Learning that your child has dyslexia can be both difficult and freeing. On one hand, you finally understand why reading and writing have been so challenging. On the other, you may feel lost, unsure what to do next, and worried about how to support your child.

The good news? There is a clear path forward.

At Ascend, we often talk about a two-base approach to helping children with dyslexia close academic gaps. When these two bases come together, students are set up for success in the classroom and beyond.

Base One: School Accommodations and Modifications

The first base is ensuring your child has the right accommodations or modifications in place at school. These supports allow your child to access grade-level content while reducing unnecessary barriers.

Examples of accommodations may include:

Extended time on assignments and tests
Access to audiobooks or text-to-speech tools
Adjusted grading (reduced weight on spelling)
Alternatives to reading aloud in front of peers

If you’re unsure how to start, we can guide you through the process of getting the right supports in place.
👉 Learn more about how we work with families.

Base Two: Evidence-Based Reading Intervention

The second base is providing your child with targeted, evidence-based reading support. While accommodations provide access, intervention is what actually helps close skill gaps.

What does “evidence-based” mean?

Evidence-based reading programs are supported by independent research studies (not just research conducted by the company selling the program).

The most widely known approach for students with dyslexia is Orton-Gillingham (OG) which aligns with a structured literacy approach.

There are many programs that follow an OG approach, but it’s important to ensure the one your child uses truly covers the core components of OG instruction.

It’s also important to note: different OG-based programs are better suited to different age groups and learning profiles. While Orton-Gillingham can begin as early as pre-K, the techniques, pacing, and scope will look very different for an older student.

Key Features of a Strong OG Intervention

Systematic and Sequential
- Skills build from basic to complex.
- Instruction follows a logical order and frequently revisits previously taught concepts.
Explicit
- Every concept, sound pattern, and strategy is taught directly.
- Nothing is left for the child to “pick up on their own.”
Diagnostic-Prescriptive
- Instruction adapts to each child’s pace and needs.
- Frequent data collection ensures teaching aligns with a child’s strengths while addressing weaknesses.

Why This Matters

One of the best things you can do as a parent, or educator supporting students with dyslexia, is to educate yourself on what effective reading intervention looks like. With the right accommodations and the right intervention, children with dyslexia can thrive, both in and out of the classroom.

To help, we’ve created an on-demand professional development training:

👉 What Dyslexia Really Looks Like: From Identification to Intervention

In this training, we walk through: