One of the most common reason people bring their children to Reading Success Plus is to get their reading up to grade level and help them catch up in school. But there is another group of struggling readers – adults who have low reading skills and, possibly, dyslexia. For them, tutoring can help them get caught up in life. 

“For adults, improving your reading ability isn’t an easy thing,” says Lawrence Kloth, co-founder of Reading Success Plus. “It can be challenging to find the time, and there are emotional and social obstacles associated with what amounts to going back to school. 

“But there are real payoffs, too – a chance to improve your job status, increased self-esteem, and knowing that you can fully function in a society in which everything depends on your ability to read.” 

Not exclusively a childhood condition 

Most people associate dyslexia with elementary-aged chldren because their reading skills are most often scrutinized, and that is when dyslexia is most likely to be diagnosed. Through the use of research-based programs that teach them the way they learn best, dyslexic students can elevate their reading skills enough so they can thrive in school and in other areas of life.  

Importantly, though, we cannot “cure” dyslexia. Dyslexia is caused by differences in areas of the brain that process language, and no intervention will change that. It is a lifelong condition. However, those with dyslexia who are fortunate enough to have had an early diagnosis can learn the tools to overcome it. 

Unfortunately, those who don’t get those interventions as youngsters move into adulthood without the tools needed to cope with their disability. They probably will develop some coping strategies on their own, enough to get by. But with help, they could do so much better. Sadly, some might not realize they have a disability that can be treated and instead blame their difficulties on being “dumb.” 

Here are some common characteristics of an adult with dyslexia, listed on dyslexia.com and goodrx.com: 

• Hides difficulties from co-workers, friends and family. 

• Becomes frustrated by planning meetings, long forms and sequential tasks because their brain has difficulty with such systematic processes. On the other hand, their ability to think outside the box can leads them to the answer quickly without needing those processes. 

• Feels frustrated, insecure on the job because they need more time to complete a task than co-workers. 

• Remembers struggling in school. 

• Avoids reading out loud. Self-conscious when reading in a group. 

• Difficulty with fluency and comprehension. Often must reread material to understand it. 

• Poor spelling, misuses homonyms (there, their, they’re). 

• Difficulty with directionality (left and right, for example). 

Taking the first step 

“It’s tough for adults to get tutoring because a lot of them might feel that they can’t get help because they’re not in school anymore,” Lawrence says. “They don’t know where to turn.” 

Yet these adults, in their 20s or 30s or later, know something’s going on. They aren’t satisfied in their jobs, and they can’t get ahead. 

“Well, Reading Success Plus could be an option,” Lawrence says. “If you struggle with reading if you struggle with writing, if you struggle with math, we can help you get to where you want to be.” 

Struggling adult readers often are reluctant to seek help because of unpleasant memories of school.  

“They still have that emotional baggage,” Lawrence says. “They say, ‘Why do I want to go back and relive that?’ 

“If you struggled through school, if you were bullied, it’s very tough to turn back the page and say ‘Oh, I still need help.’” 

But our tutoring isn’t a repeat of those decades-old, failed reading lessons.  

“People with dyslexia learn differently. If you are an adult who has problems reading, you probably weren’t taught with a method that works for you. We teach visually, hands-on. You might have gone through school, maybe through college and into adulthood thinking you were a bad reader. Really, it’s just that nobody taught you the right way.” 

Shedding labels 

An emotional obstacle that keeps struggling adult readers from seeking help is embarrassment. Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence – indeed, many dyslexics are off-the-charts geniuses. Still, any struggling reader who made it to adulthood almost certainly has been labeled as “stupid,” either tauntingly by their peers or less explicitly by an educational system that didn’t know how to teach them. 

“They wonder, ‘What will other people think of me if I try to get the help I need?’” Lawrence says. “That judgment is more pronounced when you’re older, because when you’re young, nobody thinks about it if you’re getting extra help or tutoring. But when you’re older, it becomes more difficult. A 45-year-old learning the short vowel sounds? Society isn’t as understanding.” 

Still, those who take the leap can expect huge, perhaps life-changing benefits; 

“It will help you on your career path and be huge in getting whatever job or career you want. In every job, you have to be able to read. At a fast-food restaurant, you might have to read instructions or ingredient lists. In the hotel industry, you have to read paperwork. In business, there are reports and proposals and studies. Law enforcement offices have to do reports. The same in the trades. You have to be able to read. 

“Right now, reading can be a huge burden. With tutoring, we could help you unburden yourself and say, ‘Wow! I can actually do this! I can read this manual, or write these reports.’ 

“That’s really going to unlock your potential.” 

Adding to your tool box 

Adults who seek help for reading problems may gain other advantages in the workplace – accommodations. The Americans with Disabilities Act, first enacted in 1990 and updated in 2008, prohibits discrimination based on disability and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations. Dyslexia is one of the disabilities covered by the ADA, so getting a diagnosis is the first step toward getting the law’s protections. 

“The term ‘accommodations’ might sound intimidating,” says another article on understood.org. “But a workplace accommodation could be as simple as a change in a meeting room. Or a flexible schedule on Tuesdays. 

“Accommodations aren’t special treatment. They simply level the playing field so employees can do their best work.” 

Examples of accommodations include: 

• Assistive technology. This includes text-to-speech software, screen readers, spell-checkers, and dyslexic-friendly, readable fonts. 

• Providing extra time for tasks, realizing that those with dyslexia need more time to process information. 

• Making written instructions short and clear. Use images or videos if possible. 

• Encouraging collaborative approaches that allow dyxlexic employees to feel comfortable asking for help while also allowing them to contribute their unique “big-picture” persepectives that otherwise wouldn’t be heard.   

Reasonable accommodations are required under federal law – it’s not an employer’s option. That doesn’t mean they are necessarily burdensome, however. Many of them cost nothing at all, only requiring being mindful of what all employees need to thrive.  

Plus, any expenditure of time or effort is more than balanced by the benefits to the employer. It’s in the employer’s interest to give all of its employees the tools they need to do their best work. Cultivating employees with dyslexia unlocks their strength – outside-the-box, big picture thinking that can provide perspectives the workplace otherwise would lack. 

“A lot of these people are brilliant, and we don’t want to lose their potential,” Lawrence says. “If you’re willing to help these people and willing to give them the accommodations and help they need, they can be productive members of society and the workplace. They have so many great talents, and we would hate to waste them because they didn’t get the assistance they are entitled to.” 

Opportunity for growth 

Reading Success Plus is an ideal resource for adults who want to improve their reading skills. First, we understand dyslexia and how it can disrupt a person’s life. Our curriculum includes  the Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing (LiPS) program for individuals who are missing the pre-reading skill of phonemic awareness. Our reading program uses  the  Barton Reading & Spelling System, “an Orton-Gillingham (Structured Language and Literacy) influenced multisensory, explicit and systematic phonics program.” 

All of our reading students use the same materials, regardless of age, though Barton does have some readings geared for adults. “It’s because you’re missing a skill set,” Lawrence says. “If you’re 8 years old or 65 years old, you’re still missing that skill sequence.” 

Though we offer in-office, in-person tutoring, adults who are embarrassed about taking reading lessons might appreciate our online program. We can set up times that accommodate your schedule, and if you have a computer and internet connection, you can get lessons in the privacy of your home. 

“You don’t have to worry about if my boss or co-workers will know, or whether people will make fun of you. All that anxiety you had when you were younger – forget it.” 

After an initial conversation with RSP, you will go through a screening to determine what your needs are. After that, we’ll match you with a tutor quickly and get started.  

“We recommend a minimum of two one-hour sessions a week,” Lawrence says. “Older students are usually more motivated, and some are willing to do more than twice a week. They can make very quick progress. 

“We can make this easy and accessible to you.”