Dyslexia is not:
- There is no link between dyslexia and intelligence. It is simply a different way for the brain to function.
- Dyslexia is individual. There can be varying levels of difficulty in different areas.
Dyslexia is:
- School can be harder for people with Dyslexia. Tasks like reading and writing can take significantly more energy and time.
- Some may need to listen to long texts to efficiently understand them. This is not always available.
Common symptoms
The following are some common behaviors for people with Dyslexia. They do not apply to all people, as the condition is individual and varies from person to person.
Reading large blocks of text can be challenging with Dyslexia. Letters seem to mold together and accidentally reading the same line is common. Learning to read is also harder.
Spelling can be harder due to how the brain processes what words sound like. The brain cannot break down a word into parts.
Forming clear and simple sentence structures may be harder.
Pronouncing a word incorrectly even after multiple attempts to say it right is more common with Dyslexia.
Understanding jokes and expressions involving idioms or things otherwise not clear in plain sight may be harder.
What can I do?
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Stop joking about Dyslexia. These jokes and memes are often insensitive and hurtful to people with the condition. By joking, you’re spreading misinformation and disrespecting people with Dyslexia.
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Spread awareness. Next time you hear a person using the word Dyslexia incorrectly or having a stereotypical view of people with Dyslexia, send them this page.
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Support groups for Dyslexia. There are many organizations that raise money to support people with Dyslexia and their families. Even if you can’t support them yourself, you can help share these groups with others, so they can support these groups.
The contents of this page is based on a Google doc. Feel free to suggest changes.