Dyslexics - what tools do you use on a regular basis to help you?

That's a good point especially for parents. Get the kids tested now, because later it will cost a lot more. I personally can't afford further testing. The initial testing was free to figure out my suspected problem. But after that, it's going to be $800. And I don't have that money, and now I know how to cope mostly anyway. The only thing that money would possibly get me, that I do need, is textbooks on audio. Which are already made, but unavailable to non-disabled students.

I don't think the tests are on going if you have some previous results available. I started testing in college, so I only got the initial part for free. After that, I have to go farther away and pay more money. Our schools have all had free learning programs, but they're only available if you have enough paperwork. I've asked the school if I could either pay for these audiobooks or in some way make copies of their copies or anything. It's illegal to borrow them from an actual disabled student apparently or loan them out if you are able to get them. They are made by other students, so they're not available in stores. Which means that I have no way to buy them. If I need a novel that's sold on audio, I'll buy it or rent it. And I've bought several study guides on audio from www.talkingbookworld.com as well. But it would be nice to have the actual textbooks I'm supposed to be reading. I qualified for free novel rentals for awhile which was nice. I didn't know I could read things at a college level. It was nice to know that I could understand them on audio. Otherwise, I usually test at roughly a 7th grade reading level or so. Even though I think my writing is better than that (I hope), but I really have worked a lot on writing and have had a ton of tutors and everything. I'm able to retain stuff from audio luckily. But there is a good thing to taking 30 minutes per page on a textbook... sometimes since it took me so long, I would write in on the test, "the word starts with an R, I don't know what it is, but I know it's on the last paragraph next to the picture of T. Roosevelt on page 169" or something like that. So the teacher would know I did the reading, even if I couldn't remember what was asked, I might know where to find it. In high school I often was up until 4am reading. Now I just can't do it anymore. I have just found ways around doing the reading now and probably shouldn't even bother wasting my money buying textbooks.

I hadn't thought about on-going costs :-) I know when I initially had my son tested it cost to get it done, from there I was lucky enough that not only could I take him to a free clinic/tutoring place both his primary school and now high school arranged for extra learning programmes for him - in the case of his high school it was decided between his teachers and I that rather than particpating in one lesson (learning another language) he instead spent the lesson in one on one time covering other subjects he was and is struggling with. Is there anyway you can borrow the audio books or perhaps set up some sort of exhange system with those that already have some? I think they are a great idea for several reasons, I've been thinking about looking into getting whatever novels etc they need to read in class as audio books as my son often finds himself way behind when it comes to where others are up to in the reading, with the audio books he will at least be able to keep on track with everyone (though I'd still like him to read the book in his own time to help him when it comes to retaining the information etc)

Thanks for adding these really great tips! I've recently started dating all of my pages so that I know what came before what. I've wanted to take photos of drawings on the board (I'm horrible at copying them down), but I've never seen anyone do it before. Maybe I will have to ask about that, at least for organic chemistry lab where there have been a lot of drawings already and they are all quite important. I'm very curious about the colored overlays. I'm looking into that and figuring out if it helps me.

I think coping strategies can be useful too. In a way, the tools can also help someone cope. It's harder to describe coping without using tools though, maybe you'd like to elaborate on that if you can.

Have you ever come across this site before? www.irlen.com That sounds a lot more like a light sensitivity problem, but it's very common to go along with dyslexia as well. Just thought that might be of some help if you haven't already come across it. I have a lot of problems with glare, but I only have the use of one eye so I have a hard time wearing glasses. Without glasses, I have 135 degree vision. With glasses, that's significantly reduced because of frames cutting in. So I don't wear sunglasses. Instead I keep the visor on my car down all the time nearly, and then I also shield any glare with my free hand while driving.

Thanks for your input and excellent suggestions! I should try the tinted paper. I had blue tinted reading glasses for awhile that seemed to help a bit, but they weren't really blue enough.