Parenting Dyslexia: A Comprehensive Guide to Helping Kids Develop Confidence, Combat Shame, and Achieve Their True Potential

by Lisa Rappaport, Jody Lyons

Overview

Licensed psychologist and authority on dyslexia (who is also dyslexic herself) Lisa Rappaport offers a practical guide to help parents and others support dyslexic learners—15 million kids in the US—throughout their school years.

Fifteen million children in the United States have been diagnosed with dyslexia. This learning disability is a major challenge not only for the kids, but also for their parents, families, teachers, tutors, and therapists. And yet, dyslexia doesn't have to be a disadvantage for kids—if the right tools are available. Parenting Dyslexia fills this critical need, providing prescriptive advice and concrete tips to drive educational and personal growth without any associated stigma. An easy-to-use, comprehensive reference book for anyone caring for a dyslexic child to use at all stages of development, Parenting Dyslexia effectively anticipates and addresses the psychosocial and academic issues that dyslexic learners are likely to face at different stages, including: 
 

• Cultivating varied skills to balance out classic deficits.
• Developing effective self-esteem and academic habits to help overcome age-specific hurdles. 
• Establishing individual and family practices to prevent a child's feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression.
• Survival tools to navigate the predictable challenges a dyslexic learner will likely encounter.
• Nurturing independence as well as a child’s ability to ask for help and become a strong self-advocate.

The book provides an accessible roadmap of how to:

• Move through the major hurdles of dyslexia.
• Reassure children that not only can they survive dyslexia, but they can thrive using sound psychosocial and academic practices. 
• Avoid typical pitfalls of a well-intentioned campaign to push a child to succeed that can lead to frustration and resistance.
• Unite family members to be part of the family “team” to supply special support for their dyslexic learner.
• Create an atmosphere of fun and humor to help everybody maintain perspective during stressful moments.

​Dr. Rappaport is not only an authority on the subject, but she also happens to be dyslexic herself. From her unique vantage point, she provides a relatable, sympathetic, and optimistic voice of personal experience to this sensitive topic. Grounded in science but written in non-technical language, Parenting Dyslexia offers a wealth of tried-and-true methods for supporting dyslexic learners of all ages.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780306834585
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	04/15/2025
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Lisa Rappaport, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Manhattan with a specialty in working with and diagnosing learning disabilities. She has extensive training and experience in treating adults and children with dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, and anxiety disorders. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Rappaport is also on the faculty at the Rose F. Kennedy Center Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She lives in Manhattan.

Jody Lyons, M.Ed, holds a Master of Education in Psychological Services, and a Master of Arts in Psychology from Teacher’s College at Columbia University. She has worked in drug and alcohol addiction recovery, as a volunteer for a variety of psychology-related projects, and as a coach for high school students with the non-profit Project for Student Advancement (PSA).
She lives in Carmel, California.