1. Help with homework by being close at hand to answer questions and to ensure that the child stays on task. In general it is best to let the child decide what help s/he needs from you and provide just that amount.

2. Don’t take charge of the homework or feel that you have to teach the child. That is the job of the teacher and while the child will have many teachers s/he will only have one Mum and Dad. That relationship is much too important to risk by getting into a teaching role.

3. Limit homework time for younger children. The class teacher will tell you how long homework should take, and if it is taking much longer than normal then it should be possible to work out an arrangement with the teacher as to how much will be done in any evening.

4. Keep in touch with the school and keep teachers informed of how things are progressing for the child.

5. Keep yourself up-to-date of any developments which might help. A good way to do this is by becoming a member of the Dyslexia Association, and becoming involved with your local branch.

6. Using a computer, particularly a word processor, can be a great help to a student with dyslexia. If possible, encourage your child to learn to touch type. This could be done over the summer months and need not be a chore.

7. Explore your local library for books which have a higher interest level than reading age. Check out abbreviated versions of classics which are designed for students learning English as a foreign language. Librarians are very willing to help, so do ask.

8. Students with dyslexia find schoolwork more tiring than other children do, so it is important for them not to take on demanding part-time jobs during school term, particularly in exam years.

9. If your second level student has not yet developed good planning and organisational skills, it would be helpful for you to do some timetabling. You can help him/her to map out their week on a wall planner, and keep track of important dates, e.g. when projects and essays are due. You may have to be more pro-active with a student with dyslexia than with your other children.

10. Plan ahead and look to the long term. When a child has dyslexia it may be necessary to think of ways round access to courses and qualifications. Be aware of the many Post Leaving Certificate courses, and how they can build up to diploma and degree status. Other parents who have been through the process are often your best source of advice.

11. Finally, enjoy your child and let them know that you love having him or her around. Remember – it may seem like a lot of work when you have a child with a specific learning difficulty, but they grow up fast.