Supports:

Peer Support -- Thoughts about dyslexia from Austin High School students:
  • "Dyslexia is a lifelong struggle. You will always find struggles, but you can overcome them. Just remind yourself that there are some plus sides to having dyslexia." -- 10th grader
  • "I wish people knew it was an actual struggle." -- 10th grader 
  • "I wish people would understand that if there is something that is hard for them or they don't understand something, there are people who probably have a harder time. Patience and time is very helpful." -- 10th grader
  • "It's not all the same. Everyone who has it, has it in different ways."  -- 11th grader
  • "It is like I have one eye closed, because I am seeing the words, but at the same time, not seeing it all." -- 10th grader
  • "It's harder to read out loud. When I talk, I say one thing and think another."  -- 9th grader
  • "It gets easier sometimes, but sometimes it can be the bane of your existence." -- 9th grader 

Hey, teachers! You should know...
  • "We hide our emotions about school, so check in on us." -- 11th grader
  • "Don't force me to read out loud or make a big deal about it." -- 9th grader
  • "Be patient when I don't understand." -- 10th grader

​504 Coordinator:
Jessica Mitchell
512-414-7225
[email protected]

Our 504 Coordinator helps students, parents, and teachers create individualized plans to accommodate learning for students with dyslexia or other learning needs. Each student with dyslexia is different, so each student needs a different plan.  Common accommodations for students with dyslexia might include:
  • additional time for testing, if needed
  • access to assistive technology, such as speech to text apps and devices like laptops or ipads that assist with note-taking
  • extended time to submit assignments that rely on extensive reading and writing
  • a free account with Learning Ally, an online source for audiobooks

Contact your counselor or the 504 Coordinator if you have any questions or would like to discuss your 504 accommodations.

Our Campus Dyslexia Contact, Ms. Mitchell, assists with the screening/testing process for students with dyslexia and offers intervention strategies and supports to students and teachers on campus. If you receive 504 modifications, you may contact Ms. Mitchell to get set up with a Learning Ally account. Once you have an account, use your student number as your username and password on Learning Ally.


Peer Support: First Thursday FIT
Sponsored by Stacy Webster
512-841-1943
[email protected]
Room 172

Students with dyslexia can be very successful in school, but it takes a great deal of time, a trial and error approach to testing out strategies, and perseverance to "keep at it." School can be mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting for people with dyslexia.  If you would like to come share your experiences and strategies, sign up for FIT -- usually held the first Thursday of each month. These sessions may be put on hold during the time period when we are learning at home due to COVID-19 health and safety precautions.