Contacting private tutors and online reading specialists can hugely benefit dyslexic children. Check out our list of the best tutoring sessions on the internet.
Dyslexia is a form of learning disability that causes a variety of issues with reading comprehension, spelling, and phonemic awareness. While Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other learning differences are frequently associated with special needs, it’s crucial to emphasize that they are distinct from dyslexia and don’t always co-occur.
Furthermore, parents need to understand that children with dyslexia are not necessarily handicapped in other ways. The majority of them have perfect fine motor skills, comparable cognitive abilities to their peers, and an unwavering desire to learn. Dyslexia is therefore mostly a reading skills issue.
As such, a dyslexic child can hugely benefit from special education in the form of tutoring sessions, either in person or online. Of course, the latter is much more convenient, as it only requires an internet connection between the dyslexic learner and their online reading tutor. Hence, let’s check out some online tutoring services for young struggling readers.
The best way for dyslexics to learn online
For dyslexics to maximize the learning process using online classes, it’s key to focus on the following few aspects.
- Finding the right reading program: Sure enough, this might sound lazy. However, we can’t emphasize enough how important it is to choose the correct lesson plan. Some learners might benefit more from 10-minute sessions, while others will need hour-long interactions.
- Printing lessons: Although most online tutoring sessions will take place on the screen, it’s a smart move to print the lessons on paper so that a dyslexic student can follow along and even practice once the session is over.
- Identifying goals: From person to person, the goals of tutoring services will differ. Therefore, you should identify your or your child’s goals before engaging in a tutoring session that’s not right for you.
Top online tutoring for dyslexics
Orton-Gillingham tutoring
Orton-Gillingham is practically the gold standard of online tutoring for dyslexics and people with other learning difficulties. They provide numerous accredited training programs, qualified tutors, and other professionals. You can contact them over at their website, where you can check out the prices for individual programs and other services.
Lexercise
A literacy program that offers individualized lessons, games, and other activities, Lexercise is another good choice for young dyslexics in need of a special learning style. It doesn’t matter where you’re from. You can get in touch with Lexercise and acquire their services via an online connection, and you’ll be sure to get the best possible treatment and homeschool tutoring.
Wilson Language Training
Focused on the famous research-based Wilson Reading System, the Wilson Language Training site will match you with your local certified reading tutor. The whole deal is as simple as it gets. Once you visit their website, you can click on your location in the United States, and the algorithm will connect you with a dyslexia specialist in your area whom you can catch up with online or in person.
Dyslexia Connect
Founded in 2010, Dyslexia Connect has been providing high-quality online tutoring for dyslexics for over a decade. Their approach is rather classic—they use the Orton-Gillingham method that we’ve already mentioned. You can connect with them over at their site, and in a matter of days, you or your child can start professional education to maximize their potential.
Levy Learning
Levy Learning is yet another auditory processing school that’s based on the Orton-Gillingham method. They have been at it for years, and it seems they helped countless dyslexics by now. Again, the easiest way to acquire their online tutoring services is to head over to their webpage and inform yourself about prices, methods, and all other important details.
International Dyslexia Association
Another option that we have to mention is, of course, the International Dyslexia Association. With their help, you can connect with a certified dyslexia specialist to help you or your child with reading, spelling, and all other reading skills required for desired literacy levels. As such, visit their webpage and inform yourself of further details, and you just might find your match.
Wyzant
Our last pick on this list is Wyzant — an online tutoring service that can connect you with one of 25 certified dyslexia specialists and tutors. What makes it special is that you can compare all their details and credentials to make sure the tutor you’re looking for is the perfect match. You can also install a free browser plug-in to make communication even easier.
Challenges of learning online for dyslexic people
Attending online courses and tutoring sessions is a great option, there’s no denying it. However, it has its downsides. Then again, what doesn’t? For one, you need a stable and fast internet connection to Zoom with your tutor without any issues. On the other hand, it might be harder to get into the mood while being at home with all the distractions beside you. Moreover, it requires computer skills, which some people don’t have, regardless of how easy it might seem.
Good dyslexia resources for tutors and students
At times, both tutors and learners can use additional resources to maximize their effort and find success in overcoming dyslexia. Here are some of the best:
- Speechify: A text to speech app, Speechify transcribes any text into speech narrated by 30+ natural-sounding AI voices in over 15 languages. It can help dyslexics follow text and comprehend the material, all while improving their vocabulary and pronunciation.
- Scanning pens: Wouldn’t it be great if had pens that you can slide over a line of text, and they read it out aloud? Well, we already do have them. Scanning pens are great companions for dyslexics, as they help them read almost unlike any other type of assistive tech.
- Audiobooks: It’s no secret that audiobooks are just as amazing as reading hardcover titles. Nevertheless, they are perfect for dyslexics. From schoolbooks to novels and child stories, any dyslexic can benefit from listening to a book. A good place to look for them is Speechify. Besides being a text-to-speech service, it’s also in the audiobook business, with thousands of popular titles available at your demand.
- Dyslexia fonts: Although they don’t guarantee complete success, some fonts are just better than others. At least when it comes to dyslexia. There are numerous of these online, most of them free, and you can download them to help you or your child out.
- Screen readers: Since we all use smart devices, it’s great that they have dyslexic-friendly features. Namely, you can turn on screen reading options in settings, both in Android and iOS devices, to improve accessibility for those with dyslexia and other reading difficulties.
