Have you ever felt the heartache of seeing your child struggle with learning?
As a parent, it’s a profound worry that haunts us, especially when we don’t fully understand the root of their struggles.
But let me reassure you: you’re not alone.
Statistically, two-thirds of children in America grapple with reading difficulties, so this is a shared challenge among many families.
From my years as an educator specializing in reading disabilities, I’ve witnessed numerous students battle with reading, and I’ve explored various learning programs aimed at aiding them. However, it wasn’t until my own child faced these challenges that I truly understood the despair and helplessness parents feel when they see their child struggling and don’t know how to help.
The question, “Does my child have a learning disability?” along with, “How can I help him? Will I be able to help him? What if he struggles with reading his entire life? What if this affects his ability to succeed?” plagued my thoughts.
As his mother, I felt I should instinctively know what to do.
But here’s the truth I’ve come to realize: worrying and questioning were actually the first steps toward helping my child. Acknowledging the problem is pivotal because it paves the way to addressing it.
Often times when children are struggling with reading, the first thing that comes to mind is Dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning disability that makes reading, writing, and spelling extremely difficult. Approximately 10-20% of the population has dyslexia with varying degrees of severity, and 70% of individuals with learning disabilities have dyslexia.
Often categorized by children as “fuzzy sounds”, Dyslexia is not writing letters backward, but the process of sound and language. If your child does have dyslexia; or other versions such as dysgraphic (learning disability that impacts writing) or Dyscalculia (learning disability in the area of math), they need intensive, explicit inventions in order to overcome their disability and learn successfully.
So how do we do this?
I was recently introduced to Hunter Oswalt with the Read Write Learning Center which is a phenomenal intervention support program for children who struggle with dyslexia, ADHD, and other reading/language disabilities.
Read Write Learning Center located here in Pensacola, provides intensive intervention for children (and adults!). In talking with Hunter, I learned that this program has (on average) a two-year success rate. Yes!
That means that in two years your child could be reading on grade level! That is huge!
From the initial consultation and diagnosis to weekly intensive therapy, Read Write Learning Center progresses your child’s education to the level needed for success in school.
What stood out to me, apart from the direct one-on-one therapy given to children, was the support offered to parents. The center not only focuses on educational growth but also on empowering parents with the knowledge to understand their child’s learning hurdles and provide advocacy for them within the school system.
As a parent understanding the why behind your child’s learning struggles is a game changer! And having an advocate to ensure they are getting what they need in school – sign me up!
Even if your child is getting interventions in school, honestly it’s not enough. The finish line is constantly being moved and our children are being set up to feel like they are failing.
If you are asking yourself the same questions I was, contact Read Write Learning Center to learn more about how they can help you understand your child’s needs and help your child succeed by unlocking their learning disability.
