The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan - by Ben Foss (Paperback)

About the Book

"Identifying and building on your child's strengths; best practices for accommodations and the latest technologies; simple ways to secure your child's legal rights"--Front cover.

Book Synopsis

Finally, a groundbreaking book that reveals what your dyslexic child is experiencing--and what you can do so that he or she will thrive

More than thirty million people in the United States are dyslexic--a brain-based genetic trait, often labeled as a "learning disability" or "learning difference," that makes interpreting text and reading difficult. Yet even though children with dyslexia may have trouble reading, they don't have any problems learning; dyslexia has nothing to do with a lack of intellect.

While other books tell you what dyslexia is, this book tells you what to do. Dyslexics' innate skills, which may include verbal, social, spatial, kinesthetic, visual, mathematical, or musical abilities, are their unique key to acquiring knowledge. Figuring out where their individual strengths lie, and then harnessing these skills, offers an entrée into learning and excelling. And by keeping the focus on learning, not on standard reading the same way everyone else does, a child with dyslexia can and will develop the self-confidence to flourish in the classroom and beyond.

After years of battling with a school system that did not understand his dyslexia and the shame that accompanied it, renowned activist and entrepreneur Ben Foss is not only open about his dyslexia, he is proud of it. In The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan he shares his personal triumphs and failures so that you can learn from his experiences, and provides a three-step approach for success:

- Identify your child's profile: By mapping your child's strengths and weaknesses and assisting her to better understand who she is, you can help your child move away from shame and feelings of inadequacy and move toward creating a powerful program for learning.
- Help your child help himself: Coach your child to become his own best advocate by developing resiliency, confidence, and self-awareness, and focusing on achievable goals in areas that matter most to him.
- Create community: Dyslexic children are not broken, but too often the system designed to educate them is. Dare to change your school so that your child has the resources to thrive. Understanding your rights and finding allies will make you and your child feel connected and no longer alone.

Packed with practical ideas and strategies dyslexic children need for excelling in school and in life, this empowering guide provides the framework for charting a future for your child that is bright with hope and unlimited potential.

Praise for The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan

"A passionate and well-articulated guide . . . This extremely practical and motivational book will be welcomed by parents of dyslexic children."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Accessible and reassuring."--Library Journal

"This step-by-step guide will become a go-to resource for parents."--James H. Wendorf, executive director, National Center for Learning Disabilities

"I study dyslexia in the lab and am a parent of a wonderful daughter who fits this profile. Ben Foss's book should be considered essential to any collection on the subject. It was extremely useful, especially for a mom."--Maria Luisa Gorno Tempini, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurology, UCSF, Memory and Aging Center

"As someone with a learning profile that made school tough, and as a parent, I know kids need the right support. Ben Foss knows how to get access to education because he's been through it. I was thrilled to read this book. It offers a wise collection of insights that are both practical and touching."--James Gandolfini, actor, The Sopranos

Review Quotes

"A passionate and well-articulated guide . . . This extremely practical and motivational book will be welcomed by parents of dyslexic children."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Accessible and reassuring."--Library Journal

"A great new resource for parents."--Kelli Sandman-Hurley, Ed.D., certified special education advocate, The San Diego Learning Center of the Dyslexia Training Institute

"I study dyslexia in the lab and am a parent of a wonderful daughter who fits this profile. Ben Foss's book should be considered essential to any collection on the subject. It was extremely useful, especially for a mom. Thank you!"--Maria Luisa Gorno Tempini, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurology, UCSF, Memory and Aging Center

"Foss has used his journey to provide readers with a unique and insightful view of the strengths and challenges that come with being dyslexic. The talent and creativity with which Ben has written this book make it stand out as a guide to navigating the remarkable world of dyslexia."--Claudia Koockek, head of school, Charles Armstrong School, Belmont, CA

"As someone with a learning profile that made school tough, and as a parent, I know kids need the right support. Ben Foss knows how to get access to education because he's been through it. I was thrilled to read this book. It offers a wise collection of insights that are both practical and touching. Buy it today if you want a get a plan for your child."--James Gandolfini, actor, The Sopranos

"As an educator with forty-two years of experience, with half of of that time supporting dyslexic learners, I cannot think of a more valuable and insightful resource for parents and teachers to empower dyslexic kids. As a dyslexic adult myself, and the head of an independent school for dyslexics, I know Ben Foss's wisdom is dead-on and I recommend this book to any parent."--Muir Meredith, head of school, Westmark School, Encino, California

"This is the book we have been waiting for, synthesizing the head and the heart issues in dyslexia. Our organization supports millions of parents looking for information on dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities; Foss's step-by-step guide will become a go-to resource for them."--James H. Wendorf, executive director, National Center for Learning Disabilities

About the Author

Ben Foss is a prominent entrepreneur and activist and the founder of Headstrong Nation, a not-for-profit organization serving the dyslexic community. Foss graduated from Wesleyan University and earned a JD/MBA from Stanford Law and Business Schools. He invented the Intel Reader, a mobile device that takes photos of text and recites it aloud on the spot. Ben is a co-founder of Integration Ventures, a venture capital firm that is looking to invest in dyslexic entrepreneurs. He has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fox Business News, ABC, CNN, HBO, and the BBC. Represented by the Random House Speakers Bureau, he regularly speaks to Fortune 500 companies, public policy organizations, and colleges and universities across the country.