Resources:
Specific Learning Difficulties: Dyslexia

“Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that hinders the learning of literacy skills. This problem with managing verbal codes in memory is neurologically based and tends to run in families.” (Dyslexia Institute)

There are many ways that ICT, both hardware and software, can support learners with dyslexia. Computers provide a non-threatening environment that can enable learners to acquire skills and to plan and present work well. Dyslexic pupils can benefit from using a talking word processor with all its supportive features. They can also use planning or mind mapping software to enable them to record in a visual manner. Using ICT can enable learners to gain access to the curriculum as well as consolidating skills learned, through the use of reinforcement software.

The Track Series is new supportive software, designed to meet the needs of dyslexic students:

• Alphabet Track
  enables users to learn the names of the alphabet and alphabetic order, through many configurable activities and games.
  
• Spell Track
  encourages users to look carefully at words and reinforces correct spellings.
  
• Word Track
  also encourages users to look carefully at word order and reinforces correct spellings.
  
• Phoneme Track
  encourages users to build up skill levels of phonemic awareness so that they can increase their confidence in coping with reading and spelling more complex words.
  
• Eye Track
  is an excellent resource to train visual perception skills and has been developed by occupational therapists and a specialist teacher.

• Number Track

  provides practical support for pupils with specific numeracy and memory difficulties as well as dyslexic and dyscalculic tendencies.

• Letter Olympics
  Activities cover recognition, discrimination and differentiation of lower case letters b and d, with auditory and visual instructions emphasising accurate sound production of the b and d phonemes.

  
  

 

There are accompanying photocopiable workbooks providing a wide range of reinforcement activities for Phoneme Track, Spell Track and Word Track.

There are many more software programs available which are suitable for the dyslexic student. For more information on how you can help support students with dyslexia, see our Empowering the Dyslexic article.