Updated September 10th, 2026:
The start of the school year brings many new and exciting challenges, as well as some daunting ones. From unfamiliar classrooms and new teachers to building friendships, there is a lot to think about.
This makes heading back to school with dyslexia a difficult thing to navigate, especially when there’s so much reading and solo study.
Sure, big things like extra support and tutoring matter, but it’s the small, everyday tweaks that can boost your confidence fastest. Here are five simple, practical ways to make the school year smoother if you have dyslexia.
1. What goes into a dyslexia reading support toolbox?
A good reading toolkit combines simple tools with smart tech to reduce eye strain and make reading less of a slog.
- Low-tech helpers: Tinted reading rulers and coloured overlays can reduce glare and stop words from jumping around. Slanted boards and thumb grips help you keep your place and make reading feel less awkward.
- Tech that reads for you: Text-to-speech apps turn articles into audio, so you can listen and read at the same time. Scanning pens read printed text out loud, no phone or laptop needed.
- E-readers: You can tweak fonts, spacing, and background colours to make long texts easier to handle.
2. How can everyday stationery support students with dyslexia?
The right stationery can make writing less tiring and help you find your notes faster.
- Colour-code your notes: Use sticky tabs and notes to mark tough words or key info, without scribbling all over your books. Pick a colour for each theme, green for definitions, yellow for questions, so you can spot what you need in seconds.
- Pens that don’t hurt: Writing for ages can cramp your hand. Try pens with comfy grips, a bit of weight, or add a triangular grip to make writing smoother.
- Paper that’s easy on the eyes: Off-white or cream notebooks with wide lines or grids cut down on glare and keep your writing clear.
3. What executive function routines work best for dyslexia?
Dyslexia can make it tough to remember steps or keep track of deadlines, especially when there’s a lot going on.
- Mix up your note-taking: Try recording lectures, using dictation apps, or mind-mapping instead of just writing everything by hand. Listening back later means you can pay attention in the moment.
- Get it in writing: Ask teachers for written task outlines and reading lists in advance. It’s way easier than trying to remember everything they say.
- Keep everything in one place: Use a planner, checklist, or calendar app to track homework, kit, and deadlines. No more last-minute panics.
4. How to audit and adapt your learning space for dyslexia
Jot down when reading feels easy and when it’s a struggle, then tweak your setup to match what works.
- Rethink your workspace: Harsh lights and stiff desks can make it harder to focus. Try a reading corner with softer lighting and a comfy chair.
- Customise how you read: Play around with larger fonts, dyslexia-friendly typefaces, wider margins, or try reading books flat rather than upright. Find what feels best for you.
5. What are dyslexia micro-milestones and how do you celebrate them?
Learning differently takes extra effort, so it’s important to notice the small wins along the way.
- Celebrate the everyday stuff: Maybe you finished your first week, got through a tough chapter, or asked for extra time. That all counts.
- Reward yourself: When you hit a milestone, take real downtime, watch a film, do something creative, or just take the weekend off.
Progress isn’t always a straight line. Remind yourself that learning differently takes work, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.
To everybody returning to education this week (or later for colleges and university campuses), good luck from us all at SwD – it’s going to be an exciting term!