Frequently
Asked Questions
about the Dyslexia Course  What
qualifications do I need to do the course?
There are no qualifications,
other than a wish to help a dyslexic child or teenager improve his or her learning
skills and raise their level of achievement.
I
have difficulties with spelling and writing myself. Will the course be too hard
for me?
It is unlikely that the course will be too hard for you. There
are very few solid blocks of unbroken text in the course book. The course materials
have been arranged to be visually accessible, with illustrations, photographs,
charts, diagrams, etc. on all the pages. Information is presented in short sections,
with key words highlighted in 'text boxes' or 'bubbles'. As dyslexia often runs
in families, a great effort has been made to create course materials which are
accessible to students who may have some difficulties themselves with spelling
and writing. Assignments
have been designed to be within the capability of a dyslexic student to complete.
My son has some difficulties
with spelling, but has never been diagnosed as dyslexic. Can I do the course?
Yes. Your child
or teenager does not have to be a diagnosed dyslexic. In fact, few children are
diagnosed as dyslexic because of the pressures on schools. Any child who is struggling
with schoolwork and needs some extra help to raise their level of achievement
can take part in the Practical Exercises with you. You will learn a great deal
more about your son's particular needs and difficulties during the course.
 I
want to do the course, but will I feel isolated working at a distance?
Whilst distance learning courses are very flexible, and can be taken if you live
a long way from a university or dyslexia training center, it is recognized that
you will be studying on your own. However, researchers have found that, with proper
instructional design, distance courses actually can be more interactive than traditional
ones, providing more personal and timely feedback to meet students’ needs than
is possible in large, face-to-face courses.
To
put you in contact with other students, we have set up an online Discussion Group.
The Discussion group is on our course website, and every student may take part.
Questions are raised about points in the course, and students and staff discuss
these issues. As students may be living in different time zones, the discussion
is always available, and may be read and added to at any time. It is recommended
that students visit the Discussion group once a week, either to join in, or just
to see what other students have been saying.
Does
the course pack contain everything I need for the course?
Yes.
What happens if I am
given a 'Repeat' grade for an Assignment?
If you are given a 'Repeat'
grade, you will be given advice when you receive your grade about how to improve
it to a 'Pass'. You may resubmit your Assignment as many times as necessary, but
there will be a small charge if you submit it more than three times (which is
very unlikely anyway). I
do not have a computer and cannot use the Internet easily. Can I still do the
course?
Yes.
Your will receive all the course materials by airmail/post and you can print out
the contents of the CD-Rom on a friend's computer. You need Internet access to
join in the online Discussion Group on our website. Joining this Discussion Group
is not essential, but you may be able to use an Internet cafe or library once
every week or two for this if you want to join in. Your Assignments can be sent
to us by the normal mail/post. I
am home-schooling my child. Will the course give me practical methods to use with
him?
Yes. The course will be particularly useful for parents home-schooling
their child. I
am a private tutor. Will the course allow me to specialize in teaching dyslexic
children?
You might find the Dyslexia
Certificate course more suitable.
Is the course a general
course in how to teach a child to read and write?
No. The course is specifically
focused on the particular learning needs of dyslexic children. There are certain
barriers which prevent a dyslexic child from progressing in the normal way with
their learning. The course focuses on these barriers and teaches parents particular
techniques and methods which can help their dyslexic child overcome them. The
advice given is not general but practical and precise, and what is learned in
each section can be immediately used with a dyslexic child.
I am a teacher.
Will I be able to advise other teachers about teaching dyslexic children when
I have completed the course?
You might find the Dyslexia
Certificate course more suitable. What
do I receive at the end of the course?
At the successful completion of
the course all students will receive a Certificate validating the fact that that
they have completed the course, along with an outline of the course Modules they
have studied. How
much does the course cost?
We
have tried to keep the costs of the course at an affordable level in order to
allow as many parents as possible to take part. The costs, which include registration,
administrative, postal charges and course materials are to be found on our Fees
page.
 Do
you offer a similar course for working with young adults aged 16-19?
The Dyslexia Course is aimed primarily at children and teenagers. We do not know
of any course which is targeted specifically at the 16-19 age-group. However,
the Dyslexia Course has been taken by many parents of the 16-19 age-range since
a lot of the difficulties are similar, and many of the teaching techniques and
learning strategies are also appropriate. I
am loking for a course with a formal qualification in dyslexia. Is this course
suitable ?
You might find the Dyslexia
Certificate course more suitable. What
is the difference between the Certificate and the Parents' courses?
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