends an abundance of writing practices with physical exercises and brings them to teachers’ fingertips to select the activities that work best for their pre-teens.

    This 2016 Kindle book, How to Motivate Students to Write for a Cause, honored with a Foreword by the eminent Astrid Kopp-Duller, PhD, creator of the Attention Function Symptom [AFS] system, is more than a gold mine of writing prompts for teens to save time for teachers. It shares topics that can help teens focus on healthy futures. The book also urges teens to research the topics of the day, interrogate the evidence presented in various media, then think, analyze data, and write to share their own thought-provoking solutions with the world.

    With guidance from caring teachers, teens can build their reading and listening abilities and polish their writing and speaking talents. To remove all doubt that teens can write, if they embrace writing, Davis-Kyle highlights currently successful non-dyslexic teen writers from Canada, Scotland, and the United States. She also reminds teens of outstanding dyslexic writers such as Agatha Christie, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Octavia Estelle Butler, and Daniel Eckstein of yesteryear, and Sherrilyn Kenyon, of today, all of whom also began their writing careers early in life. Thus, the teens are championed to step over, navigate around, or bulldoze through any obstacles that intrude, if they truly want to write. With a plan, a caring coach, and practice, they, too, can make their writing dreams come true.

    This unique book takes a passionate stand to help prevent the bullying that dyslexic students sometimes face. Davis-Kyle introduces programmer Victor Widell’s resourceful innovation that helps non-dyslexic teens see—for a moment—what many dyslexics must endure every moment as they try to read. Some non-dyslexics boast that they have no problem reading Widell’s depiction. So be it for some. Nevertheless, Davis-Kyle gently reminds those who can read with such ease to be grateful for their good fortune. With the guidance of thoughtful instructors, dyslexic teens can and do often write with great success. With How to Motivate Students to Write for a Cause, it is hoped that they will find topics to pursue and will write with great vigor to share ideas from their often unique and profound perspective to help our society today.

    Linda Davis-Kyle has been published in more than a dozen countries on five continents in magazines such as World Travel Magazine in Australia and Healthy Options in New Zealand, and professional journals such as Modern Drama in Canada and Studies in English Literature in Japan. Nothing brings her greater joy than to help others who are also beset with an insatiable desire to write just as she is. Many in our society today seem to be lost in a vast wasteland that limits thinking and clouds understanding. Reading widely, interrogating the evidence, analyzing fully, and drawing worthwhile conclusions can clarify a great deal, and sharing their ideas with the world can benefit not only the writers themselves but also their readers. Go for it!

    Find it on Amazon: Books by Linda Davis-Kyle

  • Approaches to Dyslexia Training

    Approaches to Dyslexia Training

    by IFDDA.org

    I. INTRODUCTION

    The phenomenon of dyslexia is often referred to as a “learning disability”. However, these exceptional individuals just have different sensory perceptions due to genetic dispositions (Galaburda, LoTurco, Ramus, Fitch, & Rosen, 2006). Their different sensory perceptions cause them to view and experience our world differently, which can lead to significant accomplishments in arts, sports, and science – just not in reading and writing. Many researchers of different disciplines have dealt with this topic, mainly on how to address the reading and spelling issues that dyslexics have and how to render assistance. The approaches to research in dyslexia are as diverse as the various methods of training. What is needed is a comprehensive approach to dyslexia training that addresses all elements that cause the affected individuals’ problems to deliver faster and longer-lasting improvements.

    The different sensory perceptions of a dyslexic person cause his or her attention to diminish when confronted with symbols, like letters. The results are errors while reading and writing. The logical consequence is that dyslexics require assistance in all three areas: improvement of sensory perceptions, as well as enhancement of the attention span while reading and spelling, and last, but not least, practicing reading and spelling. Training techniques for dyslexics and research about such, however, tend to focus on only one (or at most two) of the three mentioned areas. Multiple studies have already proven the benefits of sensory perception training (Bonacina, Cancer, Lanzi, Lorusso, & Antonietti, 2015; Flaugnacco et al., 2015; Fraga González et al., 2015; Gori & Facoetti, 2014; Habib et al., 2016; Ikeshita-Yamazoe & Miyao, 2016; Wang et al., 2014). Other research focused on the advantageous role of attention training (Franceschini et al., 2015; Heim, Pape-Neumann, Van Ermingen-Marbach, Brinkhaus, & Grande, 2015; Valdois et al., 2015), while other scientific inquiries concentrated on increased practicing of the basic academic skills of reading and spelling (Law & Cupples, 2015; McArthur et al., 2015).

    Nevertheless, there is one approach to dyslexia training, which incorporates all three elements and, therefore, promises superior results: the so-called “AFS-Method” (A=attention, F=function/sensory perception, S=symptom). This method is open source and not a commercial program, and has been practiced by dyslexia specialists for the past 20 years in over 50 countries worldwide in different languages with much success. Kopp-Duller and Pailer-Duller (2011) conducted a long-term qualitative study investigating the effectiveness of the AFS-Method, which showed that 85% of test subjects were able to improve their reading and spelling abilities. Other researchers have also reported on the uniqueness of the AFS-Method in contrast to other standard practices for rendering assistance to dyslexics (Ablinger, 2006; Halfarová & Cigánková, 2006; Karli, 2006; Levski, 2011; Mészáros, 2011, Szimmuck, 2014; Zachbauer, 2011). A central key point of training in the AFS-Method is the concept of teaching word using multiple senses called word formulations, which was confirmed as beneficial by Aylward and Berninger from the University of Washington (Schwarz; 2004).

    Further research, specifically quantitative in nature, should be conducted on the distinctive AFS-training method to generate quantifiable and tangible results so the method gains more acceptance in the dyslexia community and thus more affected individuals would be able to benefit from it. If more educators knew how to support dyslexic children successfully, fewer children would struggle at school and ultimately would be able to remain in school longer and receive a better education as a result.

    II. CAUSE OF DYSLEXIA

    Dyslexia is a hereditary condition that causes different sensory perceptions (Galaburda et al., 2006). Dyslexic individuals see, hear, and experience the world differently from non-dyslexics. This can have an upside because dyslexics are often talented in areas like technology, art, music, and sports – just not in reading and writing. The different sensory perceptions cause the dyslexics’ attention to diminish when confronted with the abstract concept of letters. This lack of attention results in errors while reading, writing, and spelling, and in turn in poor academic performance in language studies (Kopp-Duller, 2012).

    Some research focuses on the aspect of auditory processes during reading, spelling, or writing: Bonacina et al. (2015) said that dyslexia stems from difficulties in auditory information processing, which results in impaired phonological awareness. Gori and Facoetti (2014) also agree that dyslexia is an auditory-phonological processing deficit, while Franceschini et al. (2015) said that dyslexics exhibit weak linguistic-phonological processing. Other researchers put the emphasis on the visual aspect: Wang et al. (2014) concluded that dyslexic individuals have an issue with their visual perceptual processing.

    The bottom line is that dyslexia is a multisensory integration deficit (Fraga González et al., 2015). Dyslexic children have a unique way of processing information which results in a unique behavior during the learning process (Kopp-Duller & Pailer-Duller, 2011). No manifestation of dyslexia is alike because not every dyslexic person’s sensory perceptions are affected in the same way. Some children exhibit difficulty in visual processing, others with auditory, and again others in spatial perception. This is the precise reason not every training program to better the effects to dyslexia works on any child. The training efforts always need to be individualized to reach faster improvements without frustrating the child in the process.

    III. ELEMENTS OF DYSLEXIA TRAINING

    The approaches to dyslexia training are as diverse as the approaches to research on dyslexia. Researchers from a spectrum of disciplines have made it their duty to explore this complex subject and ways how to deal with it. Neurologists focus on processes in the brain of dyslexics to better understand the problem this phenomenon causes during reading and spelling (Heim et al., 2015). Geneticists view the issue from a hereditary standpoint (Galaburda et al., 2006). Psychologists focus on diagnosing dyslexia using intelligence tests although these tests were not designed for this purpose (Habib et al., 2016). At last but not least, pedagogues discuss how to help affected children more effectively (Berninger et al., 2008).

    The success of various training programs has been well documented in countless studies, as demonstrated in the following subsections. Noticeably, training techniques tend to focus only on one aspect of the causation of dyslexia: training of attention, training of sensory perceptions, or training of symptoms, while the scientific evidence of the success of sensory perception training dominates. The question remains about what happens if dyslexia training is conducted using an individualized approach that covers all areas that cause the dyslexic child’s problems.

    A. Training of Attention

    The thoughts of a dyslexic person tend to wander, especially when they are confronted with the task of reading and writing. Dyslexic children reject these tasks because they cannot perform them well and would rather be doing something else. So they might act out and give the impression of being hyperactive. The wrong conclusion is often drawn from this behavior, that the child is hyperactive and, consequently, cannot read and write. However, the opposite is the case: The child cannot read and write, which causes him or her to misbehave. An important part of dyslexia training, therefore, is the focusing of attention. The goal of attention exercises is to give the affected individual the tools to focus his or her thoughts on the task at hand, which automatically yields positive results in reading and spelling (Kopp-Duller, 2012).

    Various training techniques can be used to bring forth the desired outcome of focusing a child’s attention. Franceschini et al. (2015) used action video games in their study to increase the attention span in children with dyslexia. Heim et al. (2015) showed that the training of visual attention improves reading abilities. Another study where the training of visual attention improved reading abilities was conducted by Valdois et al. (2015). Breteler, Arns, Peters, Giepmans, and Verhoeven (2010) used qEEG-based neurofeedback training to increase the attention span, where the subject learned to self-regulate and thus improve brain activities, and subsequently were able to reduce reading and spelling deficits. Research by Kast, Baschera, Gross, Jäncke, and Meyer (2011) revealed that phonological awareness exercises increased the focusing of the test subjects on the task at hand.

    B. Training of Sensory Perceptions

    As already discussed, dyslexics exhibit deficits in sensory perceptions, so-called functions. Logic and practice dictate that only with functioning sensory perceptions is a smooth learning process possible. The training and, therefore, improvement of these sensory perceptions leads to automatically better performances in reading and spelling, as the presented evidence from multiple studies will demonstrate. Training can focus on visual, auditory, or spatial sensory perceptions, while it is vital to find out in which areas the child has difficulty before starting with the sensory perception training (Kopp-Duller & Pailer-Duller, 2011).

    Fraga González et al. (2015) disclosed that training of letter-speech sound mapping led to substantial reading gains in dyslexic test subjects. Ikeshita-Yamazoe & Miyao (2016) used a specifically for dyslexics designed visual training tool for learning symbols, where test subjects were able to give 83% correct responses after two months in post-tests, compared to the traditional teaching method, where no correct answers were given. The overall concept of perceptual learning led to improvements in visual attention and reading in research by Gori and Facoetti (2014).

    Furthermore, Balido-Dean, Kupczynski, and Fedynich (2011), Berninger et al. (2008), in addition to Kast et al. (2011) showed that multi-sensory training using letters has positive effects on the reading and spelling abilities of dyslexic children. But even sensory perception training without the use of symbols leads to improvement of reading and spelling skills in a study by Burger, Kastenhuber, and Loidl (2001).

    A new approach to sensory perception training is the use of music. Training of basic musical rhythm perception skills had a positive impact on reading speed and accuracy in a study performed by Bonacina et al. (2015). Likewise, Flaugnacco et al. (2015) used music training to improve phonological awareness and reading skills in children with dyslexia. Habib et al. (2016) specifically used the concept of cognitivo-musical training to yield improvements in auditory attention and reading.

    C. Training of Symptoms

    Another part of dyslexia training is the improvement of reading and writing skills and, therefore, the eradication of errors while reading and spelling. This is achieved through practicing these basic academic skills. In the end, even for dyslexic children, reading and spelling can only be learned through reading and spelling (Kopp-Duller, 2012). A lack of recent investigations in this area demonstrates that the scientific community of dyslexic research has reached the consensus that dyslexia needs to be addressed on the multi-sensory level. Nonetheless, Law and Cupples (2015) found that the increased practice of reading led to improvement of real-world reading for dyslexic children. Likewise, McArthur et al. (2015) showed that practicing sight word and phonics reading leads to improvement in reading.

    IV. A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH

    Kopp-Duller (1997), through her extensive experience in working with children who struggle in school, found that the classic method of increased practice of reading and spelling did not bring forth the desired improvement when dealing with dyslexic children. The reason for this is the sensory perceptions that are not well developed in dyslexics. These need to be activated and formed to facilitate a smooth process of learning to read and write. An altered approach to helping children who struggle with reading and spelling due to dyslexia was needed that took into account all the things that cause dyslexic children to make mistakes when reading and spelling: inattention while reading and spelling, different sensory perceptions, and errors in reading and writing.

    A. The AFS-Method

    The result was the A(=attention)F(=functions)S(=method)-Method. This method is considered comprehensive or holistic because it offers training in all areas where dyslexic children struggle and where improvement measures should focus. The AFS-Method is also considered open because it only provides the framework for dyslexia training and allows the trainer to incorporate any program, tool, or resource that can help the child. Individuality is essential in dyslexia training since every child has his or her unique difficulties and, thus, the training needs to cater to these individual problems (Kopp-Duller, 2012).

    The AFS-Method consists of three parts: Every training session should start with an attention exercise, so the child learns to focus their thoughts on the reading and spelling task. This is followed by exercises for sharpening sensory perceptions. Not every child has issues in the same perception areas. Therefore, it is critical that an assessment takes place before training starts to find out which sensory perceptions need work. Last but not least, dyslexic children also need to practice reading, spelling, and writing (Kopp-Duller & Pailer-Duller, 2011).

    Kopp-Duller (1997) also came up with the concept of so-called word formulations to integrate into symptom training. The practice of core academic skills should also be conducted by activating the senses. Word formulations involve exercises that teach children about word picture (letters make up words, what do the letters look like, etc.), word sound (letters have sounds and these sounds together form a word, etc.), and word meaning (every word has one or multiple applications, how can the word be used in a sentence, etc.). Elizabeth Aylward and Virginia Berninger from the University of Washington, as reported by Schwarz (2004), found in their research that words are not just words but that they are stored in the human brain by using neural circuits to code words in three forms. They found that the most effective way to teach dyslexic children is by showing them explicitly how letters, sounds, and meaning are interrelated.

    It is also worth mentioning that the AFS-Method is not a commercial program but is open source, unlike most training programs for dyslexia. The AFS-Method can be practiced by teachers, parents, and other professionals alike. Practice has shown that greater success in training is achieved if children see a specialist once a week for a training session, and additionally, that 10-20 minutes daily at home with their parents (Kopp-Duller & Pailer-Duller, 2011).

    B. Evaluation of the AFS-Method

    Certified dyslexia trainers in over 50 countries worldwide have been practicing the AFS-Method for over 20 years now with much success (Kopp-Duller & Pailer-Duller, 2011). International academics have discussed this distinctive approach to dyslexia training in various publications and papers and highlighted its uniqueness compared to other standard practices in the teaching of dyslexics (Ablinger, 2006; Halfarová & Cigánková, 2006; Karli, 2006; Levski, 2011; Mészáros, 2011; Szimmuck, 2014; Zachbauer, 2011). The overall consensus is that a variety of training programs for dyslexia work, but this method might bring better results because of its comprehensiveness.

    In 2008, Kopp-Duller and Pailer-Duller published a long-term qualitative study on the effectiveness of the AFS-Method. Data for the study were gathered between 2001 and 2006, and 3,370 dyslexic test subjects (71% boys, 29% girls) between the ages of 7 and 14 years (1st-4th grade: 61%, 5th-8th grade: 39%) participated. The results showed that after being instructed using the AFS-Method, all children improved their reading and spelling skills, while 85% of the participants showed significant gains in their reading and spelling abilities. The improvements were not short-term but occurred continuously over the two-year observation period. After two years of instruction, the dyslexic children had caught up with their non-dyslexic classmates and were able to fulfill the requirements at school. Parents also reported in a survey that conducted in the course of the study that their children seemed more motivated to do their school work.

    V. SUGGESTED RESEARCH AND RESULTING BENEFITS

    New programs to help dyslexic children emerge almost daily on the market of teaching aids. Most of them probably work and help dyslexic children in some cases. Scientific inquiries tend to focus on exactly such tools that have a narrow focus and only address one issue at a time, be it attention issues, individual sensory perceptions, or new ways of how to practice reading, spelling, and writing. Continuing research, however, should focus on training approaches that offer a holistic concept to tackle the problem as a whole and not investigate what can help in a niche area of training for dyslexics.

    A starting point for further research could be to conduct a quantitative study about the AFS-Method to generate quantifiable and tangible results. This might lead to a greater acceptance of this framework of dyslexia training among professionals and would promote the dissemination of dyslexia training techniques. The more educators practice this open-source method, the more children will benefit from it. Dyslexic children would be more motivated to stay in school if they had fewer failures because of inadequate teaching methods that do not cater to their needs and hence would be able to receive an adequate education. The implications for better qualifications when they enter the labor market go without saying.

    VI. CONCLUSION

    The scientific community agrees that dyslexia is a multi-sensory processing deficit that causes affected individuals to make errors while reading, spelling, and writing (Bonacina et al., 2015; Fraga González et al., 2015; Franceschini et al., 2015; Galaburda et al., 2006; Gori & Facoetti, 2014; Kopp-Duller, 2012; Kopp-Duller & Pailer-Duller, 2011; Wang et al., 2014). This is precisely why training approaches have to take into account that dyslexics have different sensory perceptions and what issues these different sensory perceptions cause: On the surface, only the symptoms are visible, namely the mistakes dyslexic children make while reading and writing. But the subject matter is more complex than that. The different sensory perceptions that dyslexic children exhibit cause them to be inattentive when they encounter letters because the concept is too abstract for them to grasp using traditional teaching methods. This inattentiveness ultimately results in erroneous reading and writing.

    Many different training approaches for dyslexia yield positive results, as was extensively demonstrated in this paper. However, training tends to focus on only one area where the dyslexic student has difficulty. Some research centers on improving the attention span of dyslexic children to teach them to focus their thoughts better on reading and spelling tasks (Breteler et al., 2010; Franceschini et al., 2015; Heim et al., 2015; Kast et al., 2011; Valdois et al., 2015). Other research focuses on sharpening the sensory perceptions to guarantee a smoother process of learning to read and write (Balido-Dean et al., 2011; Berninger et al., 2008; Bonacina et al., 2015; Burger et al., 2001; Flaugnacco et al., 2015; Fraga González et al., 2015; Gori & Facoetti, 2014; Habib et al., 2016; Ikeshita-Yamazoe & Miyao, 2016; Kast et al., 2011; Wang et al., 2014). The last camp of dyslexia research focuses on increased practice of the basic academic skills of reading and spelling (Law & Cupples, 2015; McArthur et al., 2015), although the lack of evidence in this area is promising that the scientific community has realized that traditional teaching methods do not work for most dyslexics.

    Because every manifestation of dyslexia is different, the logical implication must be that the procedure to improve symptoms of dyslexia needs to be adapted to match the dyslexic’s issues. The AFS-Method is the only training method that offers a solution to address all the areas the dyslexic child needs training in. Approaching the issue of dyslexia from a comprehensive angle seems more sensible in any case. The AFS-Method is considered not only holistic but also as open because it allows the trainer to incorporate any training program or tool in the individual areas of training: focusing of attention, sharpening of the sensory perceptions, and practicing of reading and spelling. But even the betterment of symptoms is done by using a multi-sensory concept called word formulations (Kopp-Duller, 1997). Aylward and Berninger from the University of Washington agree that words need to be taught to dyslexic children by explaining to them word picture, word sound, and word meaning (Schwarz, 2004).

    The AFS-Method has been practiced worldwide for over 20 years now, and international research agrees on the advantages of the AFS-Method (Ablinger, 2006; Halfarová & Cigánková, 2006; Karli, 2006; Levski, 2011; Mészáros, 2011; Szimmuck, 2014; Zachbauer, 2011). Kopp-Duller and Pailer-Duller (2008) investigated the benefits of the AFS method in a qualitative study. While observing 3,370 test subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of dyslexia between the ages of 7 and 14 years over a period of two years, they found that 85% of participants showed significant gains in their reading and spelling abilities, motivation was improved, and the students were able to fulfill the requirements at school.

    A good amount of research has already been conducted on the topic of dyslexia, and hopefully, researchers will continue to do so in the future to find new ways to help dyslexic individuals more effectively. However, further research into the ways on how to improve reading and spelling abilities of dyslexic children should focus on a comprehensive approach to training, like the AFS-Method. Addressing all areas where dyslexics need assistance delivers greater and longer-lasting results, as has already been found in qualitative research. But generating quantitative results about the success of the AFS-Method would prove to the education community a sophisticated way to help dyslexic students.

    If scientific research can show ways on how to train dyslexic children in practice, educators, other professionals, and parents alike would be able to facilitate a training process that brings lasting improvements for affected children. The result would be more motivated students that are able to stay in school longer and received a better education. This would allow them to achieve ultimately greater things and hopefully, lead better lives.

    Putting these approaches into practice takes structured training. The Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program teaches the AFS method in 48 self-paced online lessons and is open to teachers, learning specialists, and homeschooling parents, with no prior professional training required.

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  • Wisconsin Institute for Learning Disabilities/Dyslexia endorses special paperback edition of The Hypnotist

    Wisconsin Institute for Learning Disabilities/Dyslexia endorses special paperback edition of The Hypnotist

    WILDD

    “As a dyslexic, the typeface used in the special paperback edition of this book [OpenDyslexicAlta] assisted me with the tracking issues I have and made this a much more positive reading experience. The Hypnotist is a ‘must read,’ dyslexic or not.” Ervin Carpenter, Executive Director of WILDD

    Special Edition of “The Hypnotist” by Alyssa Devine for Readers with Dyslexia

    When Tom Lassiter hypnotized his friend Amanda Wilcox, the last thing he thought she would reveal was an abduction and murder that took place 25 years earlier. But who were the murderers, and why did Amanda and Tom have them to fear now?

    “A great story from a new author . . . entertaining and fresh, even fascinating at times.” Lee Ashford for Readers’ Favorite

    When, on an afternoon outing in Bayou Vermillion, Lafayette, LA, Amanda Wilcox has her fortune read by Madam Zu-Zu, she and her friend, Tom Lassiter, never thought it would lead to her having a nightmare in which she dreamed she was being choked to death. Under hypnosis, Amanda reveals to Tom that she once was a woman named Kyla Decker, who disappeared 25 years earlier after being stopped by a policeman while driving home early one morning after partying with her girlfriends. An Internet search reveals the name of another woman, Cindi Lathrop, who disappeared some years after Decker under similar circumstances. As Amanda’s and Tom’s relationship blossoms, the teenagers uncover evidence linking a former Lafayette, LA, policeman and a funeral home employee to the abductions, men who they suspect murdered the two women. But then, in what appears to be a real-life enactment of what the fortune teller told Amanda, Amanda and Tom find their lives threatened by one of the two men they think was responsible for the murders committed 25 years earlier. Can the teenagers survive, knowing the last of the five tarot cards read to Amanda by Madam Zu-Zu was Death? The only way to learn the answer to that question is to read The Hypnotist.

    Available in Kindle and two paperback editions (Georgia and OpenDyslexicAlta fonts).

    Available on Amazon: The Hypnotist: Special Edition for Readers With Dyslexia

  • My story and that of many mothers by SANDHYA P.R. B.A., LL.B., M.B.A., DIRECTOR, TRAVANCORE NATIONAL SCHOOL

    My story and that of many mothers by SANDHYA P.R. B.A., LL.B., M.B.A., DIRECTOR, TRAVANCORE NATIONAL SCHOOL

    TRAVANCORE DYSLEXIA ASSOCIATION

    This is the account of a lonely and tiring journey that I set myself on some years ago for my son Tejas, and for other similar children and their hapless mothers. Tejas was diagnosed as dyslexic some years ago. Even before that shocking diagnosis came and shattered our lives, his everyday in school was a terrifying experience for him and us.

    A restive kid by nature, Tejas could not cope with the grinding routine of regular school. He was speedily pronounced a troublemaker, lazy, and prone to throwing frequent tantrums, maligning the decorum and discipline of the classroom. The teachers could not comprehend his behavior, since no one, save me, knew of his malady, that he was the victim of a medical disorder.

    As regular schooling became nearly impossible for my son, I began searching for a different educational environment, one that would not castigate him for his disorder but would reassure him of his abilities and instill confidence in him. To my dismay, I discovered that there was no such institution in Kerala that could satisfy the mother in me, and maybe even provide a measure of comfort.

    By this point, I had come to realize that there were hundreds of hapless Tejases and silently grieving mothers like me in my neighborhood and across the state. I made a resolve to get my son quality education that would not nip away at his talents, but which would nourish his potentials and emotionally support his evolvement into a valued citizen of this society, The efforts I took in this direction bore fruit with the founding of Travancore National School, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, offering specialized education tailor-made for children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.

    A lonely journey

    Yes, it was a lonely journey all the way, too, through unfamiliar, uncharted terrain. Now, when the calendar has completed one full cycle, our school, which began with six kids on July 25, 2014, has grown to accommodate 44 students. Within a year of its opening, we could begin classes from kindergarten to class 12. Four of our dyslexia-challenged students passed their class 10 examinations through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

    Tejas, my son, Young Ambassador for dyslexia

    During the initial period of the school’s functioning, we had another eye-opening experience that pointed toward the need for social education and raising awareness about learning disabilities. Some of our students’ parents approached us with a seemingly strange request –they asked if it was permissible to send their children to our school, robed in other schools’ uniforms. When asked why, the answer was invariably that they wished to avoid the social stigma associated with having their children attend a ‘special school’. Dismayed as we were, we managed to convince them otherwise, but the writing was on the wall – measures needed to be adopted to ensure these children would not be socially outcast. Needless to say, what was required was not a short-term solution, but social education to weed out the deeply rooted stigma. As a first step, I volunteered to project Tejas as the brand ambassador for dyslexia. Of course, much more needed to be done on a much larger scale. We would get to it later.

    Sandhya and Teja
    Sandhya and Teja

    ‘Our teachers, their mothers’

    We at Travancore National School don’t refer to our faculty members as ‘teachers’, but as ‘mothers’ who take care of all the needs of their beloved children. Rather than syllabus and examinations, it is the overall growth and education of the children that are the focus of our educational program. Our ‘teachers–mothers’ are ably assisted by child psychologists and counsellors, who also extend their services to the children’s families in order to help them understand the unique qualities of their children.

    We have also set up a well-stocked library, a computer lab, a visual learning studio, and special training apparatuses for our variously challenged children.

    Live the colorful life

    The co-curricular activities offered to our students include training in martial arts such as karate, musical classes including keyboard, computer education, vocational training, yoga classes, and sports, designed to help bring out the best in each individual.

    We acknowledge the importance of students being equipped to thrive in the world outside their classrooms. To this end, we encourage our wards to take part in social activities such as harvest festivals and the planting of saplings, inspire them to grow up to be responsible citizens, and train them to mingle seamlessly with mainstream students through social interactions.

    The summer camp held in May 2015 exposed the children to training in social and artistic skills. They tried their hands at cookery and painting, and also learned the basics of self-defense. They listened to dietitians speak about the importance of a healthy diet, and doctors demonstrated to them the basics of first aid techniques. They were also introduced to performing art forms such as Kathakali, folk dance, etc., in the camp

    Take society with us

    Recognizing the significance of social participation and inclusion, we also embarked on a mission to create awareness about dyslexia. Leading playback singer G. Venugopal joined the campaign by agreeing to be Travancore National School’s goodwill ambassador. This ensured that we got some attention in the press and on social media, which we were able to leverage to our advantage by focusing media coverage on our cause, all of which went a long way in promoting awareness about dyslexia.

    The research cell of the Thiruvananthapuram branch of the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) has joined hands with our school for a unique threefold awareness campaign.

    Together, we are attempting to raise awareness of learning disabilities among parents, relatives, teachers, and medical professionals. We are also lobbying with the government to train teachers to identify and help children with dyslexia, and to set up affordable facilities in government schools to help the indigent children and their parents. Furthermore, we are working to develop a network of such institutions and to train professionals who can help the needy children from low-income families.

    Tejas’s journey forward, our vision

    Tejas is a happy child these days, and he enjoys every moment in school. Happy too are dozens of other Tejases, who shine like the lamps lit from the source, the Travancore National School. However, this is not the end of my journey.
    Indeed, I am at the beginning of this journey and am now at a turning point in my life, as are several others around me. I realize clearly that I need to persist; I have a responsibility to make more Tejases smile, and I need to put my head down and plough on until the path on which I have set out is a smooth one on which hundreds of challenged children can hope to begin their life journeys smoothly. I need to strive hard to ensure that those children’s smiles reflect on the faces of their parents.

    I hope to transform Travancore National School into a nodal center for children with learning difficulties, and to raise it as a training center for teachers who specialize in learning difficulties. I realize that the successful first year is only the first mile on this challenging road, and that I have many, many more miles to go before I sleep…

    TRAVANCORE NATIONAL SCHOOL
    www.travancorenationalschool.com

    TRAVANCORE NATIONAL SCHOOL / FB
    https://www.facebook.com/Travancore-National-School-1413481035600359/

    TRAVANCORE DYSLEXIA ASSOCIATION / FB
    https://www.facebook.com/Travancore-Dyslexia-Association-1452503165029522/