We are unschoolers. There, it is said. There is no set curriculum being used. There is no predefined course of study being followed. There are no skills that must be learned in a certain order. Yet I already know my son has dyslexia that is caused by a problem with his brain understanding what his eyes see. And I know that he will not out grow it.
How can I, a mom, with minimal formal education, untrained to identify learning disabilities, know that a 6 year old, barely of first grade age, has dyslexia? Simple, I’m his mom. I have watched him grow. I have been with him throughout his journey of life. More importantly, I pay attention and I listen. I listen as he proudly exclaims that a magnet on the front of a friend’s refrigerator says “dog” when it says “god”. I have paid attention as he proudly says the letters and numbers that he sees and when I look I see that he has said the wrong letter or number. I have watched him struggle as he tries to tell colors apart but gets them confused. I have heard his cries of pain because no matter how much he wants to, he can’t.
I am even going to go so far as to say I know what the problem is and that I know what the solution is.
He has Irlen syndrome. He needs Irlen lenses.
How do I know? Simple: I am his mom.
That and I have Irlen syndrome and I understand his pain and how no matter how hard he tries that he just can’t. I understand the pain he is in unless he is wearing sunglasses. I understand when he cannot tell an “o” from an “u” or brown from gray or a “p” from a “6”.
Irlen lenses are not cheap. I am on a strict budget but my goal is to get Irlen lense for my son in 2011.
When it comes to dyslexia and learning to read it is not a matter or readiness. He could be 30 years old but unless the underlying problem is resolved he will never learn to read fluently.
I tried to find information about unschooling and dyslexia. I could not find anything helpful. Most of what I found was from other parents who believe that when the child is ready they will learn to read. I agree that a child with no learning disabilities that hinders their ability to process information and who has lots of exposure to an environment rich in the written word will learn to read and that the timeline will vary greatly. I disagree that every child, regardless of difficulties in processing will learn to read and I think it is a great disservice to the child to not treat the underlying problem and assume it will all work out in the e
To view sample distortions that people with Irlen syndrome see when trying to read please visit: http://irlen.com/distortioneffects.php
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