Learning Difficulties Support Information for Families
Learning Difficulties Support Information for Families
SPELD NSW has selected some resources specifically to help families to support their child’s learning journey.
The AUSPELD Understanding Learning Difficulties Guide is a great free online resource to help you learn more about how to support students with learning difficulties. The Guide is also available for purchase from SPELD NSW Online Shop.
SPELD NSW offers a free InfoLine service to parents of children with difficulties with reading, spelling, written expression and maths and to adults with learning difficulties. Our free service provides support by phone and email.
Our friendly and experienced Information and Referral Officers are available to listen to your concerns and provide you with information, support and resources.
Access specific learning difficulties fact sheets, information on supports and adjustments, resources and more from SPELD NSW.
Learning Difficulties Coalition is a not-for-profit organisation providing support and information about children with learning difficulties and related conditions including ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Anxiety Disorders and Developmental Language Disorders. LDC runs Parent Talks, provides Fact Sheets and Resources and has a Parent HelpLine.
Dyslexia SPELD Foundation of WA (DSF) has made available information on teaching Reading and Spelling, Written Expression and Mathematics and on Reading, Spelling, Written Expression and Maths Intervention.
Understood is a leading nonprofit organization that aims to empower the 70 million people in the United States with learning and thinking differences. Understood provides a wealth of information to help families understand learning difficulties and support students with learning difficulties.
Explaining Dyslexia to your child
For resources to help explain dyslexia to a child you are supporting include:
- Dyslexia Explained from Nessy
- Dyslexia by the ABC’s Behind The News (BTN)
- 12 Children’s Books With Dyslexic Characters You Can’t Miss a blog from The Literacy Nest.
A helpful video from maths expert Ronit Bird explaining Dyscalculia for parents.
A helpful FAQ on Dysgraphia: significant difficulties with handwriting, spelling and/or written expression from Banter Speech and Language.
Parent support groups
Dyslexia Support Australia and Dyslexia NSW Support Group are Facebook groups which provide a forum for supporting and sharing evidence-based information regarding reading, spelling, writing and even maths difficulties. Dyslexia Support Groups can be found in most states via Facebook, in the ACT you can follow Dyslexia Info for the Canberra Region.
These volunteer groups are not affiliated with SPELD NSW but can be a great source of information and support for families.
Reading Rockets is an America website that provides a wide range of evidence-based information and classroom strategies to help young children become skilled readers. Reading Rockets has a section with information about students who have difficulties learning to read and they have a great Reading 101: A Guide for Parents.