What are the early signs of dyslexia, and when can it be spotted?

Signs often show up before reading starts: trouble rhyming, hearing single sounds in words, or quickly naming familiar things, plus a family history of reading trouble. Screeners can flag risk in kindergarten, and a full evaluation by a qualified professional is what confirms it.

What kind of reading teaching works best for a child with dyslexia?

The strongest evidence supports explicit, systematic teaching of sounds and letter patterns with lots of practice (often called structured literacy). Branded programs such as Orton-Gillingham follow this idea, but a 2021 meta-analysis did not find they beat other well-structured reading help, so ask what is taught and how progress is measured rather than relying on the brand.

Is listening to audiobooks or text-to-speech cheating, or will it stop my child from learning to read?

Research finds read-aloud tools give a modest boost to comprehension for students with reading disabilities, because they let kids reach grade-level ideas and vocabulary. They do not teach decoding on their own, so most experts suggest using them alongside reading instruction, not instead of it.

Which free tools can read text aloud or type what my child says?

Many are already built in: Microsoft Immersive Reader, Apple's accessibility features, and Google Docs voice typing are free, and Bookshare and the Library of Congress's NLS offer free accessible books to qualifying US readers. Paid apps like Speechify or Read&Write add convenience but are not required to start.

Do special dyslexia fonts or colored overlays help?

Studies of dyslexia fonts have generally not found faster or more accurate reading, though some children simply prefer them, which is fine. Spacing, larger text and read-aloud tools tend to be more useful than a special typeface.

Do screens or video games cause ADHD?

There is no good evidence that screens cause ADHD. One large study of teens found heavy digital media use was linked to a slightly higher chance of later ADHD symptoms, but the effect was modest and could not prove cause. Many experts suggest fitting screen rules to your own child, watching sleep and mood.

Can a video game or brain-training app treat ADHD?

One prescription game, EndeavorRx, is FDA-authorized and improved scores on a computer attention test in trials, but changes in everyday behavior were less clear, and it is meant as an add-on. Broader reviews of brain-training find gains mostly on the trained tasks rather than in daily ADHD symptoms.

How can I help a disorganized, forgetful child build executive function skills?

Executive skills grow with practice and support: routines, visual schedules, breaking tasks into steps, and games that exercise memory and self-control. Harvard's free activities guide and the Smart but Scattered approach are practical places to start; AI task-breakdown tools can help older kids, but have little research behind them.

Will an AAC device or app stop my child from learning to talk?

Speech-language professionals and AAC users report the opposite worry is unfounded: AAC gives a child a way to communicate now and generally supports, rather than replaces, spoken language. Free options like Cboard let families try it while waiting for an evaluation.

Can AI help autistic kids with social skills?

Early research is promising but thin. A Stanford trial of AI emotion-coaching glasses found improvement on one of four measures, and researchers have proposed chatbots as practice partners, but few studies have tested chatbots with children. Treat these as experiments, and listen to what autistic adults say about the goals of social-skills training.

My child is late to talk or struggles with language but has no other diagnosis. What could it be?

One common possibility is developmental language disorder (DLD), which affects about 1 in 14 children and often goes unnamed. A speech-language pathologist can evaluate it; early therapy helps, and DLD raises the risk of later reading problems, so it is worth checking.

What is dyscalculia and how do I help with math at home?

Dyscalculia is a lifelong difficulty with number sense, thought to be about as common as dyslexia but much less recognized. Hands-on materials, extra time, calculators as accommodations and easing math anxiety help; targeted practice on quantity sense is the focus of research.

Can a child be gifted and also have a learning disability?

Yes. Twice-exceptional (2e) children have both, and their strengths can hide their struggles, or the reverse, so they are often missed. Gifted and 2e organizations offer guides on testing, school options and emotional support.

What is the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan, and who can help me?

An IEP provides special education services and specially designed instruction; a 504 plan gives accommodations such as extra time or audiobooks without changing what is taught. Every US state has free, federally funded parent centers that help families through the process.

How should schools and app makers use AI for kids with learning differences?

Groups like CAST argue AI tools should be designed from the start with disabled learners, following Universal Design for Learning, with teachers kept in charge. Reports note real benefits (read-aloud, task breakdown, IEP drafting help) alongside risks of bias, privacy problems and inaccessible design.

The Big Index

Learning differences

Dyslexia, ADHD, autism, giftedness and the assistive tech, AI included, that opens doors.

100 entries
74 free
12 must-reads ★

Questions parents ask

What are the early signs of dyslexia, and when can it be spotted?
Signs often show up before reading starts: trouble rhyming, hearing single sounds in words, or quickly naming familiar things, plus a family history of reading trouble. Screeners can flag risk in kindergarten, and a full evaluation by a qualified professional is what confirms it.
- Is Your Child Having Trouble Reading? Warning Signs and a Checklist (National Center on Improving Literacy)
- What is Dyslexia? (Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity)
- UCSF Multitudes (UCSF Dyslexia Center)
- What is dyslexia? (Julie Rawe, Understood)
More in Learning differences
What kind of reading teaching works best for a child with dyslexia?
The strongest evidence supports explicit, systematic teaching of sounds and letter patterns with lots of practice (often called structured literacy). Branded programs such as Orton-Gillingham follow this idea, but a 2021 meta-analysis did not find they beat other well-structured reading help, so ask what is taught and how progress is measured rather than relying on the brand.
- How to Teach Kids With Dyslexia to Read (Caroline Miller, Child Mind Institute)
- Current State of the Evidence: Examining the Effects of Orton-Gillingham Reading Interventions for Students With or at Risk for Word-Level Reading Disabilities (Stevens et al., Exceptional Children)
- What is Orton-Gillingham? (Peg Rosen, Understood)
- A dyslexia primer (Joanne Meier, Reading Rockets)
More in Learning differences
Is listening to audiobooks or text-to-speech cheating, or will it stop my child from learning to read?
Research finds read-aloud tools give a modest boost to comprehension for students with reading disabilities, because they let kids reach grade-level ideas and vocabulary. They do not teach decoding on their own, so most experts suggest using them alongside reading instruction, not instead of it.
- Does Use of Text-to-Speech and Related Read-Aloud Tools Improve Reading Comprehension for Students With Reading Disabilities? A Meta-Analysis (Wood, Moxley, Tighe & Wagner, Journal of Learning Disabilities)
- Assistive technology for reading (Andrew M.I. Lee, Understood)
- Learning Ally (Learning Ally (nonprofit))
- Bookshare (Benetech)
More in Learning differences
Which free tools can read text aloud or type what my child says?
Many are already built in: Microsoft Immersive Reader, Apple's accessibility features, and Google Docs voice typing are free, and Bookshare and the Library of Congress's NLS offer free accessible books to qualifying US readers. Paid apps like Speechify or Read&Write add convenience but are not required to start.
- Microsoft Learning Tools and Immersive Reader (Microsoft)
- Apple Accessibility (Apple)
- Type & edit with your voice (Google Docs voice typing) (Google)
- National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (Library of Congress)
- Bookshare (Benetech)
More in Learning differences
Do special dyslexia fonts or colored overlays help?
Studies of dyslexia fonts have generally not found faster or more accurate reading, though some children simply prefer them, which is fine. Spacing, larger text and read-aloud tools tend to be more useful than a special typeface.
- The effect of a specialized dyslexia font, OpenDyslexic, on reading rate and accuracy (Wery & Diliberto, Annals of Dyslexia)
- Assistive technology for reading (Andrew M.I. Lee, Understood)
Do screens or video games cause ADHD?
There is no good evidence that screens cause ADHD. One large study of teens found heavy digital media use was linked to a slightly higher chance of later ADHD symptoms, but the effect was modest and could not prove cause. Many experts suggest fitting screen rules to your own child, watching sleep and mood.
- Association of Digital Media Use With Subsequent Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among Adolescents (Ra et al., JAMA)
- Neurodivergent Kids and Screen Time (Katherine Martinelli, Child Mind Institute)
- Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Can a video game or brain-training app treat ADHD?
One prescription game, EndeavorRx, is FDA-authorized and improved scores on a computer attention test in trials, but changes in everyday behavior were less clear, and it is meant as an add-on. Broader reviews of brain-training find gains mostly on the trained tasks rather than in daily ADHD symptoms.
- EndeavorRx (EndeavorRx (originally Akili))
- Cognitive Training for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Meta-Analysis of Clinical and Neuropsychological Outcomes From Randomized Controlled Trials (Cortese et al., J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry)
- Parenting a Child with ADHD (CHADD)
How can I help a disorganized, forgetful child build executive function skills?
Executive skills grow with practice and support: routines, visual schedules, breaking tasks into steps, and games that exercise memory and self-control. Harvard's free activities guide and the Smart but Scattered approach are practical places to start; AI task-breakdown tools can help older kids, but have little research behind them.
- Activities Guide: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to Adolescence (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University)
- What is executive function? (Gail Belsky, Understood (reviewed by Philip D. Zelazo))
- Smart but Scattered Kids (Peg Dawson & Richard Guare)
- Goblin Tools (Goblin Tools)
Will an AAC device or app stop my child from learning to talk?
Speech-language professionals and AAC users report the opposite worry is unfounded: AAC gives a child a way to communicate now and generally supports, rather than replaces, spoken language. Free options like Cboard let families try it while waiting for an evaluation.
- Growing Up with AAC (Tracy Rackensperger, ASHA)
- PrAACtical AAC (Carole Zangari & Robin Parker)
- Proloquo2Go (AssistiveWare)
- Cboard (Cboard (open source))
Can AI help autistic kids with social skills?
Early research is promising but thin. A Stanford trial of AI emotion-coaching glasses found improvement on one of four measures, and researchers have proposed chatbots as practice partners, but few studies have tested chatbots with children. Treat these as experiments, and listen to what autistic adults say about the goals of social-skills training.
- Effect of Wearable Digital Intervention for Improving Socialization in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Voss et al., Stanford, JAMA Pediatrics)
- Social Skill Training with Large Language Models (Yang et al., Stanford (arXiv preprint))
- NeuroClastic (NeuroClastic (autistic-run nonprofit))
My child is late to talk or struggles with language but has no other diagnosis. What could it be?
One common possibility is developmental language disorder (DLD), which affects about 1 in 14 children and often goes unnamed. A speech-language pathologist can evaluate it; early therapy helps, and DLD raises the risk of later reading problems, so it is worth checking.
- Developmental Language Disorder (NIDCD, National Institutes of Health)
- RADLD: Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder (RADLD)
- Communication Milestones: Age Ranges (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)
- ASHA ProFind (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)
What is dyscalculia and how do I help with math at home?
Dyscalculia is a lifelong difficulty with number sense, thought to be about as common as dyslexia but much less recognized. Hands-on materials, extra time, calculators as accommodations and easing math anxiety help; targeted practice on quantity sense is the focus of research.
- What is dyscalculia? (Gail Belsky, Understood)
- How to Help Kids With Dyscalculia (Rae Jacobson, Child Mind Institute)
- Dyscalculia: From Brain to Education (Butterworth, Varma & Laurillard, Science)
- The Dyscalculia Network (The Dyscalculia Network C.I.C. (UK))
Can a child be gifted and also have a learning disability?
Yes. Twice-exceptional (2e) children have both, and their strengths can hide their struggles, or the reverse, so they are often missed. Gifted and 2e organizations offer guides on testing, school options and emotional support.
- Bridges 2e Center (Bridges Education Group)
- SENG: Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG)
- Is My Child Gifted? (Davidson Institute)
- Tilt Parenting (Debbie Reber)
What is the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan, and who can help me?
An IEP provides special education services and specially designed instruction; a 504 plan gives accommodations such as extra time or audiobooks without changing what is taught. Every US state has free, federally funded parent centers that help families through the process.
- What Is an IEP? (Understood)
- What Is a 504 Plan? (Understood)
- Find Your Parent Center (Center for Parent Information and Resources (US Dept. of Education funded))
- Wrightslaw (Pete & Pam Wright)
How should schools and app makers use AI for kids with learning differences?
Groups like CAST argue AI tools should be designed from the start with disabled learners, following Universal Design for Learning, with teachers kept in charge. Reports note real benefits (read-aloud, task breakdown, IEP drafting help) alongside risks of bias, privacy problems and inaccessible design.
- AI & Accessibility in Education (2024 Blaschke Report) (Fernanda Perez Perez, CoSN & CAST)
- Artificial Intelligence & UDL (CAST)
- 5 Ways AI & UDL Work Better Together (CAST)
- CAST Universal Design for Learning Guidelines 3.0 (CAST)

Must-reads

BookPaid
Overcoming Dyslexia (Second Edition, Completely Revised and Updated)
Sally Shaywitz & Jonathan Shaywitz, 2020
The standard parent book on dyslexia from Yale researchers. The 2020 update adds chapters on science-based diagnosis, universal screening, anxiety and ADHD alongside dyslexia, plus practical help on school choice, accommodations and college.
dyslexia.yale.edu
OrganizationFree
Made By Dyslexia
Made By Dyslexia (charity, founded by Kate Griggs)
A global charity focused on the strengths side of dyslexia, which it calls Dyslexic Thinking. Offers free parent and teacher pages, a short film, free courses with Microsoft and the Open University, and an annual workplace report.
madebydyslexia.org
GuideFree
How to Teach Kids With Dyslexia to Read
Caroline Miller, Child Mind Institute
Explains why children with dyslexia do best with explicit, step-by-step teaching of letter-sound patterns and lots of practice, and why methods that teach guessing from pictures or context tend to backfire.
childmind.org
GuideFree
Parenting a Child with ADHD
CHADD
From the main US ADHD nonprofit: ADHD is largely inherited, not caused by parenting. Covers early help, parent behavior training, school advocacy and building a child's confidence. CHADD also runs local support groups.
chadd.org
GuideFree
Activities Guide: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to Adolescence
Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, 2014
A free 16-page guide of games and activities by age, from peekaboo to strategy games, that give kids practice with memory, focus and self-control. Easy to use at home without buying anything.
developingchild.harvard.edu
StudyFree
Effect of Wearable Digital Intervention for Improving Socialization in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Voss et al., Stanford, JAMA Pediatrics, 2019
A trial of Superpower Glass, an AI app on smart glasses that names emotions on faces during play. Kids aged 6-12 improved on one socialization measure, not on three others. A rare real trial of AI social coaching, with mixed results.
jamanetwork.com
GuideFree
Developmental Language Disorder
NIDCD, National Institutes of Health, 2022
DLD affects about 1 in 14 kindergartners yet few parents have heard of it. NIH explains signs (late talking that persists, trouble with grammar and following directions), diagnosis, treatment and its link to reading problems.
nidcd.nih.gov
Meta-analysisPaid
Does Use of Text-to-Speech and Related Read-Aloud Tools Improve Reading Comprehension for Students With Reading Disabilities? A Meta-Analysis
Wood, Moxley, Tighe & Wagner, Journal of Learning Disabilities, 2018
Pooled studies found that read-aloud and text-to-speech tools gave a small-to-moderate boost to reading comprehension for students with reading disabilities. Supports using listening tools for access while still teaching decoding. Paywalled.
doi.org
ReportFree
AI & Accessibility in Education (2024 Blaschke Report)
Fernanda Perez Perez, CoSN & CAST, 2024
A school-technology report on how AI can help students with disabilities (assistive tools, IEP support, lighter teacher workloads) and the risks: bias, privacy and inaccessible products. Ends with a roadmap schools can follow.
cosn.org
GuideFree
CAST Universal Design for Learning Guidelines 3.0
CAST, 2024
The framework schools use to design lessons that work for every kind of learner: several ways to engage, to take in information and to show what you know. Version 3.0 adds more focus on identity and belonging.
udlguidelines.cast.org
ToolFree
Find Your Parent Center
Center for Parent Information and Resources (US Dept. of Education funded)
A map of nearly 100 federally funded Parent Training and Information Centers that help families of children with disabilities free of charge, including coaching for IEP meetings. Every US state has at least one.
parentcenterhub.org
PodcastFree
In It
Gretchen Vierstra & Rachel Bozek, Understood
A podcast about raising kids who learn and think differently, with over 100 episodes on reading, math, focus, school meetings and feelings. Mixes expert advice with parent and kid voices; a great commute companion.
understood.org

All 100

Dyslexia

What is Dyslexia?Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity · Guide · FreeYale's plain explainer: dyslexia is an unexpected reading difficulty in a bright person, rooted in linking letters to sounds. It is common and lifelong, and the right supports and accommodations make a real difference.
★Overcoming Dyslexia (Second Edition, Completely Revised and Updated)Sally Shaywitz & Jonathan Shaywitz · 2020 · Book · PaidThe standard parent book on dyslexia from Yale researchers. The 2020 update adds chapters on science-based diagnosis, universal screening, anxiety and ADHD alongside dyslexia, plus practical help on school choice, accommodations and college.
YCDC Guide to Talking About DyslexiaYale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity · 2017 · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8A short printable guide on how to talk with a child about a dyslexia diagnosis: naming it plainly, separating reading from intelligence, and pointing to strengths. Useful the week after an evaluation comes back.
★Made By DyslexiaMade By Dyslexia (charity, founded by Kate Griggs) · Organization · FreeA global charity focused on the strengths side of dyslexia, which it calls Dyslexic Thinking. Offers free parent and teacher pages, a short film, free courses with Microsoft and the Open University, and an annual workplace report.
Dyslexia training (Made By Dyslexia and Microsoft)Microsoft Learn & Made By Dyslexia · Course · FreeFree self-paced online modules on spotting and supporting dyslexia. The awareness part is aimed at parents and teachers; later parts cover reading, spelling, memory, organization, math and helpful technology. Note it is co-branded by a software company.
Empowering dyslexic learners for a brighter future all roundThe Open University · 2025 · Article · FreeAnnouncement of a free one-hour Made By Dyslexia course on OpenLearn Create, Empowering Dyslexic Thinking in Schools, aimed at school staff and parents. A quick way to find a short, no-cost introduction.
Decoding DyslexiaDecoding Dyslexia (parent network) · 2011 · Community · FreeA grassroots network of state parent groups, started in New Jersey in 2011, that pushes for teacher training, early screening and better reading help in public schools. Good for finding local parents who have been through it.
Parent-Driven Group Wields Influence on Dyslexia ConcernsEducation Week · 2015 · Article · Some freeReporting on how Decoding Dyslexia parents changed state laws on dyslexia screening and teacher training. Useful background on why your state may now screen young children. May be paywalled.
What is dyslexia?Julie Rawe, Understood · 2019 · Guide · FreeA clear, regularly updated overview: dyslexia is a lifelong difference in processing language, not a vision problem. Covers signs, how it is diagnosed, structured teaching approaches and accommodations at school.
★How to Teach Kids With Dyslexia to ReadCaroline Miller, Child Mind Institute · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8Explains why children with dyslexia do best with explicit, step-by-step teaching of letter-sound patterns and lots of practice, and why methods that teach guessing from pictures or context tend to backfire.
What is Orton-Gillingham?Peg Rosen, Understood · 2019 · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8A parent-friendly description of Orton-Gillingham, the structured, multisensory approach many dyslexia tutors use. Helps you understand what a tutor or school program is offering before you sign up.
Current State of the Evidence: Examining the Effects of Orton-Gillingham Reading Interventions for Students With or at Risk for Word-Level Reading DisabilitiesStevens et al., Exceptional Children · 2021 · Meta-analysis · Paid · Ages 5–8A meta-analysis finding that Orton-Gillingham programs did not show reliably larger gains than other reading help, partly because few good studies exist. It does not say explicit phonics fails; it says the brand name is not proof. Paywalled.
A dyslexia primerJoanne Meier, Reading Rockets · Blog · FreeA Reading Rockets post summarizing a Florida Center for Reading Research report on what dyslexia is, which instruction helps most, and how to help older students who are still behind. A friendly entry to a deep site.
Parent Engagement Webinar Series: Children with Learning DisabilitiesReading Rockets · Video · FreeRecorded webinars for parents of kids with learning disabilities, with tip sheets such as common signs of dyslexia. Good for parents who prefer listening to an expert walk through the basics.
Dyslexia Fact SheetsInternational Dyslexia Association (Southern California branch) · Guide · FreeIndex of the International Dyslexia Association's free fact sheets on dyslexia, assessment, structured literacy, accommodations and more, in English and Spanish. The national IDA site blocks automated readers, so this branch page is an easy door in.
National Center on Improving LiteracyNCIL (Boston University, Florida State, RMC Research; US Dept. of Education funded) · Organization · FreeA federally funded hub of plain-language briefs on dyslexia, screening and helping at home, many in Spanish. Includes a site tracking each state's dyslexia laws. A reliable, non-commercial place to start.
Is Your Child Having Trouble Reading? Warning Signs and a ChecklistNational Center on Improving Literacy · 2017 · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8A checklist of early warning signs: trouble with rhymes and single sounds, slow naming of familiar things, word-by-word reading, poor spelling. Explains how to raise concerns with the school and why family history matters.
UCSF MultitudesUCSF Dyslexia Center · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8A free, research-built digital screener from UCSF that flags young children who may be at risk for reading difficulties such as dyslexia, built for California schools in English and Spanish. Ask your school whether it uses it or a similar screener.
Child - British Dyslexia AssociationBritish Dyslexia Association · Guide · FreeThe UK charity's parent hub: is my child dyslexic, working with school, how to help at home, and a free downloadable parent guide. Some legal details are UK-specific, but the practical advice travels well.
What is dyslexia?Kelli Sandman-Hurley, TED-Ed · 2013 · Video · Free · Ages 8–12A short animated lesson that explains dyslexia in kid-friendly terms. Good to watch together with a child who has just been told they are dyslexic, then talk about it.

AI & assistive tech

The effect of a specialized dyslexia font, OpenDyslexic, on reading rate and accuracyWery & Diliberto, Annals of Dyslexia · 2017 · Study · Paid · Ages 8–12A small study that found a popular dyslexia font did not improve reading speed or accuracy for students with dyslexia. A useful reality check before paying for special fonts; readers can still use one they like. Paywalled.
Goblin ToolsGoblin Tools · Tool · Free + paid · TeensA set of small AI helpers popular with neurodivergent people: Magic ToDo breaks a big task into steps, Estimator guesses how long things take, Judge reads the tone of a message. Free on the web, sponsor-supported. Best used with a parent for kids.
TiimoTiimo · App · Free + paid · TeensA visual planner built with ADHD and autism in mind: picture schedules, timers and to-do lists, with paid AI that breaks a brain dump into timed steps. No independent outcome studies; judge it by whether routines get easier.
Social Skill Training with Large Language ModelsYang et al., Stanford (arXiv preprint) · 2024 · Review · FreeA perspective paper proposing chatbots as both practice partner and feedback coach for social skills like handling conflict. Explains the promise and risks of AI social coaching; it is a proposal, not a test with children.
Project RelateGoogle Research · 2021 · App · FreeAn Android beta app that learns to understand one person's atypical speech, then captions it or repeats it in a clear voice. A good example of personalized speech AI; it is not taking new users right now.
Assistive technology for readingAndrew M.I. Lee, Understood · 2019 · Guide · FreeA tour of reading tools: text-to-speech, audiobooks, scanning text from paper, graphic organizers and display settings. Notes honestly that the tools give access to content but do not by themselves teach reading.
★Does Use of Text-to-Speech and Related Read-Aloud Tools Improve Reading Comprehension for Students With Reading Disabilities? A Meta-AnalysisWood, Moxley, Tighe & Wagner, Journal of Learning Disabilities · 2018 · Meta-analysis · PaidPooled studies found that read-aloud and text-to-speech tools gave a small-to-moderate boost to reading comprehension for students with reading disabilities. Supports using listening tools for access while still teaching decoding. Paywalled.
Learning AllyLearning Ally (nonprofit) · App · Some freeA nonprofit library of over 80,000 human-read audiobooks with highlighted text for students with dyslexia or vision loss, often free through schools, with paid family memberships. Also offers a free dyslexia screener. Efficacy claims on its site are not well sourced.
BookshareBenetech · App · FreeAn accessible ebook library of over a million titles with read-aloud and word highlighting for people with qualifying print disabilities, including dyslexia. Funded by the US Department of Education, so US students usually join free.
National Library Service for the Blind and Print DisabledLibrary of Congress · Organization · FreeThe Library of Congress's free audiobook and braille service, which now includes people with reading disabilities. Books arrive by app or mail at no cost. Many families with dyslexic kids never hear it exists.
Microsoft Learning Tools and Immersive ReaderMicrosoft · Tool · FreeImmersive Reader is a free reader view built into Word, Edge, Teams and Minecraft Education that reads text aloud, splits syllables, highlights parts of speech and adjusts spacing. Easy to try with any school Microsoft account.
Read&WriteEverway (formerly Texthelp) · Tool · Free + paidA widely used school literacy toolbar: text-to-speech, read-from-screenshot, dictation, word prediction and highlighting, on Chromebook, Windows, Mac and iPad. Free for individual K-12 teachers; students usually get it through a district license.
SpeechifySpeechify (founded by Cliff Weitzman) · App · Free + paid · TeensA popular text-to-speech and dictation app started by a dyslexic founder. Reads web pages, PDFs and photographed pages aloud in natural voices and now adds AI summaries. The free tier is limited; premium is pricey.
NaturalReaderNaturalSoft · App · Free + paidText-to-speech for documents, PDFs and web pages with a free plan, school licenses, a dyslexia-friendly font option and a phone camera scanner for paper books. A lower-cost alternative to Speechify.
Type & edit with your voice (Google Docs voice typing)Google · Guide · FreeHow to turn on free voice typing in Google Docs, with spoken punctuation and editing commands. For kids whose ideas outrun their spelling or handwriting, dictation can let them show what they know.
Apple AccessibilityApple · Tool · FreeBuilt-in iPhone, iPad and Mac features that help struggling readers and writers: an Accessibility Reader with read-aloud and custom fonts and spacing, Voice Control dictation, and more. Free on devices many families already own.
★AI & Accessibility in Education (2024 Blaschke Report)Fernanda Perez Perez, CoSN & CAST · 2024 · Report · FreeA school-technology report on how AI can help students with disabilities (assistive tools, IEP support, lighter teacher workloads) and the risks: bias, privacy and inaccessible products. Ends with a roadmap schools can follow.
CAST partners with Stanford University Learning Accelerator on AI + Learning Differences EventCAST · 2024 · Article · FreeShort report on a Stanford symposium and hackathon where researchers, teachers, parents and learners built AI prototypes for learning differences. A sign of where research attention is heading; no outcomes yet.

Families & stories

Fish in a TreeLynda Mullaly Hunt · 2015 · Novel · Paid · Ages 8–12A middle-grade novel about Ally, who hides her dyslexia by acting out until a teacher sees her creativity. Widely read in classrooms; helps kids with and without dyslexia talk about labels, shame and strengths.
Taare Zameen Par (Like Stars on Earth)Aamir Khan (director) · 2007 · Film or show · Some freeA Hindi family film about an eight-year-old who is punished for failing school until an art teacher recognizes his dyslexia. Emotional and widely loved; a good movie-night opener for talking about learning differences.
Percy Jackson and the OlympiansRick Riordan · 2005 · Novel · Paid · Ages 8–12The bestselling fantasy series whose hero has ADHD and dyslexia, recast as signs of being a demigod. Riordan wrote it for his own son. Many kids with learning differences say it was the first book that felt like it was about them.
ADHD Aha!Laura Key, Understood · Podcast · FreeShort episodes where guests describe the moment they realized they or their child had ADHD. Warm, honest and often funny; good for parents who are newly wondering, or who are recognizing themselves.
What is neurodiversity?Sukhman Rekhi, Understood · 2019 · Guide · FreeExplains the neurodiversity idea: brain differences like autism, ADHD and dyslexia are natural variation, and settings should adapt too. Clear and short; good for grandparents and teachers as well as parents.
Tilt ParentingDebbie Reber · 2016 · Podcast · FreeA long-running podcast and community for parents of differently wired kids: ADHD, autism, giftedness, 2e and more. Interviews with researchers and parents. Reber also wrote the book Differently Wired.
Smart Kids with Learning DisabilitiesSmart Kids with LD (nonprofit) · Organization · FreeA parent-run nonprofit with first-step guides, articles on executive function and dyslexia, free webinars and parent support groups. Warm and practical, written for parents rather than professionals.
The Neurodiversity Alliance (home of Eye to Eye Mentoring)The Neurodiversity Alliance · Organization · Free · TeensA student-founded nonprofit running free clubs, scholarships, internships and the Eye to Eye mentoring program for high school and college students who learn differently. The old Eye to Eye site now points here.
★In ItGretchen Vierstra & Rachel Bozek, Understood · Podcast · FreeA podcast about raising kids who learn and think differently, with over 100 episodes on reading, math, focus, school meetings and feelings. Mixes expert advice with parent and kid voices; a great commute companion.
Everyone Gets a Juice Box: For Parents of Neurodivergent KidsJessica Shaw, Understood · 2025 · Podcast · FreeA newer, lighter podcast where parents of neurodivergent kids vent, laugh and share wins with journalist and mom Jessica Shaw. Less instruction, more company.

ADHD & executive function

★Parenting a Child with ADHDCHADD · Guide · FreeFrom the main US ADHD nonprofit: ADHD is largely inherited, not caused by parenting. Covers early help, parent behavior training, school advocacy and building a child's confidence. CHADD also runs local support groups.
About ADHD - OverviewCHADD · Guide · FreeCHADD's overview of ADHD as a brain-based condition affecting attention, impulsivity and activity level that often continues into adulthood. A sober starting point before you read anything else.
ADDitudeADDitude magazine · 1998 · Article · FreeA long-running ADHD magazine and site with parenting, school and treatment articles, free expert webinars and symptom checklists. Huge and practical; quality varies by piece, and it is ad-supported, so check claims against clinical sources.
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Guide · FreeThe CDC hub on ADHD basics, diagnosis and treatment. Notes that recommendations vary by age; for young children, parent training in behavior management is usually recommended first. Includes classroom tips for teachers.
What is ADHD?Understood (reviewed by Thomas E. Brown) · 2019 · Guide · FreeA plain explainer of ADHD as a common brain-based difference in focus, impulse control and self-management, with how it is diagnosed and treated. Written for parents who are just starting to wonder.
ADHD Resources for Parents & TeachersChild Mind Institute · Guide · FreeA clinician-reviewed hub covering diagnosis, classroom help, ADHD in girls, parenting strategies, and medication and behavioral treatments. Balanced and well sourced.
Association of Digital Media Use With Subsequent Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among AdolescentsRa et al., JAMA · 2018 · Study · Free · TeensFollowed Los Angeles teens for two years: those using many digital media activities very often were slightly more likely to develop ADHD symptoms later. The authors call it a modest link and say it does not prove screens cause ADHD.
EndeavorRxEndeavorRx (originally Akili) · 2020 · App · Paid · Ages 8–12A prescription video game authorized by the FDA in 2020 to improve attention on a computer test for kids 8-17 with ADHD. Trials showed gains on that test, less clear change in daily behavior. Meant as an add-on, not a replacement.
Cognitive Training for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Meta-Analysis of Clinical and Neuropsychological Outcomes From Randomized Controlled TrialsCortese et al., J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry · 2015 · Meta-analysis · PaidPooled trials of brain-training programs for ADHD. Gains showed up mainly on trained tasks and in ratings by people who knew the child was trained, with little effect on blinded ADHD symptoms. A caution about brain-game marketing. Paywalled.
What is executive function?Gail Belsky, Understood (reviewed by Philip D. Zelazo) · 2019 · Guide · FreeExplains executive function as holding information in mind, switching between ideas and controlling impulses, and how weak spots show up in homework, mornings and friendships. Practical starting point for any kid who seems disorganized.
★Activities Guide: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to AdolescenceCenter on the Developing Child, Harvard University · 2014 · Guide · FreeA free 16-page guide of games and activities by age, from peekaboo to strategy games, that give kids practice with memory, focus and self-control. Easy to use at home without buying anything.
Smart but Scattered KidsPeg Dawson & Richard Guare · Book · Some freeHome of the Smart but Scattered books by two psychologists, with a practical method for spotting a child's weaker executive skills and coaching them. Some tools on the site are free; the books are paid.
Books by Ned (Driven to Distraction, ADHD 2.0)Edward Hallowell & John Ratey · 1994 · Book · PaidDriven to Distraction (1994, since updated) helped make ADHD understandable to families; ADHD 2.0 updates it with newer science and a strengths focus. Written by psychiatrists who have ADHD themselves. Hallowell also runs clinics, so expect some promotion.
How to ADHDJessica McCabe · Video · Free · TeensA popular YouTube channel and bestselling book by a woman with ADHD, full of short, upbeat videos on strategies for school, home and work. Great for teens and parents; it is personal experience plus research, not clinical advice.
Lives in the BalanceRoss Greene (founding director) · Organization · FreeNonprofit behind Collaborative & Proactive Solutions, the approach in Ross Greene's book The Explosive Child: solve problems with the child instead of punishing them. Many free videos and guides for parents of kids with big reactions.
Neurodivergent Kids and Screen TimeKatherine Martinelli, Child Mind Institute · 2026 · Article · FreeA balanced look at screens for kids with ADHD or autism: they can help with calming, connection and skills, but carry risks for sleep, focus and online harm. Suggests fitting limits to your own child, not a fixed number of hours.

Autism & AAC

Autism ResourcesChild Mind Institute · Guide · FreeA clinician-reviewed hub on autism diagnosis, therapies, communication, sensory needs, school supports and friendship. A solid clinical counterpart to autistic-led sources.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Guide · FreeThe CDC's hub on signs, screening, treatment and prevalence data for autism. Useful for official numbers and early signs; it uses clinical language rather than identity-first terms many autistic adults prefer.
NeuroClasticNeuroClastic (autistic-run nonprofit) · Blog · FreeA volunteer-run, ad-free site of articles by autistic writers on communication, therapy choices, identity and school. Hearing directly from autistic adults helps parents see what their child may be experiencing. Some pieces are strongly opinionated.
Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)AWN · Organization · FreeA nonprofit centering autistic girls, women and nonbinary people, whose autism is often missed. Publishes resources and webinars with a disability-justice lens. Helpful if your daughter does not match the textbook picture.
Proloquo2GoAssistiveWare · App · PaidA leading symbol-based AAC app for iPad and iPhone that lets nonspeaking or minimally speaking children talk using pictures and synthetic voices. Highly customizable; about $300 in the US, often funded through school or insurance.
CboardCboard (open source) · App · FreeA free, open-source picture board app that speaks for people with speech and language difficulties. Runs in any browser and on phones and tablets, so families can try AAC at no cost while waiting for an evaluation.
Growing Up with AACTracy Rackensperger, ASHA · Article · FreeA first-person account from a woman with cerebral palsy who has used communication devices all her life and built a career. Reassures parents that AAC supports, rather than blocks, a child's own speech and future.
PrAACtical AACCarole Zangari & Robin Parker · 2011 · Blog · FreeA long-running blog by two speech-language professors with practical ideas, videos and core-word activities for using AAC at home and school. Free and practical for parents learning alongside their child.
★Effect of Wearable Digital Intervention for Improving Socialization in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Clinical TrialVoss et al., Stanford, JAMA Pediatrics · 2019 · Study · Free · Ages 5–8A trial of Superpower Glass, an AI app on smart glasses that names emotions on faces during play. Kids aged 6-12 improved on one socialization measure, not on three others. A rare real trial of AI social coaching, with mixed results.
Uniquely Human (updated and expanded edition)Barry M. Prizant · 2022 · Book · PaidA respected speech-language pathologist argues that autistic behaviors make sense as ways of coping, and that understanding beats trying to stop them. Gentle and practical; there is also a companion podcast.

Dyscalculia & math

What is dyscalculia?Gail Belsky, Understood · 2019 · Guide · FreeExplains dyscalculia as a lifelong difficulty with number sense, not laziness or low intelligence, and how teaching methods, tools and accommodations help. A good first read if math tears happen every night.
How to Help Kids With DyscalculiaRae Jacobson, Child Mind Institute · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8Practical strategies: hands-on objects, extra time and calculators as accommodations, plus ways to ease math anxiety and protect self-esteem. Short and actionable.
Dyscalculia: From Brain to EducationButterworth, Varma & Laurillard, Science · 2011 · Review · PaidA widely cited review by leading dyscalculia researcher Brian Butterworth: a core weakness in sensing quantities, roughly as common as dyslexia but far less known, and how targeted practice, including adaptive games, may help. Paywalled.
The Dyscalculia NetworkThe Dyscalculia Network C.I.C. (UK) · Organization · Some freeA UK community group with plain guides on dyscalculia and math anxiety for parents and teachers, a tutor and assessor finder, and conference recordings. One of few organizations devoted only to math learning differences.

Speech & language

Communication Milestones: Age RangesAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5ASHA's guide to typical speech and language skills from birth to age five, by age band. Not a diagnostic test, but a clear signal for when to ask a speech-language pathologist.
Learning DisabilitiesAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association · Guide · FreeExplains how reading and writing struggles often grow from spoken-language weaknesses, and how speech-language pathologists test and treat them. Helps parents see why an SLP may belong on a dyslexia team.
ASHA ProFindAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association · Tool · FreeA searchable directory of certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists who accept referrals. The simplest way to find a qualified evaluator near you.
★Developmental Language DisorderNIDCD, National Institutes of Health · 2022 · Guide · FreeDLD affects about 1 in 14 kindergartners yet few parents have heard of it. NIH explains signs (late talking that persists, trouble with grammar and following directions), diagnosis, treatment and its link to reading problems.
RADLD: Raising Awareness of Developmental Language DisorderRADLD · Organization · FreeAn international campaign of researchers, clinicians and families with free fact sheets, short videos, school strategies and open-access research on DLD. Runs DLD Awareness Day each October.
DLD and MeDLD and Me (volunteer organization) · Community · FreeVolunteer-run site with topic guides for families after a DLD diagnosis: school support, help at home, big emotions, plus short evidence summaries and video stories from people living with DLD.
Phase 2 of CATALISE: a multinational and multidisciplinary Delphi consensus study of problems with language development: TerminologyBishop et al., Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · 2017 · Study · Some freeThe expert consensus that settled on the name Developmental Language Disorder and how to identify it. Explains why your child's report may say DLD rather than older labels. Technical; journal access varies.

Giftedness & 2e

Davidson InstituteDavidson Institute · 1999 · Organization · FreeA nonprofit for profoundly gifted kids ages 5-18 with free guides on testing, school options and social-emotional needs, a free Young Scholars program, and a newsletter for families of gifted and twice-exceptional children.
Is My Child Gifted?Davidson Institute · Guide · FreeA practical guide to common signs of giftedness, when testing is most reliable, how to pick a tester, and why rules differ by district since there is no federal gifted mandate.
SENG: Supporting Emotional Needs of the GiftedSENG · 1981 · Organization · Some freeA nonprofit focused on the emotional side of giftedness and twice-exceptionality, with a directory of mental health providers who understand gifted kids, parent support groups and a library of articles.
Family Tip SheetsNational Association for Gifted Children · Guide · FreeShort free tip sheets from the main US gifted-education group on perfectionism, making friends, uneven development, acceleration, advocacy and talking with your child about being gifted. Also in Spanish.
Bridges 2e CenterBridges Education Group · Organization · Some freeA research and training center for twice-exceptional kids, who are gifted and also have a learning difference. Offers films, a speaker series and parent education. Run by a private school group, so some programs are paid.
Acceleration InstituteBelin-Blank Center, University of Iowa · Organization · FreeResearch and tools on academic acceleration, such as skipping a grade or subject, including the report A Nation Empowered. Research generally finds acceleration works well for carefully chosen students; useful when a school says no.

IEP, 504 & school

How to Get Assistive Technology for Your Child in SchoolGia Miller, Child Mind Institute · Guide · FreeWalks parents through requesting a school assistive technology evaluation: how evaluators observe and try tools, and how the team picks equipment and sets up training and check-ins.
What Is an IEP?Understood · Guide · FreeA plain guide to the Individualized Education Program: who qualifies, what goes in it, and how special education services are planned. The best first read before your first school meeting.
What Is a 504 Plan?Understood · Guide · FreeExplains 504 plans: accommodations like extra time or audiobooks that change how a child learns, not what they learn, and how they differ from an IEP. Useful for kids with ADHD or dyslexia who are keeping up with help.
WrightslawPete & Pam Wright · Organization · Some freeThe best-known US special-education law and advocacy site, with articles, case law and the book From Emotions to Advocacy. Dense, but the place parents go when school negotiations get hard.
★Find Your Parent CenterCenter for Parent Information and Resources (US Dept. of Education funded) · Tool · FreeA map of nearly 100 federally funded Parent Training and Information Centers that help families of children with disabilities free of charge, including coaching for IEP meetings. Every US state has at least one.
National Center for Learning DisabilitiesNCLD · Organization · FreeA US nonprofit doing research and policy work on learning disabilities, with state snapshots and data briefs, plus parent resources. Useful for seeing how kids with learning disabilities are doing in your state.

Universal Design for Learning

Artificial Intelligence & UDLCAST · Guide · FreeCAST, the group behind Universal Design for Learning, argues AI tools work best when built from the start for learners with disabilities and multilingual learners, not patched later. Links to its AI resources and research.
5 Ways AI & UDL Work Better TogetherCAST · 2025 · Guide · FreeA two-page brief: co-design AI tools with disabled learners, use the UDL Guidelines, keep teachers in the loop. Its survey found 70 percent of educators want to learn how AI can support students with disabilities.
★CAST Universal Design for Learning Guidelines 3.0CAST · 2024 · Guide · FreeThe framework schools use to design lessons that work for every kind of learner: several ways to engage, to take in information and to show what you know. Version 3.0 adds more focus on identity and belonging.