Dyslexia Resources

Dyslexia, also sometimes referred to as a “Specific Learning Disability” in reading, is the most common cause of reading difficulties. While Dyslexia is very common, it is often overlooked and misunderstood. When the risk for Dyslexia is identified early, and appropriate support is provided, children with Dyslexia can learn to read well.

Read October is IDA (International Dyslexia Association) of Ontario’s annual literacy and Dyslexia awareness campaign that promotes reading while raising funds to provide decodable books and Dyslexia awareness resources to Ontario public libraries. Participants need only set a personally meaningful reading goal and work towards reaching that goal.

Caledon Public Library’s Resources & Tools

Supports for reading development for individuals who struggle with Dyslexia or are struggling or reluctant readers:

Decodable Books

Decodable books are purpose written to help beginning and emerging readers master decoding. We learn new words by “decoding”. Decoding means using knowledge of letter-sounds and English spelling patterns to “sound-out” a word. Science show that the most efficient way to learn a words so that it can be instantly recognized in the future is by “decoding” it.

Decodable books introduce the letter-sound correspondences and spelling patterns of English logically and gradually. They are great for all new readers, but they are essential for children at risk for Dyslexia. Decodable books typically come as a series intended to be read in order. Each level in the series introduces a small number of new letter-sound correspondences and/or spelling patterns are used in each level. Level’s between series are not generally interchangeable. However, it is possible to use the charts from different series to match up books and create a customized organizational system when resources are available to do so.

Visit our catalogue to check out our decodable books.
Dyslexia-friendly Books
What makes a book Dyslexia or reluctant reader friendly?

Accessible layouts and spacing stop the page from becoming overcrowded

Heavier paper with a gentle tint helps reduce visual stresses

Use of coloured overlays to alleviate visual stress and improve symptoms commonly related to Dyslexia such as low reading rate, accuracy, and comprehension.

Dyslexic friendly fonts designed so that it’s easier for a Dyslexic individual to distinguish them, thus reducing errors and reading effort.

These resources are intended for an older student struggling with reading and are typically chapter books with topics that will appeal to older children or young adults written using words that are easy to decode and language that is clear and easy to understand. These books are often not genuinely decodable as they don’t follow a set scope and sequence; they make excellent follow-up to decodable books for children who need added practice to improve reading fluency.

Click for access to children’s Dyslexia-friendly books

Click for access to teen’s Dyslexia-friendly books
Audiobooks

Reading is more than just decoding; children also need strong oral language skills to understand what they read. In young children, language skills such as vocabulary and background knowledge are built through listening, speaking and experiencing the world around them. Once children learn to read fluently, they rapidly grow their language comprehension through reading. Students with Dyslexia take much longer to become fluent reader than their typically developing peers. Audiobooks support developing language comprehension skills.

Click for access to children’s audiobooks

Click for access to teen’s audiobooks
Scanning Pens

C-Pen scanning pens read text aloud with natural speaking voices, store text, and look up and explain words in high-tier dictionaries. Hear individual words and lines of text read aloud. Completely self-contained, No computer or Wi-Fi required to use reading function. Like audiobooks, scanning pens support the development of oral language skills.

Visit our Library of Things and check one out today!
Overdrive / Libby eReader App

On CPL’s Overdrive / Libby eReader app in the Digital Library, you can select OpenDyslexic in the appearance settings for any available eBook.

OpenDyslexic is a typeface designed against some common symptoms of dyslexia. This feature greatly improves the accessibility of reading material for adults with dyslexia.
The Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA)

Caledon Public Library provides access to the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) for people who have difficulty reading print due to a visual, physical or learning disability (as defined in Section 32.1 of the Canadian Copyright Act). CELA’s collection includes French and English fiction and non-fiction materials for all ages, as well as DAISY titles, newspapers, braille and described video.

Registered CELA members can access materials in the CELA collection by pre-paid mail delivery service or by online download. Members may also have access to Bookshare, a large collection of downloadable materials. To register for CELA, you must have a valid Caledon Public Library card. For information about CELA services, see www.celalibrary.ca

Facts about Dyslexia

Source: International Dyslexia Association of Ontario

Dyslexia means that the wiring of the brain makes it difficult to learn to read.
Dyslexia is the most common reason that people struggle with learning to read.
People with Dyslexia do not see letters or words backwards.
Dyslexia is not related to intelligence.
Dyslexia commonly runs in families and can range from mild to severe.
Children with Dyslexia may be mistakenly labelled as lazy or a slow learner.
Dyslexia can be identified as early as Kindergarten.
With early help, 95% of children with Dyslexia can learn to read well.