What is it, really?
Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects reading, writing and spelling. It has nothing to do with intelligence. With the right support, people with dyslexia can thrive academically and professionally.
What you can do right now
- →Never read aloud in class without giving prior warning
- →Allow extra time for written tasks
- →Use audio alternatives where possible
- →Focus on content and ideas rather than spelling errors
The first month after diagnosis
This isn't a schedule to keep up with. It's what usually helps, week by week, for families going through this.
Week 1
Right now
A dyslexia diagnosis explains why reading has been hard. It says nothing about intelligence or effort.
- ·You do not need a plan this week. Let the news settle first.
- ·If this is your child's diagnosis, how you talk about it now shapes how they will talk about it later. “Your brain reads differently” lands better than “you have a problem.”
- ·Keep any assessment report somewhere safe. You will need it for school accommodations later.
Week 2
Understanding what it actually changes
Dyslexia affects reading and spelling specifically. It says nothing about the rest of how someone thinks.
- ·Notice what reading tasks are hardest: single words, long text, under time pressure. This varies a lot by person.
- ·Look for what already helps: audiobooks, larger text, reading aloud. These are not "cheating."
- ·If this is your own diagnosis as an adult, know that many people reach adulthood without ever being told this. You are not behind, you are catching up on information.
Week 3
First steps
This is usually when accommodations start to matter: at school, at work, or at home.
- ·If school-aged, ask what accommodations the assessment entitles them to (extra time, assistive technology, alternative formats).
- ·Try Sentio's Accommodation Request Builder if drafting that request feels daunting.
- ·At home, normalize tools like text-to-speech. The goal is access to the content, not proving they can read it the hard way.
Week 4
Taking stock
A month in, the goal isn't fluent reading. It's having a few tools that actually help.
- ·Notice which tool or accommodation made the most difference this month.
- ·If accommodations haven't been set up yet, that's the one thing worth pushing on next.
- ·Reading will likely always take more effort. That is a fact to plan around, not a problem to solve.
Where to get help in Romania
Asociatia Dislexie Romania
British Dyslexia Association: bdadyslexia.org.uk