It is natural for parents to worry when their child has difficulties with reading and writing, especially when they miss certain milestones or fall behind in school. They want to make sure their child feels confident in their education – and themselves.
Yet, studies report that one in five children has dyslexia, but many of them go throughout their educational career and their lives without a diagnosis. This can make students stress about their education and suffer from low self-esteem. That is why it can often benefit children with dyslexia to obtain an individualized education plan (IEP).
Why is an IEP evaluation helpful?
If parents and students in California have concerns about their reading abilities or skills, it often helps to request an evaluation. Evaluations by the school can help families:
- Determine if their child does indeed have dyslexia or another learning disability
- Move forward with creating an IEP to help them succeed
It is common for psychologists, education specialists and other professionals to be on the team evaluating children for an IEP. They can help obtain an official diagnosis, which is often critical to help families move forward. Taking this step is important to customize methods that will help the student learn effectively.
What might the IEP look like?
There are many services and strategies the IEP team can implement in the plan to help students with dyslexia succeed, including:
- Providing more time to take exams
- Readjusting examination processes
- Allowing students to work in separate rooms
- Recording lectures or using speech-to-text technology
- Utilizing audiobooks in the classroom
- Using visual aids to teach or give instructions
Of course, it is critical for the IEP team – including parents – to evaluate the child’s needs so they can determine what modifications and services will benefit the child. Every child is different, after all.