October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. You might have seen it mentioned at school, or maybe this is the first time you're hearing about it. Either way, if you've ever wondered whether your child's reading struggles are something more, this month is a good time to talk about it.
I'm Deanna, a speech-language pathologist and certified structured literacy interventionist. I've spent the last 12 years working with kids across South Florida who learn to read differently — including a lot of kids with dyslexia. Here's what I want every parent to know this month.
What is Dyslexia Awareness Month, and why does it matter?
Dyslexia Awareness Month happens every October. Schools, tutors, and reading specialists use this month to help parents learn the real signs of dyslexia — not just the myths.
It matters because dyslexia is common. About 1 in 5 kids has some form of it. But many kids go years without the right kind of help, simply because no one around them knew what to look for.
Is my child just a slow reader, or could it be dyslexia?
This is the question I hear the most from parents in South Florida. Here are a few signs that often point to dyslexia, not just "still learning":
Your child can tell you a story out loud with great detail, but freezes up when asked to read the same words on a page.
Spelling stays hard year after year, even with practice.
Your child mixes up letters like b and d, or reads words out of order.
Homework that involves reading takes much longer than it should, and it's exhausting for everyone.
Your child has a hard time blending sounds together into a word
None of these signs alone mean your child has dyslexia. But if a few of them sound familiar, it's worth a closer look.
What is a dyslexia tutor, and how is it different from regular tutoring?
A dyslexia tutor families can trust isn't just someone who helps with homework or works on printed reading passages. It's someone trained in structured literacy — a specific, step-by-step way of teaching reading that's built for kids whose brains process language differently.
Regular tutoring often repeats what didn't work in the classroom, just slower. Structured literacy teaches reading in a completely different order, using sound, sight, and touch together, so the skills actually stick. Think of this as a prescription for reading help, not just a bandaid. One parent of ours said, "Having a child with dyslexia that attends public school is a hard road to navigate but Sunshine Literacy is making it less overwhelming". That because we come up with a plan to help your child move forward, not stay stuck.
What should I do this month?
If any of this sounds like your child, October is a good time to stop wondering and start finding out. You don't need a diagnosis to get started. You just need a plan built for how your child actually learns.
I offer a free trial class so you can see what structured literacy looks like before you commit to anything.
