American Dyslexia Association

Author: American Dyslexia Association

  • Proofread documents, presentations, articles, websites, and emails in every language with the help of eAngel.me service

    Proofread documents, presentations, articles, websites, and emails in every language with the help of eAngel.me service

    Mistakes in spelling and punctuation in emails are forgiven every day. This is no problem if the message is about being late for dinner. It is different if the message is to persuade someone to sign a purchase order or grant a job interview. eAngel.me is a new online service for business or personal use which offers to proofread and correct email punctuation and grammar in any language. It is not a translation service and will not change the meaning of the text in any way. The corrections are made by humans and the service is available in all countries.

    Users of email know that the software on their computers, no matter how advanced, cannot catch all errors because it cannot automatically put the meanings of a word which may sound the same but be spelled differently in the proper context. Professionally qualified humans can do that; and this is the premise on which eAngel.me was founded. Those who may find this unique service valuable include global businesses which have teams of salesmen in different countries, students seeking jobs or admission to schools in different countries, people with Dyslexia, technology experts who paid more attention to the technology professor than the English teacher but still need to communicate well with non-techs, and anyone studying or writing in languages other than their mother tongue.

    eAngel.me has a free trial available so prospects can experience how the service works; and it supports any type of email and any type of browser. This comment from one customer illustrates its ability to save time: “Today my emails are much more professional. I can do more with my time because I don’t need to worry about reading the email over and over again before I send it”.

    For information on how eAngel.me works and for a free trial, go to eAngel.me.

  • Delightful Dyslexia: Alphamusic

    Delightful Dyslexia: Alphamusic

    Cher? Tom Cruise? Salma Hayek? Anthony Hopkins? Jamie Oliver? Albert Einstein? Agatha Christie? Alexander Graham Bell? Robin Williams? Danny Glover? John Lennon? and Muhammad Ali?

    What do these famous people all have in common? As you might have guessed from the title yes it is that they are all Dyslexic.

    Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which makes it hard for you to learn to read, write and spell correctly. We do know that developmental dyslexia is inherited, so that, thanks to our DNA, we can be born with it. Dyslexia affects around 8% to 10% of the Irish population. The National Institute of Health reports that up to 15% of the U.S. population have learning challenges.

    If you have dyslexia you may have trouble with reading, writing, spelling, maths, and sometimes even music. Dyslexia can occur at any level of intelligence, and has many disguises so that teachers and parents may instead erroneously observe children lacking motivation or “not trying hard enough”.

    A dyslexic brain shows very little activity in areas known to be of high importance to connecting the written form of words with their phonetic components. Thus to read, people with dyslexia must create new neurological pathways. Compensation is made by using more use of a front-brain section called Broca’s area, commonly connected with other types of language speech and processing.

    How might I know if I or my child has Dyslexia?

    Here are a few of the main symptoms:
    • Delayed speech development
    • Speech problems, such as not being able to pronounce long words properly
    • Problems expressing themselves using spoken language
    • Little understanding or appreciation of rhyming words
    • Spelling that is unpredictable and inconsistent
    • Putting letters and figures the wrong way

    A Sound Solution?

    Alphamusic composer John Bram Levine believes that if you can slow the brain waves down to the Alpha state, then the useless mind chatter and negative self-talk of doubt and fear may vanish, whilst the left and right brain communicate more effectively, allowing information to be more easily absorbed, processed, and remembered. Levine studied electronics, graduating with a degree in Music Composition from Sydney University, following which he learnt meditation. He challenged himself to formulate music that could induce the same Alpha brainwave state achieved during meditation. A new genre was born: ‘Alphamusic’.

    Alphamusic

    Does it work?

    Stewart Holmes, a dyslexic, hated studying. ‘It was all too hard and frustrating until by accident I played ‘Silence of Peace’, an Alphamusic album, whilst revising. I felt as if a curtain surrounded the words on the page, allowing me to absorb the words and meaning freely and easily. I was astonished as no other music, whether it was new age, relaxation, classical, rock, or jazz, has ever had this effect on me.

    Amy Turner-Monk was determined that her dyslexia was not going to stop her from realizing her dreams, so she applied to the Open University and asked for assistance with her learning difficulties. The dyslexia assessor recommended she use Levine’s Alphamusic whilst studying. Until her discovery, Amy could only read for 10 minutes before being tired and distracted and needing to take 30 minutes to rest before continuing, ‘it all was quite draining’. ‘Using this brain wave transforming album ‘Silence of Peace’, I found I could study for more than an hour at a time without any exhaustion.’

    Although such testimonials and Cambridge University studies have shown a positive link between Levine’s Alphamusic and enhanced learning, more research needs to be done in this area, to investigate if music truly could be the golden key to solving the dyslexic puzzle. Levine is interested in hearing from anyone who would be interested in engaging in such research.

    For more information, please contact
    John Levine
    [email protected]

    Free samples of Silence of Peace CD: http://www.silenceofmusic.com

  • Understanding dyslexia: Learn how to best help your child

    Understanding dyslexia: Learn how to best help your child

    Just what is dyslexia?

    There are many misconceptions out there.

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    “Dyslexia is a type of specific learning disorder that impacts reading,” said Dr. Sheldon H. Horowitz, director of learning disability resources at the National Center for Learning Disabilities. “It is not a disease, nor is it contagious. It is not something that goes away — you don’t outgrow it — and it is not the result of watching too much TV, laziness, vision or
    hearing problems, or low intelligence.

    “The medical community refers to it as a disorder, and the educational community refers to it as a specific learning disability. Others are dyscalculia if the area of weakness is math, dysgraphia if the problem is writing and written expression.”

    Because dyslexia is not a disease, there is not “one treatment for dyslexia. It can’t be cured, especially because dyslexia is not a medical or psychological problem,” said Livia R. Pailer-Duller, executive director of the American Dyslexia Association. “It needs to be addressed through training of the attention span, of sensory perceptions, and the practice of reading and spelling on the educational level.”

    Rather, “dyslexia is a genetic disposition, which means that dyslexia is inherited,” she said. “Dyslexic individuals have different sensory perceptions. These different sensory perceptions are the reason why the attention of dyslexic people diminishes when they come in contact with letters, which in turn causes them to make errors in reading and spelling.”

    What it is

    There is no one profile of dyslexia, but typically, people have trouble sounding out words, blending letter sounds into words while reading, mastering the rules of spelling and grammar, and expressing what they know in written formats, Horowitz said.
    “Some people with dyslexia are accurate readers at a slower pace but struggle to understand what they have read because they expend all of their mental resources figuring out what the words are and keeping track of what they are reading,” he said. “Others are slow, labored readers, but do OK with comprehension.

    “People with dyslexia do not have vision problems that are causing them to struggle in reading. The problem stems from the way that printed text and the sounds of the language are processed in their brains. It’s not that their brains can’t do this processing; it’s that it is done in ways that are inefficient.”

    Also, dyslexia is not intelligence-related.

    “Dyslexics are not less intelligent than non-dyslexics — quite the opposite is often true,” Pailer-Duller said. “However, dyslexics often score low on intelligence tests because these tests attempt to measure intelligence by measuring sensory perceptions. But these are different in dyslexic individuals, which does not make them stupid, just that the test is inadequate.”

    How to help

    For people with dyslexia, “parents are absolutely critical and family support is hugely important,” Horowitz said. “Remember: dyslexia is what the child has, not who they are. They have areas of strength and interest just like everyone else, and in some cases, because they work so hard to compensate for their areas of challenge, they can be very high achievers and role models for their peers and for the general community.
    Parents need to understand as much as they can about dyslexia, abandon any feelings of guilt, and help their child to become a strong and effective self-advocate.”

    Schools are not required to give dyslexics extra help, but in some states, an individualized education plan is possible where dyslexic students receive help on standardized testing, Pailer-Duller said.

    As an example, “a dyslexic child with reading problems can receive additional assistance for reading instructions to solve math problems.
    However, dyslexic students have to do the reading portion of the standardized test themselves — without help.
    So this partial help does not go a long way,” she said.

    Teachers who are knowledgeable about dyslexia can do a lot within the school setting to help a dyslexic child.

    “Examples are that grading focuses on content and expression, and not on spelling. Teachers should avoid calling on dyslexic children to read aloud in front of the whole class if the child is not comfortable with it,” Pailer-Duller said. “It is very important to understand that the schoolteacher can only do so much. A dyslexic child will always need additional individualized training, either with a specialist or with parents.”

    Written by Melissa Erickson from Family Magazine, April 2014 issue, Gatehouse Media

  • Movie: The Big Picture – Rethinking Dyslexia

    Movie: The Big Picture – Rethinking Dyslexia

    THE BIG PICTURE: RETHINKING DYSLEXIA provides personal and uplifting accounts of the dyslexic experience from children, experts, and iconic leaders, such as Sir Richard Branson and financier Charles Schwab. Directed by James Redford, the film not only clears up the misconceptions about the condition, but also paints a picture of hope for all who struggle with it. Proving that dyslexia is a neurological issue and not a character flaw, THE BIG PICTURE beautifully illustrates that while the condition is an obstacle, it also carries some unique advantages, and ultimately can be overcome.

    The fascinating documentary The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia examines the disorder by looking at unique advantages, personal experiences and accounts from today’s leaders while offering hope for those suffering.

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheBigPictureRethinkingDyslexia

  • Camp RSA! Ready, Set, Action!

    Camp RSA! Ready, Set, Action!

    Camp RSA! Ready, Set, Action! A Camp Leader’s Guide ~ Adventures in Writing & Performing promises to be a time-saving teacher’s treasure brimming with both stimulating and calming fun-learning activities. Whether summer, autumn, or mid-winter camps during some of the lengthier school holidays, after school programs, or during the regular school year, educators may love the convenience this book of supplemental materials can offer.

    Camp RSA! serves busy teachers with abundant strategies and exercises to encourage young learners to act as if…, to practice teacher-student role reversal, and to role play in a positive fashion to foster higher self-esteem, greater self-confidence, and a better self- image for happier, more successful lives.

    Helping youngsters of differing levels of ability in various areas to understand each other better by helping them to see from a different viewpoint to gain perspective and to encourage tolerance, acceptance, and kindness is a quiet underlying objective.

    All the activities, exercises, and games are presented with the utmost desire to give young learners, whether dyslexic or not, the opportunity to learn in the spirit of joy and to believe in themselves to make their own dreams come true. ~ Linda Davis-Kyle, Editor and Contributor

    The Creators of Camp RSA! Ready, Set, Action! A Camp Leader’s Guide ~ Adventures in Writing & Performing

    David Carlson, dyslexic originator and publisher of Ready, Set, Action! An Entertainment Fun Book for Parents of Dyslexic Pre-Teens~Adventures in Writing & Performing and its extension Camp RSA! Ready, Set, Action! A Camp Leader’s Guide and its companion Camp RSA! Ready, Set, Action! Journal ~ Adventures in Writing & Performing for pre-teens, has held a lifelong dream to publish books to help dyslexic and non-dyslexic students alike.

    Linda Davis-Kyle, MA, in English, ACCET certified to instruct English as a Foreign Language, and an internationally published professional writer, has worked some magic to make Carlson’s publishing dreams come true. Through editing, teaching, and writing, Davis-Kyle encourages writers around the world. In August 2013, she collaborated with five international dyslexia authorities — Dr. Astrid Kopp-Duller, Jasmina Ionkova, Elisabeth Nuhl, Mag. Livia R. Pailer-Duller, and Angelika Troller- Janesch — to compose “Fun-Inspired Learning Games from Teachers’ Treasures”www.dyslexia.me.

  • Fun-Inspired Learning Games from Teachers’ Treasures

    Fun-Inspired Learning Games from Teachers’ Treasures

    Tyron Edwards said, “To waken interest and kindle enthusiasm is the sure way to teach easily and successfully.”
    Educators around the world have found that incorporating fun learning games into their lesson plans not only wakes interest when a class of new students meets for the first time, but also for a group already familiar with each other. Both time-tested games, such as dominoes, new ones that are created somewhere each day, and spur-of-the-moment games that pop into the minds of seasoned teachers—just when they need them—have a way of grabbing and holding attention, strengthening concentration, and stirring emotion among the players. Plato said, “All learning has an emotional base.” If the games are intriguing enough to invite and rivet attention, boost concentration, and create a healthy passion for participation, the likelihood of retaining the information presented is high.

    It is no secret that young learners who can relax can pay attention and maintain concentration on any task at hand with greater ease than those who may feel nervous or anxious. In addition, whatever is learned in a more relaxed state enhances retention of the information. In turn, remembering what has been learned fosters self-esteem, which furthers motivation. So, at the heart and soul of many learning philosophies, instructing strategies, and teaching systems, relaxation is held in high regard.

    Combining a Passion for Participation with Relaxation
    It seems that one wonderful combination to help children learn is by teaming a passion for participation with relaxation. The handful of multi-sensory games shared here are favorites from Austria, Bulgaria, and the United States that invite participation and foster relaxation. Even further, the activities are organized incrementally to support confident learning.

     

     

  • You think English is easy??

    You think English is easy??


    We got this emailed, and we think it is pretty amazing.
    Read all the way to the end.
    This took a lot of work to put together!

    You think English is easy??

    1) The bandage was wound around the wound.

    2) The farm was used to produce produce.

    3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

    4) We must polish the Polish furniture.

    5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.

    6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

    7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

    8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

    9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

    10) I did not object to the object.

    11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

    12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

    13) They were too close to the door to close it.

    14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.

    15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

    16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

    17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

    18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

    19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

    20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

    21) She was driving in the driving rain after driving him crazy on the driving range.

    Let’s face it – English is a crazy language! There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren’t invented in England or French Fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

    And why is it that writers write but fingers don’t fing, grocers don’t groce and hammers don’t ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn’t the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn’t it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

    If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?

    How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

    English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

    PS. – Why doesn’t ‘Buick’ rhyme with ‘quick’ ?

    You lovers of the English language might enjoy this…

    There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is ‘UP’.

    It’s easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP ? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP ? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report ?

    We call UP our friends. And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver; we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house, and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special.

    And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning, but we close it UP at night.

    We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don’t give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out, we say it is clearing UP! When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP. When it doesn’t rain for a while, things dry UP.

    One could go on and on, but I’ll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP, so……..it is time to shut UP!

     

  • Stoke Books: New Book Releases for Dyslexic Teenagers

    Stoke Books: New Book Releases for Dyslexic Teenagers

    Stoke Books is delighted to announce the release of six dazzling books for Spring 2013. These novels offer struggling teenage readers the scope and feel of mainstream fiction from award-winning and best-selling writers, with gripping and edgy plots to keep them interested. If you are interested in learning more, please have a look at the press release in the link below, as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages!

    Stoke Books titles are designed to develop young people’s perception of themselves as readers and increase their enjoyment of fiction, even where a lack of experience or processing difficulties (including dyslexia) may act as a barrier to accessing the written word. We believe that the key to opening up a love of reading is the chance to experience great writing, and we are committed to pairing the least confident readers with the best authors in the world.

    We distribute Stoke Books in the United States and I wanted to give you a little more insight on Stoke’s titles. They’re targeted to middle school and high school readers with Dyslexia but are written at third and fourth grade reading levels—many by bestselling authors—making them very accessible. The books are commissioned, edited and designed to break down the barriers that can stop teens from wanting to read due to lack of confidence and reluctance through visual stress and dyslexia. The font, spacing, editing, paper and short, punchy chapter structure all help readers focus on the most important thing – the compelling story.

    The paper in each book is lightly tinted to reduce glare, tackle visual stress, and stop words appearing to ‘dance’ on the page. The font is designed to make each letter as distinctive as possible, to help with word and character recognition, promote good eye-tracking, and lead the eye onwards. The layout is carefully calculated to ensure words and letters don’t encroach on each other and confuse the eye, and give enough text per line to allow readers to ‘chunk’ for meaning.

    Thank you for taking the time to learn a little bit about Stoke Books. We hope you’ll find this information useful.

    Friend us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Stokebooks

    www.stokebooks.co.uk

  • Apple iBook: Dyslexia – Dyscalculia !?

    Apple iBook: Dyslexia – Dyscalculia !?

    An interactive iBook for the iPad shows solutions for persons with dyslexia and dyscalculia. It is on sale for only $1.99 .

    In this inspiring publication Dr. Astrid Kopp-Duller and Livia R. Pailer-Duller show again that they are experts on the subject of dyslexia and dyscalculia. With incredible insight they show the necessity of helping people with dyslexia and dyscalculia on an educational-didactic level. This is of preeminent importance for success when helping people who have difficulties with reading, writing, or calculating.

    dyslexia dyscalculia

    More information: http://www.dyslexia-dyscalculia.com

    The iBook is available in the iTunes Store USA.