Dyslexia. Special boarding school?

Question

Do you think going to a school where everyone is dyslexic is good idea. I can see the attraction because it means the child is no longer different and everything is geared to their needs. But what if that means the child boarding ? Anyone got any experience of this? Either as a pupil or parent.

Answer 1

As a Dyslexic husband of a Dyslexic wife and parent of Dyslexic children I would say its good to have some mutual understanding.

However, were all different.  All four of us are radically different in the precise form our Dyslexia takes.  So sometimes we assume wrongly about the others problems.  My oldest boy is very like I was ... but still not as bad in some things and a bit worse in others.

Methinks children are better mixing with 'normal' kids so long as the mechanisms are in place to recognise specific problems and develop coping strategies or provide needed help.

The downside would be that  even though the UK Government is talking about putting a proper SENCO [Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator] in all our schools my jaundiced eye says the money will disappear and the posts will meld into the background again later.

So the special schools will hopefully still have a place for those children who in addition to a need for support for their Dyslexia have some other need that would aggravate their learning ability or single them out for bullying.

Answer 2

No. This can be handled in a classroom setting.

Answer 3

My sister and my father are both dyslexic.  My parents got special help for my sister by going to the main University in the area.  The school said she was lazy and should sit with the boys.  I have to say that I was left out of the loop because I was normal.  I got told off for saying that I read a book quickly because that upset my sister.  I helped my sister as I corrected her (with her permission) when she read aloud to me.  If everyone is dyslexic, how can they help each other?