Dyslexia Resources

What is Dyslexia?

Reading is complex. It requires our brains to connect letters to sounds, put those sounds in the right order, and pull the words together into sentences and paragraphs we can read and comprehend.

People with dyslexia have trouble matching the letters they see on the page with the sounds those letters and combinations of letters make. And when they have trouble with that step, all the other steps are harder.

Dyslexic children and adults struggle to read fluently, spell words correctly and learn a second language, among other challenges. But these difficulties have no connection to their overall intelligence. In fact, dyslexia is an unexpected difficulty in reading in an individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader. While people with dyslexia are slow readers, they often, paradoxically, are very fast and creative thinkers with strong reasoning abilities.

Dyslexia is also very common, affecting 20 percent of the population and representing 80– 90 percent of all those with learning disabilities. Scientific research shows differences in brain connectivity between dyslexic and typical reading children, providing a neurological basis for why reading fluently is a struggle for those with dyslexia.

Dyslexia can’t be “cured” – it is lifelong. But with the right supports, dyslexic individuals can become highly successful students and adults.

Yale Center for Dyslexia. “Understanding Dyslexia.” Yale Center for Dyslexia, [https://www.dyslexia.yale.edu/dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia/].

Below, you will find many resources that we hope will help you in your quest to support your child. If you have questions about your child’s learning, Kathy Sherman, Director of Enrollment, is happy to help.

Organizations and Helpful Websites

 

Boulder Valley School District

Anna Stewart, School, Parent & Community Liaison
720-561-5918

Colorado Department of Education (CDE)

Colorado Department of Education: Dyslexia Resources for Parents

SLD Topic Brief: Dyslexia and SLD

Instruction for individuals with reading disabilities/deficits should address all five components of reading including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Additionally, interventions should be:

  • Research-based;
  • Explicit: directly teach skills for reading, spelling, and writing;
  • Systematic and cumulative: i.e., have a definite, logical sequence of concept introduction; and
  • Structured: have step-by-step procedures for introducing, reviewing, and practicing concepts.

 

U.S. Department of Education: Section 504

Parent and Educator Resource Guide to Section 504 in Public Elementary and Secondary School

Parenting Support

Here are several support groups and resources for individuals and families dealing with dyslexia in the Boulder and Denver areas:

  • BVKID: A parent advocacy group dedicated to supporting children who struggle with reading in the Boulder Valley area.
  • COKID: Colorado Kids Identified with Dyslexia is a nonprofit grassroots parent advocacy organization dedicated to supporting kids and adults with dyslexia in Colorado.
  • DENCOKID: DenCoKID builds our community’s awareness of dyslexia, provides a web of support for the families and educators of students with dyslexia, and advocates for improved learning outcomes for all Denver kids.
  • Parents of Students with Dyslexia Facebook Page (Local): An advocacy support group for parents with students in BVSD who have dyslexia and occurring conditions like ADHD, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, sensory processing etc. Making positive changes in BVSD for literacy, awareness and advocacy

Possible Income Tax Benefits for Parents

Possible Income Tax Benefits for Parents of Dyslexic and ADHD Children from NerdWallet.com

“According to Regs. Sec. 1.213-1(e)(1)(v), the unreimbursed cost of attending a “special school” for a neurologically or physically handicapped individual is deductible as a medical expense if the principal reason for sending the individual to the school is to alleviate the handicap through the school’s resources.”

from the JournalofAccountancy.com

Transportation Assistance

Wondering how to get your student to and from Hillside?
Some parents have used the CU Job Bulletin board to hire a CU Boulder student to drive their student. This is not an endorsement, just sharing of resources. If you’re interested, go to Post a Job. Interested students will contact you directly; the university does not pre-screen or do background checks on any applicants. We encourage you to perform due diligence when considering any potential employee. Let us know how it works out for you if you use it.

Dyslexia Resources


Learning is a lifelong experience. As a school, Hillside is involved in a continual process of enhancing our teaching practices and knowledge of factors that affect children’s ability to be successful learners with a sense of positive well-being. Often what we learn and discover at Hillside is important information for parents or anyone involved with the development of children. Below, you will find many resources that we hope will help you in your quest to support your child. If you have questions about your child’s learning, Kathy Sherman, Director of Enrollment, is happy to help.

Organizations and Helpful Websites

Boulder Valley School District

Anna Stewart, School, Parent & Community Liaison
720-561-5918

Colorado Department of Education (CDE) 

CDE Family Information and Resources

SLD Topic Brief: Dyslexia and SLD

Instruction for individuals with reading disabilities/deficits should address all five components of reading including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Additionally, interventions should be:

  • Research-based;
  • Explicit: directly teach skills for reading, spelling, and writing;
  • Systematic and cumulative: i.e., have a definite, logical sequence of concept introduction; and
  • Structured: have step-by-step procedures for introducing, reviewing, and practicing concepts.

 

U.S. Department of Education: Section 504

Parent and Educator Resource Guide to Section 504 in Public Elementary and Secondary School

Parenting Classes and Support Groups

REAL Parenting: Parenting classes and coaching with Stephanie Bryan
Support Group for Parents of Children with Special Needs, facilitated by Deb Fitzgibbons

Possible Income Tax Benefits for Parents

Possible Income Tax Benefits for Parents of Dyslexic and ADHD Children from NerdWallet.com

“According to Regs. Sec. 1.213-1(e)(1)(v), the unreimbursed cost of attending a “special school” for a neurologically or physically handicapped individual is deductible as a medical expense if the principal reason for sending the individual to the school is to alleviate the handicap through the school’s resources.”

from the JournalofAccountancy.com

Transportation Assistance

Wondering how to get your student to and from Hillside?
Some parents have used the CU Job Bulletin board to hire a CU Boulder student to drive their student. This is not an endorsement, just sharing of resources. If you’re interested, go to Post a Job.  Interested students will contact you directly; the university does not pre-screen or do background checks on any applicants. We encourage you to perform due diligence when considering any potential employee. Let us know how it works out for you if you use it.