Resources
Please note that DD-NJ does not officially endorse, represent or has any legal connection any of the resources listed below. These are websites, films and books that many parents have found very useful in their personal searches for information on and about dyslexia.
Find state and national resources from websites, checklists to films and books:
DD-NJ’s Original Resources
DD-NJ Compiled Dyslexia Screening Information: | DDNJ_Screening info for law 2014
DD-NJ’s Dyslexia Awareness Month Video | New Jersey Faces of Dyslexia Video
DD-NJ’s Checklist for Pediatricians | DDNJ_PediatricanPacket ver 1-13-15
DD-NJ’s Guerilla Guide for Spreading Dyslexia Awareness | DD_GuerrillaGuide_Dyslexia Awareness
NJ Resources
NJ Department of Education Website Dyslexia page | www.state.nj.us/education/specialed/dyslexia/
NJ Department of Education Website Special Education page | www.state.nj.us/education/specialed/
Learning Disabilities Association of NJ | www.ldanj.org
NJ Branch of the International Dyslexia Association | www.njida.org
National Resources
Understood.org | www.understood.org
International Dyslexia Association | www.interdys.org
Bookshare | www.bookshare.org
Children’s Dyslexia Centers, Inc | www.childrensdyslexiacenters.org
Learning Ally (formerly RFB&D) | www.learningally.org
National Center for Learning Disabilities | www.ncld.org
LD Online | www.LDonline.org
Bright Solutions for Dyslexia | www.dys-add.com
Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy | www.wrightslaw.com
Dyslegia: A Legislative Information Site | www.dyslegia.com
Yale Center for Dyslexia & /creativity | www.dyslexia.yale.edu
Proactive Parent | www.proactiveparent.com
Reading & Language programs comparison chart | www.interdys.org/ewebeditpro5/upload/MSL2007finalR1.pdf
Assistive Technology reviews | http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/
Assistive Technology Solutions | http://www.atdyslexia.com/
U.S. Dept of Education Guidance Letter to Districts (download) | Education Guidance on Dyslexia oct 23 2015
U.S. Law: “READ Act” H. R. 3033 | http://bit.ly/1p6jTX3
U.S. Law: “READ Act” [press release] | http://1.usa.gov/1phfyAT
Early Warning Dyslexia Signs fact sheets (downloads):
Early Warning Signs of Dyslexia also IsMyChildDyslexic
Films on Dyslexia:
The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia | www.thebigpicturemovie.com
Dislecksia – The Movie | www.dislecksiathemovie.com
Embracing Dyslexia | www.embracingdyslexia.com
Being You | roadtripnation.com/roadtrip/being-you#showdlsfkjadlk
Other dyslexia related films list with links | http://u.org/2dayJaR
Book Resources:
Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level
by Sally Shaywitz, M.D.; Vintage (2005) — A great book that explains what dyslexia is and gives parents tools for helping their children become fluent readers. One of the most helpful and informative books that most parents read early in their journey that really open their eyes and pointed them in the right direction to seek the help their kids needed.
Parenting a Struggling Reader
by Susan L. Hall and Louisa C. Moats; Broadway (2002) — This book helped explain how school systems work and provided real-world practical guidance on how to understand and work within the framework of the public school system. It also helped us understand the need to sometimes look outside public schools for additional resources.
Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy: The Special Education Survival Guide
by Pam Wright and Pete Wright; Harbor House Law Press (2006) — Realizing that your child has an LD (or any disability) can set parents off on a roller coaster of emotions. This fabulous book helped us distinguish facts from emotions in order to properly document the facts and best advocate for our daughter.
The Human Side of Dyslexia: 142 Interviews with Real People Telling Real Stories About Their Coping Strategies with Dyslexia
by Shirley Kurnoff; London Universal, (2001) — Just as the title says, this book is packed with real stories by people with dyslexia. While many books on dyslexia focus on the mechanics of the learning disability, this is the human story of the people who live with it. Through their stories we learn their strategies and tools for coping with the reading disability. Many of the stories are inspirational and will be a comfort to parents who worry about their child’s future.
The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science
by Norman Doidge; Penguin Books (2007) — An astonishing new science called “neuroplasticity” is overthrowing the centuries-old notion that the human brain is immutable. In this revolutionary look at the brain, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Norman Doidge, M.D., provides an introduction to both the brilliant scientists championing neuroplasticity and the people whose lives they’ve transformed.
The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain
by Brock L. Eide M.D. M.A. and Fernette F. Eide M.D., Plume (2012) — In this groundbreaking book, Brock and Fernette Eide explain how 20% of people—individuals with dyslexia—share a unique learning style that can create advantages in a classroom, at a job, or at home. Using their combined expertise in neurology and education, the authors show how these individuals not only perceive the written word differently but may also excel at spatial reasoning, see insightful connections that others simply miss, understand the world in stories, and display amazing creativity.
The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan: A Blueprint for Renewing Your Child’s Confidence and Love of Learning
by Benn Foss (2013) — In a passionate and well-articulated guide that puts to rest the idea that dyslexic people are unintelligent, disabilities advocate Foss (himself dyslexic and the creator of Intel Reader, a text-to-speech device) describes dyslexia as a characteristic and a disability that should be accommodated in the same way as blindness or mobility issues. Foss reframes the use of film, audiobooks, and material read aloud as ear-reading, in contrast to the eye-reading that is the educational standard. He hopes that parents can learn to explain their child’s needs in a way that will win them essential support, and that they can help their child build self-esteem. Foss also discusses how to navigate good accommodations in the school environment and determine if a school is inappropriate for your child’s welfare. This extremely practical and motivational book will be welcomed by parents of dyslexic children.
DD-NJ members traveled to D.C. on 6/19/12 to meet with NJ Congressmen to talk about Dyslexia and get them sign the Bipartisan Congressional Dyslexia Caucus
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NJ DOE Correspondence: Providing Special Education and Related Services to Students with Disabilities During Extended School Closures as a Result of COVID-19
"The State Board ... adopted temporary regulations that allow school districts and educational agencies to deliver special education and related services to students with disabilities through the use of telehealth, telemedicine, electronic communications, remote, virtual, or other online platforms.
It is important to note that these rule modifications alone do not ensure that school districts and educational agencies will meet their legal obligation to provide FAPE. These rule modifications are intended to provide IEP Teams with the flexibility necessary to implement services during unprecedented school closures. However, the modifications do not relieve school districts and educational agencies of the responsibility to ensure that the services implemented are properly individualized and those most appropriate for a student with disabilities."
www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2020/apr/3/Providing%20Special%20Education%20and%20Related%20Serv...
Tomorrow 4/4 at 2 pm ET -- If you are a military family receiving special education services, Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) is hosting a webinar: Military Special Needs Education Crisis, which will focus on the experience military families have with special needs education, the problems and difficulties facing these families, and potential legislative solutions that Congress can provide to fix those problems. Register here:
zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IX7YSrXKQz69Ea9upUY6gA
UPDATE: Caution to parents ... carefully read any consent forms which are sent to you about starting teletherapy services. Make sure you are not signing waivers of claims that would limit your rights. “Please do not sign anything you do not understand or with which you disagree. You can alter any form to eliminate information or to add information before signing.” Thank you to Renay Zamloot for this advice.
Summary of yesterday’s NJ State BOE meeting. Teletherapy has passed via unanimous vote at the state board of education yesterday. The board voted to amend N.J.A.C. 6A:14 (1.1) and N.J.A.C. 6A:14(3.2) and adopt temporary code during COVID19 crisis pursuant to Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 103, section 6, to provide related services to our students with disabilities in order to meet their legal obligation as required by our federal government. These services include speech, counseling, OT, PT and behavioral therapy to the greatest extent possible.
This communication will be broadcasted to all school districts today in the hope that initiation of these services via online, virtual and remote platforms wherever appropriate can be implemented immediately.
Peggy McDonald went on to state for the students where this type of platform is beneficial this adoption will enable school districts to absorb less budgetary burdens via compensatory services owed after this crisis has ended. She went on to state that this will not be appropriate for all students, and that this modification does not address any compensatory services that will be owed later on.
Thank you to @Liz Parlett-Butcher for this great summary.
Here’s an article which gives some other information about yesterday’s NJBOE meeting.
Meeting Remotely, State BOE OKs Remote Learning for Special-Needs Students | NJ Spotlight
www.njspotlight.com
Changes will go into effect immediately; special-ed advocates say they’ll continue to monitor quality of education delivered to students with disabilitiesTomorrow at 10 am -- The NJ State BOE will open its public session by Skype. The public can listen in by calling 908-409-1022, conference ID: 613516317#. Topics include emergency changes in administrative code involving special education, as the Murphy administration looks to give school districts more flexibility on that front.
www.njspotlight.com/2020/03/state-boe-to-consider-emergency-special-ed-changes-at-1st-skype-meeti...
State BOE to Consider Emergency Special-Ed Changes at 1st Skype Meeting | NJ Spotlight
www.njspotlight.com
In first meeting since public-health emergency was declared, state board weighs whether to deliver school services to special-needs students via phone, teleconferenceUPDATE NJDOE Webinar on COVID-19 Response — YouTube recording can be viewed at:
youtu.be/aOlRXTRC79E
The PowerPoint can be downloaded at:
njpsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID-19-March-Update-NJPSA-March-31-final2.pptx
Webinar: NJDOE Update on COVID-19 Response
The New Jersey Department of Education’s Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning, in partnership with the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association will host a webinar on Tuesday March 31st from 11:00 am to 12:15 pm.
The content for this webinar is as follows:
Middletown School District's (Monmouth County) Patrick Rinella, Director of Student Support Services:
Traumatic Loss Protocols; establishing a virtual school crisis response team
David Nash, Esq LEGAL ONE Director:
Bullying and responding to issues and incidents remotely
Jeff Gale, Director NJDOE’s OSPEP:
• Findings from observations of food distribution throughout the state
• Precautions to be taken when school personnel are present in a building; such as distributing electronic devices to parents, picking up materials, etc.
• Ways to promote social distancing and taking it seriously
• Using school buses to distribute meals, laptops, and educational materials
• Setting up a food distribution site
• Donation program for medical supplies
• Securing athletic fields, playgrounds and outdoor equipment
• Safe food handling
Although there is no fee to attend this session, registration is required. Please access the below link to register for the session. Please note, participants must use a computer with audio to access this webinar, as telephone participation will not be available.
Register at: attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1843541656535450123
Thank you.
New Jersey Department of Education
Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning
Division of Field Services - Office of Fiscal Accountability & Compliance
609 422 7153
NJDOE Update on COVID-19 Response
attendee.gotowebinar.com
The content for this webinar is as follows. David Nash, Esq LEGAL ONE Director Bullying and responding to issues and incidents remotely Middletown School District; Establishing Traumatic Loss Protocol...“It is okay to NOT be amazing. Don't try to be Pinterest Homeschool Mom of the Year. Even she is not that way all the time and truthfully there is at least one messy room in her house. Something always has to give.”
Thank you Decoding Dyslexia-VA for this!
Homeschooling is NOT the Same as Crisis Schooling: advice during coronavirus COVID -19 shut downs
www.heatheranneworld.com
This is my advice for those who have been thrust into schooling your kids at home due to the coronavirus COVID-19 shut downs. I'm a long time public school teacher and long time homeschool mom. I have...Attn NJ Parents & Educators: Virtual Roundtable calendar alert for today 3/26!
Find out what some NJ public schools are doing to handle this new online learning situation.
School's Out: Managing Remote Learning During COVID-19
www.eventbrite.com
This will be on online event only. Please register to have a Zoom teleconferencing link emailed to you. The COVID-19 outbreak has altered daily life to unimaginably great degree...and with breathtakin...For those of you who were not among the 13,000 plus people who watched the MTSU Center for Dyslexia Fox Reading conference during the livestream, you can access a recording of the event at the following link. Skip to 40 minutes into the record for the start of the conference.
livestream.com/mtsu/events/9013868?fbclid=IwAR3ycVT5XbFqxzRYlGpbwwJrIzwtWEijahAIppRYuubDCK7JQXsmf...
livestream.com
Watch Middle Tennessee State University's 2020 Fox Reading Conference - Structured Literacy: All Children Can Read on Livestream.com. 2020 Fox Reading Conference - presented by the Tom & Elizabeth Fox...This listing of resources created by Iowa Reading Research Center staff and includes lesson plans, commonly used terms, parent checklists, and other supporting materials. Those resources created by IRRC collaborators are tagged "Collaborator Contribution."
iowareadingresearch.org/resources?fbclid=IwAR3a_rWfYDJvWHZZdTbr_YPW3M6BYOlNR87K0q831iXhjW2_Tb0V4x...
Articles, games, apps, images, podcasts -- another tool to support learning and building background knowledge!
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