Hi Ruth,

I'm 28, have Irlens, and was diagnosed 3 years ago. My supportive family and
my determination saw me through school and even to university. Unfortunately
years of visual stress eventually resulted in acute photophobia, I had to
leave university, and am now currently recovering, living with my family.
Now I know I have Irlens, I have experimented and have found many things
that help me, involving computers, lighting, glasses, diet etc. and I know
I'll be back on track soon. My needs would be less now had my parents known
how to support me early on. I would have had a more relaxed childhood had I
found effective support and been able to communicate my difficulties. There
are so many theorys buzzing round about Irlens and dyslexia and it is said
that they tend to go hand in hand with imagination and creativity. This is
true in my case.

When my parents found out I had Irlens they were gutted. I was delighted
though. Sure my school experiences without adequate support made me even
angrier, and my photophobia I had develped was probably unnecesary. But
suddenly I understood my problem and began finding solutions for it. In
short for the first time I knew what I needed and was given permission to
ask for it. I can understand my parents being gutted. It was new to them. To
me I'd always struggled silently and solitarily on and now I could ask for
help.

The money side of things has been hard for me too. I wish I could answer
that one. I live in England and as yet our national health service doesn't
seem to stretch to Irlens glasses, but my friend got funding for Irlens
lenses as part of her disabled students allowance at university. I got a
computer that I use to scan and read text as part of my disabled students
allowance whilst at University. I have no idea whats available for younger
people. Irlens wasn't common knowledge when I was at school. In the future
maddie may have similar needs. Applying for funding takes time, and
possesing an Irlens or dyslexia assesment meant I was recognised as a
candidate for support, both for technological aids and 25% extra times in
exams. Such things could save you money and make people listen in the
future.

My advice is to seek advice from your national dyslexia institute if you
have one, ask maddies teacher what needs to happen so she is registered as
having special educational needs, to get what ever support and fundings
available both now and in the future. Maddie will naturally develop
strategies of her own to compensate for her difficulties and you have the
opportunity to remind her how intelligent and creative this makes her.

All the best,

Tim



>From: "mom2maddiepetie" <jculver@...>
>Reply-To: glimmercoloredfilterglasses@yahoogroups.com
>To: glimmercoloredfilterglasses@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [Glimmer 'Colored Filter Glasses'] Re: New to group
>Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2006 13:14:20 -0000
>
>Hello Ruth:)
>
>First of all, may I say I'm so happy for you and your daughter that
>you've discovered a source of her difficulties:) I say that because
>about 16 months ago, our 10 year old daughter was diagnosed and
>KNOWING what the problem was made ALL the difference in the world in
>her self-confidence and self-esteem:)! She now realizes she has a
>life-long situation that she'll be dealing with and that tools are
>available to help her:) Prior to her diagnosis, she thought she was
>"stupid" and tried to hide the fact that she was having trouble
>reading, writing and processing. I won't go into my own personal
>guilt trip over not realizing this (before "Reading by the Colors" I
>had NO IDEA this even exsisted!:) and not helping her sooner.
>
>Now, to your question...all I can advise is to reach out to your Irlen
>specialist and to the resources at the Irlen Institute in Long Beach.
> Our specialist in Minneapolis has been PHENOMENAL:)! And, the
>professionals at the Institute in Long Beach are only a phone call away:)
>
>You didn't mention how old your daughter is. As I mentioned, ours is
>almost 11 years old and just beginning to enter puberty. I mention
>that (and she would be mortified if she knew:) because she is
>experiencing the need to have her Irlen lenses changed. This is due
>to the fact that her body chemistry is changing; therefore her brain
>chemistry is changing. This leads to a change in the way her brain is
>processing what her eyes see. We are, in fact, returning to
>Minneapolis tomorrow (it's a 5 hour drive but WELL WORTH IT:) to have
>her re-tested.
>
>As you'll learn, each person is so very different. I can just share
>with you what we've experienced. Along with using your resources
>(specialists and Irlen Institute) another piece of advice would be to
>remain flexible:) If your daughter is like ours, she'll have days
>when her brain processes more efficiently and days when it doesn't.
>We are VERY blest to have a school district that is VERY open and
>accomodating! She is allowed to choose her seat in every class (it's
>important for her to sit near the windows for the natural lighting),
>her teachers use only green or blue markers on the whiteboards, her
>worksheets are all copied onto colored paper (she chooses the color
>that works best for her), the overhead lights in the rooms are most
>often turned off.
>
>Maddie has also become very skilled in using her Irlen glasses and
>overlays in situations where the material on the printed page is not
>clearly perceivable to her brain.
>
>Not to minimize ANYTHING, but take a deep breath:) The Irlen
>specialists and staff will be a lifeline for you:) We other parents
>are here to help and support:) If you haven't read the book "Light
>Barrier" I highly suggest it. It's written by a mother of two
>children who were diagnosed. She provides a heart-felt and real life
>account of their experiences. I think you can order it through the
>Irlen website - http://www.irlen.com
>
>Keep us posted, if you'd like, and we can help or just "listen." Stay
>well and have a blest holiday:)
>
>Jenny
>mom 2 Maddie - a "color" pioneer in her school:)
>
>--- In glimmercoloredfilterglasses@yahoogroups.com, "ruth_mnsfld"
><ruth_mnsfld@...> wrote:
> >
> > My daughter has just had the Irlen Syndrome test at school. The
> > results where not good, to which i have made an appointment for her at
> > our nearest Irlen Centre. I was wondering if anybody had any advice,
> > or infomation if there is a payment scheme as the cost is alot
> > straight off.
> >
> > Thx Ruth
> >
>
>

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