dysTalk Laptops Help Dyslexic Dyspraxic Children To Access The Curriculum - Dyslexia - Forum - dysTalk

Laptops help dyslexic dyspraxic pupils access the curriculum.

As the parent of a dyslexic and dyspraxic child who uses a personal laptop and assistive software for all of her school/homework I thought it might help other parents to start a thread on this subject. I hope my comments are constructive and give a view on this from a parent and pupil perspective.

Some of the benefits we have found in using a laptop are: printed work can be easily read by the child, free software can be downloaded that will read work back for proof reading, a child who has experienced repeated failure with handwriting often finds word processing motivational, word processing work gives the child independence from a TA scribe, touch typing provides finger memories of spelling, using a keyboard improves fine motor control and the child gains self esteem and confidence as their computer skills develop and they find they can access the curriculum.

some dos and don’ts.

Schools would not consider letting a child with dyspraxia, dyslexia use a laptop unless their access to the curriculum was seriously hindered by their writing speed. A child with fine motor control difficulties would be unlikely to be able to touch type at speed for quite some time.

Do not accept slow touch typing speed as an excuse for the school to limit the amount that the laptop is used, question this and stress the importance of your child being able to access the curriculum independently.

Do work with the school on a joint touch typing programme for home and school, but remember that to develop a fluent word processing style opportunities must be made available and encouraged within subject lessons and be part of their normal day to day recording. Reasonable adjustment must be made by school staff.

Do arrange a meeting with the SENCo to talk over the ways that the laptop will be used at school and have targets set for when and where it will be used written into the IEP.

Do talk to your childs O.T they should be able to look into how your child will move around school with their equipment and where it will be kept safe at lunchtimes and so on.

Do try to get the LEA to commission an ICT audit of their needs or get one done yourself . You will then have a report on their ICT needs the report will help secure you the schools permission and support for its use.

If your child is provided with a laptop the onus should be on the school staff or the childs TA to provide the support so that they are able to use it. Children with dyslexia, dyspraxia do have organisation issues with or without a laptop it’s part of being dyslexic dyspraxic.

Do impress on the school how important it is that your child is given every opportunity to use their laptop at school even in the early days, the sooner everyone gets used to it the better for your child.

Don’t be fobbed off with excuses for it not being used.

Our personal experience was with secondary school looming our child could not write or spell her name and as a result was supplied with a personal laptop. We found that when left to school staff our child did not get the opportunities to use the laptop at both Primary and Secondary school, some of the excuses as to why it wasn’t being used - they didn’t expect pupils in year 7 to use them, they didn’t really have pupils using laptops until Key stage 4 and pupils don’t do much writing in years 7,8. The situation was remedied by contacting the disability discrimination commission and sending a formal letter to the Head to remind the school of their statutory duty not to discriminate.

Since being issued with a laptop our child has made substantial progress in all subjects, she is motivated to produce lengthy pieces of written work which demonstrate her learning and understanding of the subjects studied. This way of producing work has allowed her to became an independent writer.

31/08/2009 21:41:43
Pauline

Dear pauline

I was so relieved to read your post; my son is 8 and recently diagnosed with dyslexia, he is at a small independent school and already this term (the first term since the diagnosis) we have hit such resistance to (a) him using a laptop even for homework and (b) school applying any concessions or modifications within the class. I feel so disspointed and feel I am letting our son down whilst at the same time not wanting to come accross as the 'difficult' mother!. Your advise is so inspiring and I would like to ask if I may, how to contact the disability discrimination comission, as I think this is going to be neccesary. Hope to hear from you soon.

thanks, can you send to my email if possible, as i don't normaly join forums and might forget to check!

Miriam

03/10/2009 00:45:38
Miriam Shieldhouse

Hi Miriam

I'm glad my post was useful. Having seen the benefits of my own daughters use of her laptop I believe passonately that SEN children should be given access to ICT in the same way that their peers have access to pen and paper. Sadly most schools are very behind the times in adapting to the technology and I think cause many children to suffer years of frustration and low self esteem because of this.

If you google Ipsea and click on useful links you will find the website of the disability commission.Another good website is Abiliynet they have free factsheets to download and advice on software which you might find helpful.

Good Luck

Pauline

08/10/2009 20:20:33
Pauline

Hello Miriam

Our local LEA has this week agreed to issue my son with a laptop( after a battle of 18 months) He is in year 10 and has very low self esteem which is partly due to his dyspraxia. I was overjoyed to read your comments and I'm now in the process of doing some research to investigate which laptop/keyboards would be best suited for him. Any suggestions? Thanks

c

14/10/2009 20:58:14
Susan Harris

My son, who is 9 years old, has a laptop which he uses for longer writing assignments in class and it has made a tremendous difference in his writing. He has dyspraxia and his handwriting was so poor it was really holding back his writing (composition) and the OT recommended that he be assessed for a laptop. The school has been very supportive and he spent several months trying out different laptops and pieces of software. He is seen regularly by the ICT teacher who checks to see how is getting on with the laptop. My son is a fabulous touch typist -- there are many good typing 'games' that he found really helpful.

19/10/2009 16:42:56
Kris

hi

I am an occupational therapist, new to work in paediatrics - I am keen to know of any touch typing programmes that may be appropriate for teenagers who have dyslexia / dypraxia. there are so many courses available it would be great to know which ones are most appropriate and user friendly from the childs and parents perspective? also has anyone had experience of using pen computing technology (ie use of a tablet computer). if so how did they find it? any information would be much appreciated.

kind regards

Rosey

01/12/2009 16:44:47
Rosey Palmer

Miriam - Thank-you for your post. My son is 8 and has been diagnosed with visual spatial dyslexia for approximately 2 years now (and known to me for 3+years. He was fully tested and diagnosed by a highly respected community paediatrician, but still receives no help at all at school. He has not even had an ed psych report, and I ve been told that even if he had a lap top there wouldnt be any time for him to use it in class. The constant confrontation got too much for me and I stepped back and put up witht the school as I have a younger son who does well there. Ive been reading all morning after deciding that I really have to help him now, and your article has motivated me to fight for my childs rights again. Many thanks and good luck with your childs care.

04/12/2009 11:26:17
Nichola

my duaghter is severely dyspraxic oral and motor also dysarthria,we have just applied for a laptop,does anyone know where i could find a laptop supplier who could supply one with lower case keypad and speech assisted etc? any information would help! Thanks Paula

14/01/2010 13:36:56
paula Coglan

Hi Paula

I would recommend that you look on the Abilitynet website. Just put Abilitynet into google for professional advice,free downloads and factsheets from the Abilitynet team who specialise in assistive technology for people with disabilities.

14/01/2010 16:14:01
Pauline

Hi was hoping that you may be able to give me some advice ,my son is coming 10 this year and is not making much progress at school i shall explain from the beginning in 2004 was diagnosed with verbal dyspraxia /ADHD possibility of having damp and was meeting very little milestones in 2005 we moved 800 miles to scotland where the education system was very different he attended a rural school for 18months had no imput from any services after arguing with the school eventually got the paed and ep to assess him paed assessed for 20 mins and ep for 10 they said that he had been misdiagnosed and according to class teacher had no problems and was attaining at the correct level to this i disagreed and got the label of being a difficult mum he had an iep but this was directed at home life nothing to do with education as it was felt that it was that he was under pressure at home eventually after 18months i moved him to a town school and never said that he had any problems very selfish i know but i wanted to see ,it took the new school 4 days and then they asked for me to make an appointment they asked me a few questions one was ,was there two children with the same name in his previous school because something didnt talli it was then 2007 i was told that he couldnt write he couldnt read ,was struggling in all areas of the curriculum and was considerably below the lowest of underachievers ,i am now extremely cross but delighted that some one else has realized his difficulty i then begin battle again paed is adament that he only has mild adhd ,speech therapist has said that he is dyspraxic and lst says he is severely dyslexic he has spent the last 5yrs learning the alphabet is still struggling with basic keywords and i feel has exhausted the lsa list of moving forward he is a lovely little boy but if i dont find a way forward soon in the way of a method for him to learn i am going to be in serious trouble as a parent as he is already losing his sparkle and school is becoming a battle he is also quite immature for his age this makes it very hard to find friends and keep them he is 1 of 4 children the oldest being 18 and him my youngest any advice would be gratefully recieved as i feel i am losing my battle i had spoke to the school several times about a lap top as he cannot write independently and have been shrugged off

Thanks Becky

22/01/2010 12:25:24
Rebecca Hutson

Hi Becky

Try to find as much information as you can about what the Local Education Authorities duties are towards your son. A good place to start with this is IPSEA (just put that into google) they have a website which gives professional advice to parents on LEAs statutory duties and links to other educational sites where you should be able to find out what the school should be providing to meet your sons SEN.

Good Luck

22/01/2010 15:36:33
Pauline

Thanks Pauline for your reply but IPSEA doesnt cover scotland ,i have had regular ieps for my son since starting this new school in 2007

but have had no imput from any other services even down to transporting him 50 miles aday the response i got was you took your child out of a school that was meeting his needs therefore transport is down to you i have found the whole system to be a complete failure my son has no statement just attend the ieps ,new head teacher has now written to paed ,ep,salt,to attend a meeting on 2/2/10 as he feels that they need outside agencies on board i really just wanted some guidance on what i should be asking at present out of a school week he gets 1/2 an hour aday support was told that this is not always on a 1-1 and in the class room is worked with in groups of four has 1/2 hour session of speech therapy a fortnight surely if a child is nearly 10 has only just learnt the letters of the alphabet cannot write independently or copy correctly is still on numbers 1-100 has no idea how to spell we should be getting more help than we are at present we read everynight and i have supported the school in every area of education at home and have done since going to school i have spent double the time with him than any of my other children and have always done hmwk attended every open evening gone to every meeting all they seem to say is he is a delightful little boy i am as frustrated as he is.

Thanks Becky

22/01/2010 18:24:26
Rebecca Hutson

Sorry I can't help Becky. My experience of getting support for my daughter is of the English Ed system. It does sound from your post though as if the Head is taking things forward,although some talk the talk but won't walk the walk, my daughter's Primary Head was always willing to talk to me and I actually ended up having seventeen informal meetings with him in nineteen months and he used to say things like ''don't worry Mrs ... your daughter will really take off when she's at university'' she couldn't read or write at 10 years old... makes you wonder where they dredge these people up from??.

You probably already do this but if you don't already I would recommend that you request meetings with all outside agengies who assess your son. Take notes at all meetings with the school and outside specials and ask for copies of all written reports of any tests or observations that have been carried out. This gives you a record of any action promised by the school and a way of checking that recommendations/appointments proposed by the external specailists are acted on and carried out within a reasonable time.

This may sound untrusting but I know from bitter experience that it is up to the school whether they act on the external specialists advice. They can choose to ignore it and do, especailly if they think it will end up costing them money. The more evidence that you have the more you can push for your sons right to access the curriculum.

I hope that helps a bit

22/01/2010 20:37:17
Pauline

Hi Pauline thanks for the reply thats what worries me that he is all nicey nice and willing to speak to me but very slow on the up take was told yesterday that the ep may not even assess him just put in strategies ,i know its not nice to have a label but without a diagnosis which none of them seem to want to commit themselves in saying what is wrong with him i dont feel we will move forward he is delayed in all aspects of learning i will keep you updated once we have had our meeting in feb

Thanks Again

Becky

23/01/2010 10:58:55
Rebecca

Hi, Pauline i bit the bullet today and bought my son a laptop and informed the head that i want it discussed at our meeting on the 2/2 do you have any tips for me on how i can persuade them that i feel this will make a real difference and how we can use it for home and school together also do recommend any programmes to purchase have been looking at nessy any advice would be greatly appreciated

Becky

29/01/2010 11:11:42
Rebecca Hutson

Becky, I put educational additional needs Scotland into google and a website came up from cafamily who give information on SEN in Scotland. From what I read on their site you have the right as a parent to request that the education authority establish a co ordinated support plan for your son. This seems to me to be the same as requsting a statement. There is a set timescale for the authority to carry out this process and you have the right to appeal to the additional support tribunal if the authority do not prepare a co ordinated support plan or if they do and you are unhappy with it. If you look into this in more detail you could inform the school of your intension at the meeting. Your sons profile of SEN and detailed history of professional involvement is quite similar to my daughters. If establishing and preparing a CSP is a statutory duty of your education authority this will be the best way of securing and developing provision for your son. Once this is put into place programmes for working with his laptop can be written into his objectives and targets.

A good touch typing programme is Englishtype the website for this is at www.englishtype.com

Another good website with software products for people with dyslexia and other disabilities is at www.dyslexic.com

30/01/2010 19:50:56
Pauline

Hi Becky,my daughter is 10 and has lots of difficulties. Over the years i have fought long and hard to get any help,i have however picked up some useful info from parent partnership(just google it)like when your child is on an iep it could be school action or school action plus.If your child is on school action plus,the school should be getting advice from outside agencies like the specialist teaching team who should be assessing your childs needs and making recommendations.You are entitled to copies of all reports on your child and your child is entitled to up to 15 hours of help a week.If things still haven't progressed enough, the school (or you)can ask the LEA for an statatory assessment.I will warn you this is a very long process.I believe every child is entitled to an education it's very sad that so many SEN children have so many battles to face before accessing it. Anyway my daughter enjoyed nessy but got on much better with acceller read,acceller write, she also does various phonics groups.After another asessment the specialist teaching team have recommended a word processing tool called clicker 5,unfortunately i cannot tell you about this yet as still fighting to get the recommendations put in place!At the end of the report it says-The IDP Dyslexia(Dfes 2008)offers further suggestions for supporting pupils with difficulties in acquiring Literacy skills. Hope this is of some help to you,keep fighting and keep smiling!!! Oh and good for you getting a laptop and good luck on the 2nd(i recommend you bring someone with you for support and write everything down before you go in).Have you thought about contacting social services,as they have a special needs team that would probably be helpful in pushing for a statement. You could also try Education Welfare.

All the best,Tasha x

31/01/2010 02:57:57
Tasha

Thank you all for your posts. It's great to know we are not alone when no one else seems to understand. My son is 9 with dyspraxia- diagnosed only after years of fighting with the school. I went private for an independent EP and OT assessment in the end. On my way to get a laptop this weekend. Any suggestions for a good laptop for children with finemotor skill issues and who is most likely going to drop it from time to time?

10/03/2010 11:19:37
Yankee blue (Member)

Hello, my 8.5 year old has just been assessed by an Ed Psych who recommends that he uses a laptop at school for the more 'wordy' subjects. Does anyone have any tips for what/where to buy and any recommended practise typing exercises - we are about to face an uphill battle with a child who absolutely refuses even to consider using a laptop which he sees as 'making him different'. Did anyone reply to Yankee Blue's query? Think it might be similar.. Thank you.

12/04/2010 14:05:00
Pippa

hi, my name is Lucy.

i am very curious about the special needs disorder. so, i have chosen the topic of dyspraxia for a powerpoint for school. so i have a few questions...

1. what are the modifications of home life for people with this disorder?

2. what would be some teaching strategies a teacher or anyone could use to teach a child with this disorder?

3. do you know some good reasources for parents or teachers who need helping these individuals?

4. What is the usual life span for people with this disorder? i feel horrible asking but its one of the requirements that i need for my powerpoint and i cant find the anser anywhere. :(

thank you for your time & help.

- Lucy

12/05/2010 15:43:41
Lucy

HiYankee and Pippa - Look at the Abilitynet website for advice on laptops, Alphasmarts and down load some of their factsheets on computing and disabilities. Other good websites to take a look at are The British Dyslexia Association, Don Johnston and www.dyslexic.com these sites also have user reviews and reccomendations.

Hi Lucy, in answer to your questions

1. I have found that our homelife did not have to be modified because of our daughter's dyspraxia.

2. The Primary school organized a co ordination group which practised gross motor skills i.e. catching a ball, balancing and throwing.

3. The Dyspraxia Foundation have a home page for teachers and have lots of practical advice for parents.

4. This is a bit of an odd question after all Whats the life span of anyone????

12/05/2010 16:44:01
Pauline

Hi I am currently out of work in USA. I have applied to most of the job sites more times than I'd care to recall and applied to 100s of positions. However, i have not been able to find a single good response to my resumes. If anyone knows about any particular place where i can look for a good job, please reply me with the location details. I will be thankful to you for your early response.

03/06/2010 10:02:32
RantHiesiaKen

The ownership of a laptop does not guarantee effective learning!

Many children with difficulties undoubtedly find digital technologies extremely useful but they are not a panacea for all ills. Some kids just don't like using laptops, not least because it makes them feel different, or because motor skills are not developed sufficiently to use unadapted keyboards.

As in everything else, children need motivation, training and practice before becoming competent. There are many shortcuts, many wonderful resources available to enable youngsters to access the curriuculum without the barrier of print, many tools that allow them to demonstrate knowledge and understanding without having to read and write. And many schools actively encourage learners with difficulties to use the technologies. But parents cannot expect teachers to be completely knowledgeable about all new technologies instantly, and cannot expect that their children will suddenly cease to have learning difficulties just because they own some new kit.

One decision we teachers have to make is how to deploy the limited time we have to the best advantage of the child. If I choose to teach a child how to use a spell checker efficiently, how to access text to speech software and audio books, how to touch type, how to make a video or use a digital voice recorder, how to mind map ideas or make notes using text-speak, then the time for other activities is diminished.

At what point do I cease to teach him or her to read, write and spell, or at least change the emphasis?

I understand the frustrations of parents and children but they also need to understand the constraints upon school staff!

04/06/2010 03:36:34
Hilery Williams

Re Hilary Williams post

Perhaps you could enlighten us Hilary as to what the…. “many wonderful resources available to enable youngsters to access the curriculum without the barrier of print, many tools that allow them to demonstrate knowledge and understanding without having to read and write” are?

You mention audio books, are there others that don’t involve using computers / laptops that we’ve not heard of?

06/06/2010 19:52:52
Pauline

Re Hilary Williams post.

Hope you are up to speed on disability discrimination, inclusion for all and the fact that every child has the right to reach their full potential and would it take less of your time to teach a child to write than it would to use a laptop? I think you are taking things a bit to the extreme here(glad you don't teach my child!). With outdated attitudes like yours it is no wonder that so many children are struggling in school. Most schools should have PSA's , SENCO's Ed Psychs, and IT specialist access. Each child is also provided for financially by the LEA if they have additional support needs. Parents do not expect teachers to perform miracles however a job to you versus a child's future! With a little extra foresight, research and planning it is often the case that small changes in class can make a massive difference to the child, teacher and other pupils with very little time and cost involved.

Shame there are not more teachers out there like Lucy who want to research and find ways of increasing their knowledge and understanding instead of coming on to have a moan about how hard there job is and how little time they have. Life is hard enough for families whose children have disabilities without the added stress of un-supportive schools, and teachers who are ignorant to their needs. What research have you red or done to come up with your statement about the use of laptops. Certainly not the same as mine or what you will find reading through these posts!

14/06/2010 17:11:57
DONNA JOHNSTONE

Appropos of my last post: my simple point is that just as we would not give a child a pencil and expect her to produce interesting, creative and knowledgeable thoughts; neither should we give him a laptop and expect that to be The Answer. It surely is one terrific solution – but it is only a tool, just as a pencil is.

John Dewey wrote at the beginning of the 20th century, ‘If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow’.

Of course we need to employ every technology available to empower people to do what they want to do and be who they want to be. New technologies let people be creative. They let people be productive. They let people learn things they didn't think they could learn before, and so in a sense it is all about potential.

‘The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn’. It is our job, as more experienced learners, to ensure that children learn how to learn. What tools they use to do that are less significant: it’s the learning that counts.

17/06/2010 08:54:36
Hilery Williams

Donna

I am sorry that you misunderstood my first post.

As it happens I have just won a Best Practice Award for my work ‘celebrating the strengths of dyslexic learners with technologies’ (from dyslexic.com. An article will appear in the TES some time soon). I am passionate about the use of new technologies for enabling youngsters to learn. I spend most of my professional (and much of my personal) life thinking about how to extend their use in my region.

It is a shame that you resort to insults in a forum that is presumably designed to extend everyone’s knowledge and understanding, share ideas and resources and celebrate success as well as explore difficulties that learners with dyslexia have.

I am neither lazy nor ignorant. I have spent my career actively researching all aspects of specific learning difficulties, focusing on developing the literacy and thinking skills of dyslexic students. I have taught a post graduate certificate in dyslexia, advised the Scottish government on the recent Additional Support for Learning Act, acted as professional adviser to the Education Dept. in developing strategies for ICT across Scotland’s schools and striven for over 30 years to raise awareness of the issues surrounding teaching learners with dyslexia.

I write a blog (http://hileryjane.wordpress.com/) and am constantly up-dating my knowledge and understanding.

My simple point was that a laptop is a tool, just as pencil and paper are. Technology is incredibly powerful when used effectively, when youngsters are empowered to use it. But they need time to learn how to use it: the fact of having one will not by itself assist learning.

In many ways, a mobile phone is more useful: you can photograph the homework that’s written on the board; use texting and the calendar to support organisational difficulties; translate French without having to trawl through the dictionary; navigate around the school as well as access Google Earth; play hangman and develop spelling; calculate maths problems; create an electronic story book by writing text, and either drawing on the screen or using your own photos; record sound effects too. There are apps for reading e-books, including over 50,000 free titles and a basic ruler in inches or centimetres. One excellent little app quickly shows you any unit (area, temperature, length and weight, to name a few) in most other units, e.g. for Length it shows you Miles, Nautical Miles, Yard, Foot, Inch, Kilometre & Metre. This is the perfect app to illustrate why we should think about whether we need to spend time teaching our kids this stuff when it does it for us so quickly…

Believe me, I have no doubt whatsoever that technology frees learners with dyslexia to access learning.

With best wishes

17/06/2010 21:51:52
Hilery Williams

Hi Hilary

Yes there is a lot of wonderful technology out there if you can afford it, but what about the kids whose parents can’t afford an ipad or something similar and all the apps to go with it? Do you think schools should be providing this.

21/06/2010 20:30:13
Pauline

Hi Pauline

My son is 15, year 10, stuggling with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia all his school years. His school seemed to be very supportive the first few years but now as he needs the support even more we find he has nt even had a reader for his exams! He said it was because the staff said he had to ask at each exam if he needed a reader but dare not ask as he was called a 'retard' by other pupils.

As he has chronic eczema to cope with too exams are a nightmare for the whole family. I have spoke to the school about a laptop to help with course work they say there is one between 4 students?? Where would I go from here as his last year is fast approaching.

Thank you

Debbie H

24/06/2010 09:06:15
Deborah Higgins

Hi Debbie

You would need to gather evidence of his need for a laptop. Is his handwriting legible? Is there a marked difference between his word processed work and his handwritten work, is it more legible, does he complete more work on a PC. Did he have tests for exam access arrangements in year 9 (these tests give scores for reading accuracy, handwriting speed and spelling accuracy) these might help to support your case to the school that they provide him with a laptop. Email his teachers ask for his curriculum levels also ask if they can read his work, would be improved if he word processed his work. If you email his teachers you can use their written replies as evidence of his needs.

Hope that helps.

24/06/2010 14:17:39
Pauline

Hello Pauline

Thank you for posting your first message, I came across it when I goggled 'how to help my dyspraxic child in school'.

I found it interesting and enlightening, I also found some comments a little hot under the collar and as a parent with a child with dyspraxia I too, got my back up at the original comment by Hilery, understandably as a parent with a child with special needs we are here looking for positive comments, feedback, suggestions and than 'wham' that one came in and it was like a slap in the face for even considering looking at the option of a laptop. I am glad Hilery explained herself and her position as she sounds very knowledgable and passionate.

I have an 8 yr old son with mild-servere verbal dyspraxia. He was diagnosed at 3yrs but started speech therapy early at 17mths as I knew there was something not right when one day he stopped saying the word 'mum' so that he could say the word 'car', it was as if he could only handle a few words at a time and would drop a word every few months for a new one. He even started making his own signs for 'drink', 'eat', 'sleep' etc.

For parents who are only just learning about this condition please do not think for a moment that your child is 'dumb' etc.

Let me tell you about my wonderful son. He is friendly, kind, outgoing, funny and cheeky. Although we were concerned for his educational needs and how he would go in the long term at 4.5yrs of age my son made me smile a big proud smile and I believed from then on he would go on to do wonderful things. He was asked in class to draw a picture of a house, all the other classmates draw a typical house for their age, you know the ones, a square for the house, rectangle to the door and a triangle for the roof. Well my son draw a birds eye view of a house complete with four bedrooms, a bathroom, garage, kitchen and lounge/dining room. He draw triangles to show where the doors were and dashes for the windows, admittedly we were in the middle of designing our family house to build but the fact he had taken those drawings in, remembered the finer details and redrew them his way made me think I had a child genius inside a speech impaired child. He is now 8 and wants to own a building company.

To cut a long story short, he has managed mainstream Kindy, Preschool and Yr1-2 with a little assistance from a classroom aid shared between all the students, which at his school is common. He did however have small group spelling/phonics classes 2-3 times a week for 20 minutes to reinforce things he struggled with.

Unfortunately he is now in Yr3 and struggling, students are now more aware that his spelling is very weak, he struggles to read because he forgets what the words are, he has a poor memory and is unable to retell stories or events he has just heard, however if he has actually done them ie, gone camping etc he can tell you everything from the time we left home to how many times we stopped for petrol and how long it took to put the tent up.

My concern now is as the work gets harder he falls further behind so we have recently had him reassessed externally (clef 4 test) and I have an appointment next week with his teacher, the special needs teacher and the head of the junior school to see where to go from here. We are fortunate our school is a laptop based school once the children reach Yr 6 but I will now be asking if he can have a laptop now to use for the harder writing tasks as I can see the benefit of that from your comments above.

I was told in Yr 6 there is a program that can go on the laptops to prompt his spelling, I will have to do some research but I think if he starts to spell a word it will come up with suggestions of the possible word he is typing, does that sound correct?

Best wishes for everyone researching ways to help their children.

Well done x H

30/07/2010 04:16:18
Proud mum of four

Thank you for your post

I was prompted to start a thread on this after reading the dystalk Article -” How useful are lap tops for dyslexia and dyspraxics“. I had hoped this article might have a positive story about using technology in education. I was disappointed when I read instead a set of preconditions for using a laptop in school, the writer stating that a child below a touch typing speed should not be allowed to use it for lessons and that a child with a laptop would have to “prove themselves capable” to the teacher.

I have heard all of these excuses used by most of my daughters teachers since she received her laptop at nine years old until the current time, she’s fourteen!

The advice in the article is out dated and contrary to the requirement that teachers make reasonable adjustment and that disabled children are not put at substantial disadvantage outlined in the DDA act.

I just wanted to balance the original article and put out a parents view on this

30/07/2010 15:16:41
Pauline

re proud mum of four

Your posting made me cry. So many similarities. So many frustrations, such a cruel, often invisible condition. My middle son is 9, so school year 5, has middling dyspraxia, poor working memory etc. Our son is popular as he isn't competitive, considerate, funny and very likeable. Some very strong attributes that can so often be overshadowed by academic abilities when growing up. I know our son will be very employable as he is a nice person to be around and a good team player, certainly make a lovely husband! Would he be this personable if he didn't have dyspraxia? Maybe not.

Our headmaster is suggesting he goes into a lower set at school. The trouble is a dyspraxic child can often be brighter than a child without dyspraxia. And with the lower set can often come behavioural issues that can be distracting. We fall inbetween a rock and a hard place - his peer group have no issues. Our son is of an age that he is able to decide if he wants to struggle on in a class that is a faster pace in the hope that his peers will carry him on and up without hurting his confidence or go at a slower pace in a more distracting environment. Our son wants to stay where he is but is struggling with maths and French. Learning a foreign language is a nightmare if you can't master your own language. Has anyone else come up against this? Off to investigate laptops....

This site has been very helpful.

Thank you

Mother trying to do her best

05/10/2010 10:20:03
Mother trying to do her best

hi a my little girl has dyslexic was asking the school sins she was in 6 if she had it but keaped telling me no but found out last year when she was 9 she has it pritty bad and know been told yesrday that she want be going to high school with all hur frends that she will have to go oto a dif school for more help as soon as there is a place for hur might even be when she is in p7 we have a computer in the house she can go on but she can ready or speil she give a 100% efery into all hur work that she can do a cant as for more than that off hur but would like to know if there is enymore a can do for hur or eny other help for hur

11/11/2010 23:50:27
tanya murray

Having recently swapped my dyspraxic son to an Alphasmart at school I wanted to add my voice to the others here in praise of it. Many children with dyspraxia are not just slow and untidy at writing, but their writing requires so much of their brainpower that a piece handwritten is not just less tidy- it is MUCH LESS GOOD. It is this point that gets missed. I would not recommend selling your grandmother if needs be to get an alphasmart if the school cannot provide one. We had to fight the school every step of the way and ask each individual class teacher for permission to use it- but they are all delighted, and dear son came top of his class in english composition this year (year 6) which is totally unheard of. The class teacher does not have to get involved in the slightest- he deals with it entirely himself (it has literally never been an issue)

Good luck to all with this- had I known how much difference it would make I would have done it a year earlier.

13/01/2011 09:14:57
ruth

hi i am trying to help my 11 year old son to wright but he needs a laptop to do it on for work for school can you help me plz only me and my son are dislexsic we cant spell my fraind got to come around to help me wright letters for school and other pepole so can you help me to get a laptop with a disc in thank you tanya pritchard

26/01/2011 12:12:13
tanya pritchard

Hi, If anyone is in any doubt about the benefits of touch-typing, they should read 'Dyslexia in Secondary Education' by Jenny Coogan.

We are lucky and have a laptop for my son who is 9. He has learnt to touch-type using Dance-Mat Typing (a free touch typing programme on the web). We have also bought him Wordshark 4 (a hefty £65 from White Space). It has hundreds of spelling lists, games, is good for ADHD children as the graphics are pretty simple. Words are heard, illustrated, can be seen broken into phonemes...

My son with dyslexia is in Year 5 at the moment and my aim is to have him touch-typing in class by Year 6. He has done 4 or 5 home works on the computer now and his private school have been very supportive upon seeing them.

He doesn't want to be seen as 'different' though, having typed a few home works, is able to see how easily he can edit and produce a neat piece of work.

The school suggests my son should get to 18 words a minute and have an Ed. Psych. report suggesting he use touch-typing as a way forward.

I hope this helps!

Emma

ps. Why isn't there a charity collecting laptops that companies have given up on....

31/01/2011 21:44:57
Emma C

Hello Pauline,

Could you write your full name please, must reference you in my ICT project, which is based on Dyslexia and ICT.

Thank You

12/02/2011 12:21:01
Joshua Musafir

I have 2 children with differing degrees of dyslexia my eldest has also been diagnosed with aspergers. Reading the messages on the forum have given me valuable information to bring to both the school and educational psychologist. It breaks my heart that there are resources available but you have to battle constantly to get them.

16/02/2011 10:43:45
Ros Allen

my son is 12 he is just been told that he has dyspraxic and he has adhd for 3 year

18/03/2011 14:09:06
elizabeth frew

My daughter was diagnosed after 3 test in primary school failed to pick it up. Finally diagnosed 6 wks before she started high school 2010. Not much help given by school infact i got told that there is children far worse off than my daughter. A teacher has been rude to myself on several occassions & has had my daughter in tears resulting in her becoming withdrawn & to frightened to go to school. They put her on a reduced time table. Ive had to write notes to all her teachers explaining that she is dyslexic as none of them knew she feels so ashamed of difficulties because of the way the teacher treated her. She has one to one help for one lesson per wk the rest of the time she copies off her friends as teachers say. Noone can understand her spelling & struggles with lots of every day things. I thought she had a right to learn just like all the other children in her school

01/08/2011 23:31:55
Debbie

Thank you for yours and every ones posts. Some time we need to be reminded were not alone. AUSTRALIA Im a dad with a 16 y old boy with Damp ie dyspraxia and ADHD. i wont go into all the problems he has had getting a laptop or at school, its more to let you know that if your child can touch type in Australia, they wont be able to use a laptop in the year 12 exams as i got told today by the curriculum council who make the decision on what children with Disabilities are aloud. They say it gives the child to much of an advantage over other children

21/10/2011 07:37:20
Andrew

my son is 9years old and over the past three weeks been allowed to use a computer in school to do his work on, I can't begin to tell you the difference it has made.He now goes to school with a smile and is enjoying doing his work, it has given him so much confidence .Anybody with a dyspraxic child should push the school to allow the same because what's the point of an intelligent child struggling to write and getting bad marks because the writing is illegible,they can begin to shine and show there potential just like all the other kids.

21/10/2011 12:28:48
Kathryn.Taylor

Hi pauline

My daughter is 10 years old and on her last year of primary school. We have just found out the she is dyslexic and dyspraxic more so dyspraxic. She has just started with extra tutoring with a specialist teacher 1 hour aweek, and we have been to the doctor to get a referral for the o/t. I am waiting for a meeting with her primary school teacher to see how they are going to help her. I have a few questions for you. Would you say my daughter could start using her laptop now in primay school or should we try and encourage her to write ? Also can i get some sort of funding for the extra tutoring we are paying for ? And is there anything else i should be doing at home with her ? I have arrange to meet the senco co-ordinator at the secondary school we have applied for. Look forward to hearing from you.

07/11/2011 13:19:24
Leigh

My son is 14 (year 9) at an independent school. After a disastrous year 7 I was called into the school voicing concerns regarding his work ethic and that he was lazy and no performing to the best of his ability and maybe we should consider removing him from the school. During the summer break I was discussing the problems with a friend who is a teacher and she suggested he may be dyslexic. During the first half of year 8 with took him to an Education Psychologist and this confirmed this to be the case. He has very superior levels of verbal comprehension and Perceptual reasoning. One of main problems identified were is exceptional slow writing speed (11 wpm. The report was forwarded to the school and he began to use a laptop full time at the beginning of this year. It has been a complete disaster, he has been given no guidance from the school in this regard. His grades have dropped dramatically. I was called by the school last week to go an see the Headmaster to be informed they are not able to offer him a place next term due to his attitude and approach to his studies and low grades. So now 2 weeks before the end of term we have no school for him to go to. I have asked to have a meeting with the Head next week to see if I can persuade him otherwise. Any advice would be most welcome.

03/12/2011 08:56:03
Jeanette

My son is 14 (year 9) at an independent school. After a disastrous year 7 I was called into the school voicing concerns regarding his work ethic and that he was lazy and no performing to the best of his ability and maybe we should consider removing him from the school. During the summer break I was discussing the problems with a friend who is a teacher and she suggested he may be dyslexic. During the first half of year 8 with took him to an Education Psychologist and this confirmed this to be the case. He has very superior levels of verbal comprehension and Perceptual reasoning. One of main problems identified were is exceptional slow writing speed (11 wpm. The report was forwarded to the school and he began to use a laptop full time at the beginning of this year. It has been a complete disaster, he has been given no guidance from the school in this regard. His grades have dropped dramatically. I was called by the school last week to go an see the Headmaster to be informed they are not able to offer him a place next term due to his attitude and approach to his studies and low grades. So now 2 weeks before the end of term we have no school for him to go to. I have asked to have a meeting with the Head next week to see if I can persuade him otherwise. Any advice would be most welcome.

03/12/2011 08:57:02
Jeanette

Thanks for taking the time to share your info

07/12/2011 15:52:05
ClarindaBa50

I am a teacher teaching dyslexic kids.Here we can't have access to laptops .So children are allowed to have scribes to write their exams. Both in School exams, and in Board exams.But in Board exams scribes are allowed after checking with the concerned school heads.This way we could help the children to take up their exams without any frustration.

09/12/2011 07:51:34
Malliga

Hi, my 12 year old brother has just been diagnosed with dsylexica. He has a very good head on his shoulders and knows what he wants to be when he grows up, he wants to be a dentist. The trouble is he very behind for his age and we are still only just learning about dsylexic dyspraxic are selfs. We've asked school if he can extra help in classes as he is really struggling with the level that they are teaching him at but they have fobbed us off.. Im not sure what help is out there for him. Could anyone recommend any advice of what help is available for him? And also for us so we have a better understanding. Many thanks! My email is

14/12/2011 11:49:13
Kirsty

hello i am just wondering if i would get access to a loptop as my 17 year old daughter has dyslexia and has had it since she was 5 and she is at 6 form and struggles with her work and also has to do it at home and ant got a computure or a laptop so she carnt do it so she is very behind in her assessments and we carnt fund her a laptop

01/03/2012 00:12:32
shaney (Member)