Frisco ISD – First School District in Nation to Earn Dyslexia Training Accreditation

Frisco schools are tackling the most common learning disorder

It is said that Dyslexia impacts as many as 20% of Americans and can lead to lifelong disadvantages if left undiagnosed and untreated. Early assessment and intervention are key. And Frisco is taking this to heart.

Frisco makes national news for dyslexia accreditation

NBC News reported today that Frisco Independent School District is the first public school system in the nation to earn international accreditation to train certified dyslexia teachers, or Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALTs).

Why is this important? Mayo Clinic says that signs of Dyslexia can be very difficult to recognize before children reach school. And, often, a child’s teacher may be the first to notice the problem. Having certified therapists available in the Frisco School District enables early detection – and intervention—for Frisco school children.

And now, through the international accreditation program, certified Frisco therapists will be able to train other teachers to be certified dyslexia teachers.

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects areas of the brain that process language. People with Dyslexia have difficulty reading because they have trouble matching letters to sounds or decoding words. Kids with Dyslexia have trouble with reading, spelling, writing and often with math.

Dyslexia is often mislabeled as an intelligence or visual issue, but this isn’t the case. Children with Dyslexia have normal intelligence and usually have normal vision. Dyslexia is a lifelong condition, but with early assessment and intervention, children can learn approaches and strategies for reading that help them reach their potential.

Complications caused by Dyslexia

• Trouble learning- because reading is a foundational skill for most other school subjects, children with Dyslexia are at a disadvantage in school and may fall behind
• Social problem- left untreated, Dyslexia can also lead to low confidence, anxiety or aggression, behavior problems, and withdrawal from friends and family
• Long-term challenges- children with diminished reading or comprehension skills are at a disadvantage as they grow older, often causing long-term educational, social and economic consequences

Fast facts:

• Dyslexia impacts more than 3 million people per year
• Treatment can help, but the condition can’t be cured
• Early assessment and intervention result in the best outcome
• Dyslexia tends to run in families
• Risk factors may include premature birth, low birth weight or exposure to harmful chemicals during pregnancy
• Children with Dyslexia have an increased risk of having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder  (ADHD), and vice versa

Are there symptoms of Dyslexia?

As mentioned above, early assessment and intervention of Dyslexia can help children live up to their potential. Signs of Dyslexia can appear differently among individuals and at different ages. Here are examples of the most common dyslexia symptoms:

General

• Appears intelligent and articulate, but unable to read, write, or spell at grade level
• Sometimes labeled as lazy, careless, or not trying hard enough
• Has high intelligence but does not test well
• Difficulty sustaining attention
• May have lower self-esteem or cover up the weakness by diverting attention to other skills
• Talented in art, sports, music, design or other areas- learn best through hands-on experience

Vision, Reading, and Spelling

• Complaints of dizziness, headaches, or stomach aches while reading
• Reads and rereads with little comprehension
• Reading or writing shows repetitions, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions, and reversals in letters, numbers and/or words
• Seems confused by letters, numbers, words, and sequences
• May complain of difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don’t reveal a problem
• Spells phonetically and inconsistently

Hearing and Speech

• Easily distracted by sounds, hears things not apparent to others
• Has difficulty putting thoughts into words, speaks in incomplete sentences or stutters under stress
• Transposes phrases, words, and syllables when speaking

Writing and Motor Skills

• Unusual pencil grip, has trouble writing or copying
• Seems clumsy and uncoordinated, may have difficulty with motor skills
• Prone to motion sickness
• Can be ambidextrous, often confuses left with right or over with under

Math and Time Management

• Has difficulty telling or managing time, and learning sequenced information
• Counts on fingers or uses other tricks, knows answers, but can’t do it on paper
• Has difficulty dealing with money
• Can do arithmetic but fails word problems, has difficulty with higher math

Memory and Cognition

• Excellent long-term memory for experiences, locations, and faces
• Thinks primarily with images and feeling, not sounds or words
• Poor memory for sequences, facts, and information that has not been experienced

Behavior, Health, Development, and Personality

• Can be disorderly or compulsively orderly
• Late developmental stages such as crawling, talking, walking, and tying shoes
• Sleep differences – can be either an extremely light or an extremely deep sleeper
• Strong sense of justice, emotionally sensitive, strives for perfection
• Time pressure and emotional stress result in increased mistakes or symptoms

Think your child may be suffering from Dyslexia?

The only way to know for sure is to have your child evaluated. This can be done at your school, through your physician, or at a private evaluation clinic that specializes in Dyslexia and other learning disorders. For Frisco school-aged children with Dyslexia, access to special programs and certified therapists can be just the right solution to help your child succeed.

For more information on Dyslexia, check out these resources:

American Dyslexia Association

International Dyslexia Association

International Dyslexia Association- Dallas