Regardless of your age or your child's age, there is help available for struggling
readers or those with learning or physical disabilities. The resources below can
help direct you to the appropriate services in your community. Your local early
childhood programs, schools, pediatrician or family physician are also an excellent
source of information and support.
Help for your child
Never hesitate to ask for help for your child. If you have a concern as your child
grows and develops, act on your instincts and speak with your doctor. The links
below can help you identify potential developmental issues in your child.
This booklet from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
includes milestone checklists, tips to help parents support their child’s
development from age 2 months to 5 years, and guidance about what to do if developmental
concerns arise.
If you have concerns about your child's speech and language development or emergent
literacy skills, please contact a certified speech-language pathologist. Go to ASHA's
Web site at www.asha.org for more
information and referrals, or call 800-638-8255.
First Signs is dedicated to educating parents and professionals about autism and
related disorders. The First Signs website provides a wealth of vital resources,
covering a range of issues: from monitoring development, to concerns about a child;
from the screening and referral process, to sharing concerns.
This KidsHealth.org resource
explains dyslexia and offer guidance for parents
This fact sheet from the International
Dyslexia Association addresses the common characteristics of dyslexia.
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Nemours BrightStart! believes that nearly all children can become successful readers. Their unique reading readiness screening linked with small group educational instruction, has helped children in preschools and childcare centers make tremendous gains and go on to read at or above grade level.
To find out more, call 1-877-878-3118.
Click here to learn more
Help for parents
Some parents may have never experienced the joys of being read to as a child and
now struggle with reading. If you want to be a better reader for your own child
or learn a new trade or improve your employment opportunities, use the links below
to find a literacy program for adults in your community.
If you are looking to improve your reading skills, get your high school equivalency
certificate, or learn English, search the National Literacy Directory to find a
local program to meet your needs. The National Literacy Directory is a joint effort
of the
Dollar General Literacy Foundation, the
National Center for Family Literacy and ProLiteracy.
Find a program within
ProLiteracy's network of 1,200 member programs for adult instruction in
basic literacy or English as a second language.
Feeling your way with books
Sometimes books can be exactly the help needed to cope with a complicated situation
or explain something difficult to a young child. These resources can help you identify
titles for tricky situations.
Bibliotherapy helps kids overcome uncomfortable challenges with well-written books.
Compiled by Merri V. Lindgren at the
Cooperative Children's Book Center, this bibliography was developed for
the Child Care Information Center
Newsletter in Wisconsin, and provides titles to share around difficult issues for
children, such as moving, divorce and death.