Today I received an email from a young women who wanted to know how to improve her literacy skills and in the process her career prospects. I am so impressed when individuals take the future into their own hands and determine their fate based on their determination to overcome their learning weaknesses. I have had quite a few emails from young adults asking the same question and this is what I generally tell them.

Firstly good on you for taking action to improve your language skills and your career prospects. There are many options for you to try. On my website, www.helpingchildrenwithdyslexia.com, log in as a free member and go into the pages of free information sheets. Look under Apprenticeships, TAFE and Tertiary Education. Locate your local NDCO. This is your National Disabilities Co-ordination Officer. There is one for every region of Australia. This is an individual who works for the Australian Federal Government. Their job is to tell your rights and what funding and accommodations are available to you if you decide to change careers, do an apprenticeship or go back to school or onto Uni. There is some good funding available if you know how to apply so make sure you contact them. It is just that no one knows about this scheme. Your NDCO will also be able to tell you about Acess Apps. This is an incredible little piece of software in the form of a flash drive, which you can use to put inclusive technology onto any PC computer. This is software that makes reading, writing, spelling and planning easier and more accessible for those with learning disabilites.

There are some great programs to help adults overcome difficulties with literacy. You can use your funding if applicable to pay for them. Funding can also apply for technology like laptops, tutoring and work place accommodations. The key is having a diagnosed learning disability. You can contact Deborah Zang for further assistance as she organises the LD Network and is a great source of info. She also has dyslexia and is a successful and inspirational women. There are also many qualified diagnosticians on my state by state resource directory who will be able to advise you.

I would start by researching the Governments Reading Writing Hotline first as they are offer free or reasonably priced tutoring or language classes. Be specific though and tell them you are dyslexic and require specific assistance. Phone 1300 655 506.

Learning Difficulties Australia also offers a Tutor Referral Service specifically for people with a learning disability, although tutors are mostly in Victoria with some in QLD and NSW. Look on the website www.helpingchildrenwithdyslexia.com for more qualified tutors.

If you have a family member or a friend who can help you, research the program Toe by Toe. This has proven to be very successful. This is a book you can order from Internet book sellers and it takes you step by step through the process of learning to read and spell. It takes you back through the whole process and uses repetition to help you to remember. It is proven to work and has helped many people. Google it and take a look.

I am currently trialing Touch Type Read Spell. This is a UK program, which is in every UK jail and is having great success in schools too. It teaches touch typing, spelling and reading. Most Uni’s and Tafes will let you use laptops and Ipads now so you can reduce writing and take the emphasis off spelling in classes and for exams.

You can also try the WYNN program. It is Australian and stands for What You Need To Know. I don’t know much about this one, but it is used in Aussie jails and has had good success.

There is also a program called Fast For Word which I also believe is having great success. I hear many positive things about it. It trains the brain to hear sounds, spell, read and focus. Many Speech therapists and other professionals can administer it. The key is understanding if you are candidate for such a program via your educational psychological testing before you pay for such a program. You can get a preview DVD to research this program. There is also another program called Cellfield, which is Australian and also utilises brain training science.

If you are someone who has difficulty with visual processing it may be useful to look at coloured lenses as an option. There are many amazing stories as to their effectiveness. Google Irlen or read my book for more info on this.

Believe it or not there is amazing technology available for people with dyslexia these days and you can get through uni without even having to read write or spell with text scanners, voice to text software, text readers and audio books. Tertiary Education Institutions are better set up to support people with dyslexia than our schools. Vision Australia can advise you about all these resources as can Spectronics in QLD.

Good Luck. If you are motivated to succeed the world is your oyster.

Kind regards

Liz Dunoon