If you believe your child might be dyslexic, this book is an empowering introduction to the topic. The author gently walks you through the steps required to get your child diagnosed. He helps you figure out how to get the accommodations your diagnosed child needs in the classroom. Ultimately, this book helps dyslexic people to feel proud of their diagnosis. By becoming comfortable integrating dyslexia into their sense of identity, they will be better able to take charge of their education and future.
The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan Details
Title: The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan
Author: Ben Foss
Publication Year: 2013
Website: https://benfoss.com/
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Review
The author of this book is both severely dyslexic and proud of his dyslexia. He is highly successful despite the fact that he is in the bottom one percentile of adults for letter recognition. If you have a child that you believe is dyslexic, but they have not yet been diagnosed, this might be a great book for you. This is particularly true if your child is in the school system. In the classroom, dyslexic children will need certain accommodations to level the playing field. They will likely require unique methods of instruction to ensure they are being given information in a way that works for them. The author focuses on advocating for your child in a classroom setting and getting them the accommodations they need. He helps you understand what is required by law so that you can know what assistance your child is entitled to.
My child is already diagnosed and homeschooled, so a lot of the information in this book was not particularly relevant to me. I was fortunate to belong to a charter school that did not try to stonewall me or prevent my child from receiving the services he deserves, but apparently, this is not always the case. In situations where the school system is pushing against your desire to get your child tested and accommodated, being armed with the knowledge in this book would be particularly helpful.
If you are looking for specific techniques for helping instruct your dyslexic child, this book is not for you. The author highly recommends the Orton Gillingham method of instruction but does not share specific techniques. He warns against methods that do not use the Orton Gillingham approach. He actually seems to imply the techniques endorsed by the author of The Gift of Dyslexia are a scam. Also, despite him highly recommending the Orton Gillingham approach, the author of this book is not a good reader. He advises parents to accept that their dyslexic children may never be good “eye readers.” However, the author can “ear read” at 3 or 4 times the normal speed and recommends that all dyslexic people develop this helpful skill as well.
Despite its lack of relevance in my particular circumstance, I enjoyed reading this book. The author is highly charismatic and easy to read. He is a strong advocate for getting your child what they need to succeed without guilt or fanfare. The author invented a piece of technology called the Intel reader that converts any text into speech simply by taking a picture. Overall, I am glad I read this book. I believe he succeeded in his goal of empowering people with dyslexia to take charge of their learning. Additionally, he helps them to feel proud of their unique learning style.
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