Recognizing Dyslexia
Because we offer literacy programs for children, we are highlighting dyslexia this month. One in five children has dyslexia, a language processing disorder, which can affect all forms of language, spoken and written. A diagnosis of dyslexia indicates that the brain thinks differently and your child will need to learn how to decode letters and words in a supportive learning environment. We recently interviewed Ervin Carpenter, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Learning Disabilities/Dyslexia (WILDD) to learn more about dyslexia.
Signs of Dyslexia
Signs of dyslexia can sometimes be difficult to recognize. Some indications are late talking, learning new words slowly, and problems remembering or naming letters, colors, and numbers. Mr. Carpenter says that other signs include struggling in school and in reading, a change in behavior, a reluctance to go to school, being behind their peers, and avoiding reading altogether.
Diagnosing Dyslexia and Next Steps
Mr. Carpenter believes that schools, in general, currently do a good job of detecting dyslexia. If you suspect that your child is dyslexic, Mr. Carpenter says that there are a couple of things you can do. The first step would be to approach your child’s school. The school can screen your child for dyslexia. In Wisconsin, if a diagnosis of dyslexia is confirmed, schools are required to provide your child with two interventions, short-term-focused teaching programs to help students with specific needs. If your child does not improve after the two interventions, the school will then create an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for your child.
Families can also acquire help from the WILDD . A free one-hour consultation is available. They can do a full assessment of your child, including a report that can be delivered to your child’s school, and offer language therapy courses consisting of a five-level curriculum. While these services are at cost, WILDD offers scholarships based on family size and income. Classes can be attended virtually – and they take place all over the world! Mr. Carpenter says that the average time for a person to overcome their challenges in dyslexia is two years.
Mr. Carpenter's Story
“I’m dyslexic,” says Mr. Carpenter. When Mr. Carpenter attended the Madison school system during the 1950s and 1960s, a time when dyslexia wasn’t fully understood, he had a difficult time learning to read. By the ninth grade, he dropped out of school, and by the age of 17 years, he joined the Army. It wasn’t until Mr. Carpenter was at the age of 32 years when he finally received a diagnosis of dyslexia at UW-Oshkosh where he was struggling in his studies to earn a degree in Special Education. After 35 years of teaching Special Education in public schools, Mr. Carpenter retired in 2004 and then co-founded WILDD with Kim Campbell-Carpenter in 2005.
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For an informational guidebook about dyslexia published by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, please visit here.
To learn more about WILDD and the services they provide, visit here.
