📘 Strengths and Challenges Overview (Accessible Book Version)

 

🔤 Dyslexia

Common Challenges

• Reading slowly

• Difficulty spelling

• Mixing up letters

• Trouble remembering written information

• Reading fatigue

Common Strengths

• Creative thinking

• Strong imagination

• Big-picture thinking

• Problem-solving skills

• Good verbal communication

• Thinking outside the box

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➕ Dyscalculia

Common Challenges

• Difficulty understanding numbers

• Trouble with times tables

• Difficulty telling time

• Struggles with money

• Maths anxiety

Common Strengths

• Creative skills

• Strong language skills

• Good discussion skills

• Strategic thinking

• Often strong in arts or practical work

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✍️ Dysgraphia

Common Challenges

• Messy handwriting

• Slow writing speed

• Difficulty organising thoughts on paper

• Trouble with spelling and punctuation

Common Strengths

• Strong verbal ideas

• Creative storytelling

• Good imagination

• Strong listening skills

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🧩 Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder)

Common Challenges

• Poor coordination

• Clumsiness

• Difficulty with fine motor skills

• Trouble with organisation

• Fatigue

Common Strengths

• Determination

• Creative problem-solving

• Empathy

• Resilience

• Strong verbal reasoning

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⚡ ADHD

Common Challenges

• Difficulty concentrating

• Impulsivity

• Restlessness

• Forgetfulness

• Emotional regulation difficulties

Common Strengths

• High energy

• Creativity

• Hyperfocus on interests

• Quick thinking

• Enthusiasm

• Risk-taking innovation

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🧠 Autism

Common Challenges

• Social communication differences

• Sensory sensitivities

• Need for routine

• Difficulty with change

• Anxiety

Common Strengths

• Attention to detail

• Honesty

• Strong memory

• Deep focus on interests

• Logical thinking

• Reliability

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📘 Learning Disability (Intellectual Disability)

Common Challenges

• Slower learning pace

• Difficulty with abstract thinking

• Needing support with daily living skills

• Communication difficulties

Common Strengths

• Kindness

• Loyalty

• Honesty

• Practical skills

• Routine reliability

• Strong community values

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💬 Mental Health Conditions (General)

Common Challenges

• Low mood

• Anxiety

• Low confidence

• Fatigue

• Concentration problems

Common Strengths

• Emotional awareness

• Empathy

• Creativity

• Resilience

• Deep understanding of others

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🌍 Important Section For Your Book

Everyone is different.
Not every person will have these strengths or challenges.
Support, understanding, and early help make a big difference.

A disability does not remove intelligence.
It does not remove potential.
It does not remove value.

Disability poem

 

Having a Learning Disability

This world can feel confusing and unexplained.

I used to think very negatively.
Now I am learning to think more positively.

Many people look at people with learning disabilities in a strange way.
If you look disabled, some people discriminate against you more.
If you don’t look disabled, people don’t understand why you struggle.

They may not realise that you have communication needs.
But they also have communication needs if they don’t understand you.

Lack of communication can make friendships and relationships hard to start — and even harder to keep.

There needs to be more education.
People with learning disabilities should not have to explain everything alone.
Mainstream society needs to understand us — including me, including all of us.

A learning disability could have happened to anyone.

We are human too.
Are you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Module: Understanding Dyslexia & Dyspraxia

 

Learning Goals

By the end of this module, learners will:

• Understand what dyslexia and dyspraxia are.

• Recognize the challenges faced by students with these conditions.

• Know basic support strategies for the classroom.

• Practice thinking about communication and inclusive teaching.

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Section 1: Introduction – Annie’s Classroom

Scenario:
Students are arriving in the classroom. Annie greets everyone and introduces the lesson.

Teacher Notes:

• Keep language simple and clear.

• Use visual aids for support.

• Encourage students to ask questions.

Text for Students:

• Hello! My name is Annie.

• I am your teacher for today.

• We will learn about different ways our brains work.

• Some students have dyslexia or dyspraxia.

• Everyone learns differently, and that’s okay.

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Section 2: Understanding Dyslexia

Definition:

• Dyslexia affects reading, writing, and spelling.

Challenges Students May Face:

• Mixing up letters or words

• Reading slowly

• Trouble with spelling

Strengths Students May Have:

• Creativity

• Good problem-solving ideas

Teacher Notes:

• Encourage students to share how they learn best.

• Use multisensory teaching: writing, drawing, and speaking.

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Section 3: Understanding Dyspraxia

Definition:

• Dyspraxia affects movement, coordination, and planning.

Challenges Students May Face:

• Hard to catch a ball or write neatly

• Planning and organizing tasks is slower

Strengths Students May Have:

• Creative thinking

• Unique problem-solving skills

Teacher Notes:

• Break tasks into small steps.

• Offer coordination games and practical exercises.

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Section 4: Support Strategies

For Teachers/Support Staff:

• Break tasks into small steps

• Use visual aids

• Give extra time for reading or writing

For Students:

• Use pencil grips or adapted tools

• Practice slowly

• Ask for help when needed

Communication Support:

• Speak clearly

• Sign language, Makaton, Braille

• Staff may support alternative communication methods

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Section 5: Classroom Scenario

Scenario Activity:
Annie asks a student, Jamie, to read a sentence aloud. Jamie struggles with spelling some words.

Questions for Discussion:

1. What could Annie do to help Jamie feel supported?

2. What strategies could help Jamie with reading and writing?

3. How could classmates help in a friendly way?

Suggested Actions:

• Encourage and praise effort

• Offer visual aids or word cards

• Allow extra time

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Section 6: Quick Quiz

1. Dyslexia affects:
   a) Reading and writing ✅
   b) Running fast
   c) Hearing

2. Dyspraxia affects:
   a) Movement and coordination ✅
   b) Spelling words
   c) Listening

3. True or False: Everyone learns the same way. ❌

4. Name one way teachers can help students with dyslexia or dyspraxia:

• Break tasks into small steps ✅

• Make them do everything faster

• Ignore mistakes

5. What is one way students can communicate if they find speaking hard?

• Sign language ✅

• Yelling

• Copying homework

 

Communication training

 

1️⃣ Printable Cards

• Traffic Light Cards 🟢🟡🔵🔴🟣

• Emotion / Feeling Cards 🙂😢😡😨😌🤔😷🛑

• Problem / Topic Cards Sleep, Eating, Home/Family, Relationships, Medication, Safety

• Severity / Urgency Cards 🟢 Mild, 🟡 Moderate, 🔴 Severe

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2️⃣ Body Language & Gesture Icons

• 👋 Hand wave → attention

• ✋ Stop → pause

• 🙏 Hands together → thank you

• 🤲 Open hands → receptive

• 🏃 Walking away → need a break

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3️⃣ Storyboards & Posters

• Step-by-step communication flow for group and one-to-one

• Visual guidance for Traffic Light, Emotion, and Problem Cards

• Examples showing non-verbal communication in practice

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4️⃣ Easy Read Booklet / Training Guide Pages

• Advocacy, mentoring, coaching overview

• Verbal & non-verbal communication strategies

• Step-by-step examples for using cards and signs

• Reflection exercises

• Quiz and knowledge check

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5️⃣ Role-Play / Practice Sheets

• Guided exercises for students, trainees, staff, and counselors

• Simulated group discussions and one-to-one sessions

• Using cards, gestures, and basic Makaton / sign language visuals

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6️⃣ Quiz / Knowledge Check

• True/False + Multiple Choice in Easy Read format

• Checks understanding of inclusive communication principles

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7️⃣ Optional Free Sign / Symbol Visuals

• Basic Makaton / sign language illustrations for: hello, yes, no, help, stop

• Optional Braille symbols for key words like “help,” “stop,” “yes,” “no”

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This will produce a ready-to-use, all-in-one module for:

• Students, trainees, staff

• Counselors, therapists, healthcare professionals

• Group workshops and one-to-one support

• Both verbal and non-verbal communication

•  Traffic Light Cards (printable, Easy Read)

  🟢 Green – I want to speak

  🟡 Yellow – I have a question

  🔵 Blue – I need more time

  🔴 Red – Please slow down

  🟣 Purple – I need a break

  🖼 Visual idea: Each card is large, bright, with the word + simple icon showing the meaning.

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  2️⃣ Emotion / Feeling Cards

  🙂 Happy

  😢 Sad

  😡 Angry

  😨 Anxious

  😌 Calm

  🤔 Confused

  😷 Pain

  🛑 Stop

  🖼 Visual idea: Each card has the word + matching facial expression illustration.

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  3️⃣ Problem / Topic Cards

  😴 Sleep problems

  🍽️ Eating / appetite

  🏠 Home / family

  👥 Relationships / friends

  💊 Medication

  ⚠️ Safety / self-harm concerns

  🖼 Visual idea: Each card has a simple icon + clear word, easy to point to.

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  4️⃣ Severity / Urgency Cards

  🟢 Mild

  🟡 Moderate

  🔴 Severe

  🖼 Visual idea: Bright colored cards matching the Traffic Light theme for quick recognition.

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  5️⃣ Body Language & Gesture Icons

  👋 Hand wave → attention

  ✋ Stop → pause

  🙏 Hands together → thank you

  🤲 Open hands → receptive

  🏃 Walking away → need a break

  🖼 Visual idea: Simple, clear icons for quick recognition during sessions.

   

Inclusive Communication Chapter / Module – Full Approach

 

1️⃣ Learning Outcomes

Learners will be able to:

Communicate effectively with verbal and non-verbal individuals.

Recognize and respond to emotions, needs, and urgency.

Use visual tools, symbols, and gestures.

Apply Traffic Light, Emotion, Problem, and Urgency Cards.

Understand basics of sign language, Makaton, Braille symbols, even without formal training.

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2️⃣ Introduction

Many people can communicate in different ways:

Verbal (spoken words)

Non-verbal (gestures, pointing, body language, visual cards)

Sign language / Makaton / Braille for specific needs

Courses for these can be expensive or hard to access, so this book & toolkit gives everything needed in one place.

🖼 Picture idea: Person signing “hello,” another pointing to an emotion card, another reading Braille.

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3️⃣ Tools for Inclusive Communication

a) Traffic Light Cards 🟢🟡🔵🔴🟣
b) Emotion / Feeling Cards 🙂😢😡😨😌🤔😷🛑
c) Problem / Topic Cards Sleep, Eating, Home/Family, Relationships, Medication, Safety
d) Severity / Urgency Cards 🟢 Mild, 🟡 Moderate, 🔴 Severe
e) Body Language & Gesture Symbols 👋✋🙏🤲🏃
f) Optional Sign Language / Makaton visuals (basic key signs like hello, yes, no, help, stop)
g) Optional Braille symbols for essential communication words

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4️⃣ How to Communicate

Ask simple questions with words + pictures.

Allow extra time to respond.

Observe gestures, facial expressions, body language.

Check understanding:

“I see you’re anxious. Is that right?”

Combine visual cards, verbal prompts, and sign or Braille support.

Respect Traffic Light and Severity Cards.

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5️⃣ Advocacy, Mentoring, Coaching Applications

Advocacy: help people express needs using verbal or non-verbal communication.

Mentoring: guide step-by-step using cards, symbols, gestures.

Coaching: build confidence, skills, and understanding using practical exercises.

🖼 Picture idea: Mentor coaching student with Traffic Light and Emotion Cards, with a small Makaton sign visual.

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6️⃣ Step-by-Step Storyboards

Participant points to card or signs

Facilitator notices and responds

Participant communicates feeling or problem

Facilitator reflects & checks understanding

Participant lowers card / finishes communication

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7️⃣ Role-Play & Practical Exercises

Practice verbal + non-verbal communication

Match emotions to pictures or signs

Use Traffic Light cards in groups

Practice basic Makaton / sign gestures (free illustrations in book)

Reflection: “How did it feel to communicate using different methods?”

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8️⃣ Ground Rules

One person speaks or signs at a time

Everyone listens respectfully

Use visual cards, gestures, or signs to communicate

Allow breaks and extra time

Encourage patience and clarity

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9️⃣ Easy Read Quiz

True / False:

Non-verbal people cannot communicate.

Pictures, signs, and words help communication.

You should ignore gestures.

Traffic Light cards can help manage group communication.

Multiple Choice:
5. Purple Traffic Light Card means:
A) I want to speak
B) I need a break
C) I am confused

Basic Makaton or sign visuals can help someone:
A) Communicate if they cannot speak
B) Speak faster
C) Ignore the person

Answers:

False

True

False

True

B

A

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10️⃣ Printable / Visual Materials

Traffic Light, Emotion, Problem, and Urgency Cards

Body Language & Gesture Icons

Storyboards & Posters

Easy Read Booklet pages

Role-play sheets

Quiz pages

Optional free Makaton / sign visuals

Optional Braille symbols for key words