The Big 5: What We Learned From the Parent Survey


Dyslexia Connection, May 2015

Thank you to all of you who took the time to fill out the recent parent survey. The results are in and here are five of the top things we learned:

  1. You want to know more about how to interpret the influx of information you receive about tests, test results, IEPs, 504s, and the like. Sometimes that stack of papers seems like it is written in a foreign language and it can get overwhelming. You want the jargon to be broken down into easy-to-digest morsels that you can do something with.
  1. You feel that the older students have been neglected. You want to know how to help students after they have conquered the “learn to read” obstacle. You want more information on the transition to college and beyond including what universities are most open to dyslexic students and what you should look for to make the university years a success.
  1. You want to know more about how to work with your school to get the accommodations that your child needs. What do you do when the school refuses to test your child? What if you pay for testing but the school does nothing to help? What if your state doesn’t even recognize dyslexia as a true Learning Difference? When should you pay for a parent advocate? You want to know how to communicate with the school and support your child.
  1. You also want to know what therapies are available and how they differ. You don’t want to just pay someone to work with your child; you want to know what is actually happening during therapy and what you should look for to know if progress is being made. Many of you have questioned getting your own licensing because you see the needs around you. You want to know if that is a beneficial use of your time and, if not, how would your time be better spent?
  1. You also want to know about alternatives to public school including homeschooling. You want to know what options there are, what those options look like, and how each work.

We have read your responses and we are working to meet these needs. We are starting with two primary focuses: this newsletter and a Parent Committee. Dyslexia Connection is edited by a parent who has the same questions and concerns that you do. When articles are received, she reads them to make sure they are understandable and relatable to the parent audience. You will also notice the Call for Submissions in this issue of Connection. We are hoping these fresh voices, both from professionals and from parents, will breathe new life into this publication. We would love to share tips, tricks, and success stories so please send them to us!

The Parent Committee is also in development to make sure the IDA stays on track with meeting the needs of parents and answering your questions.

Again, thank you for your support and feedback. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to email.