Self-Advocacy, by definition, is the ability to communicate your needs. For many
children with undiagnosed dyslexia or any other neurodiversity, communicating their
needs may not come naturally.
If you have noticed signs your child may be struggling to communicate what they want,
it’s important to take this seriously. On the flip side, if your child has clearly asked for
help by self-advocating, it’s imperative you take action because children need us to
speak up for them.
The struggles that come with dyslexia are far greater than the ability to read or write at
the appropriate pace. For most children with dyslexia, diagnosed or not, self-esteem,
social skills and security are often lacking. When we are talking about your child’s
long-term success, it’s important to intervene when you begin to see signs like the ones
listed below:
- Your child expresses frustration when learning a new task
- They put off doing homework because they become discouraged in the process
- They have directly expressed a desire to improve their language or writing skills
Depending on your child’s age and development, self-advocating may be a new idea to
grasp. Here are a few great ways to encourage self-advocacy in all your children,
whether it’s a learning disability they are coping with, or an external conflict they are
going through.
- Give them the right language to communicate. If your child is non-verbal,
implement simple sign language so you can better understand each other. - Maybe your child just needs direction on how to communicate; so when they use
language that doesn’t convey a point, you can help them to rephrase in a way
that will properly communicate their thoughts. - Giving your child the opportunity to explore and learn for themselves is key to
raising a child who self-advocates and can communicate their imagination.
When children with learning disabilities are confined to an educational system that
doesn’t support their needs, they are often left frustrated or discouraged. Finding the
proper tools and teaching to support your child with dyslexia or a neurodiversity can be
daunting…so we’ve made it easy for you! Visit dyslexiahouston.org/for-parents/ to learn
more.
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