How can learners be helped?

Colored filters

Case study

Andrew was causing great concern because, despite a massive amount of individual and small group learning support and a high level of motivation on his part, he was unable to improve his reading ability. The SEN teacher asked Andrew what he could see when he read a page of writing. He described the letters as constantly moving up and down, making it very hard for him to see a complete word at any one time. At the time the only colored filters available (and it is not suggested that these are used at all) were theatre light filters, but out of interest the SEN teacher asked Andrew to read using the various colored filters as overlays. The discovery was wonderful to witness. When a green filter was placed on top of a page in Andrews reading book, he smiled and then cheered and refused to let the filter go. The letters remained still and he could read whole words without the struggle of having to read the letters as they moved. With supportive parents and a local optometrist, a pair of colored filter glasses were made for Andrew and within three months his reading had improved by three years. The immense pleasure and growth in his self-confidence was amazing to see the effect the colored filter had achieved was undeniable. Andrews academic achievement, including his handwriting skills and gross motor skills improved steadily and he progressed so well in secondary school that it was felt unnecessary to retain his Statement of Special Educational Needs.