Author Justin Clark, Learning Difficulties Tutor in Brisbane
Last Updated: October 2026
Children with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and other learning differences may benefit from resources that make everyday learning more accessible.
Depending on a child’s needs, these might include visual schedules, audiobooks, assistive technology, sensory tools, structured learning activities or individualised educational support.
The most useful resource is not necessarily the newest app or the most popular learning aid. It is the one that addresses a child’s particular challenges, builds on their strengths and makes learning easier to access without creating unnecessary frustration. A visual timetable may help one child prepare for transitions, while another may benefit more from text-to-speech software or practical, hands-on activities.
At Hope Tutoring, we recognise that children learn in different ways and that the right support depends on the individual.
Why Might Neurodivergent Kids Need Extra Resources?
- Children with learning difficulties and disabilities, like ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and auditory, sensory, and visual processing disorders, often find it difficult to concentrate in class.
- They have to expend extra energy on activities neurotypical children are able to carry out without thinking.
- For example, it’s harder to complete tasks like sitting still, tuning out playground noise to pay attention to instructions, listening quietly, and concentrating on difficult tasks all day long.
- It’s not a surprise that their brains get fatigued easily.
- To thrive in a classroom environment that poses challenges for them, children with learning difficulties can benefit greatly from the implementation of extra supports.
- These resources help to optimise their ability to learn and increase their overall happiness at school.
What are the Best Strategies for Kids with Learning Disabilities?
In this blog, we’ll explain some of our favourite resources and techniques for aiding the success of children with learning difficulties. While some of this advice applies more to a school classroom setting, many of the resources we mention can be helpful in any learning situation, whether it be at school, a desk at home, or in a session with a tutor.
What Types of Resources are Available?
- Free educational resources, such as printable schedules, reading activities and reputable information websites.
- Learning aids and technology, such as audiobooks, visual timers and speech-to-text tools.
- School-based adjustments, such as modified instructions, accessible learning materials or extra processing time where appropriate.
- Additional support, such as specialised tutoring or advice from relevant health and education professionals.
Visual schedules and planning tools
Having a structure that each lesson follows can be extremely helpful for children with learning difficulties. It enables them to be prepared for the situations they will encounter in the class, and over time, will help them to become more comfortable with the environment. Knowing what to expect reduces the stress of ‘transition periods’, which are difficult for many kids. It can also help children with learning difficulties to switch their focus to a new activity.
Visual timetables, checklists, first-then boards and task cards can help children understand what is happening next and break routines into manageable steps. These may be useful for transitions, getting ready for school and organising homework. For example: a homework checklist with three steps — read the question, complete the first activity, then check the work.
Due to the challenges children with learning difficulties often experience at school, it is not uncommon for them to develop anxiety around school situations. This could be about being unable to complete an activity, displaying expected behaviours or even getting in trouble. Clear, predictable resources that help with structure can be beneficial in this regard too, to reduce anxiety about ‘unknowns’ or ‘what will happen next’.
Maintaining concentration is also often a challenge for children with learning difficulties, and visual aids such as picture charts and schedules can help them redirect their attention to the desired activity when facing distraction. Clocks or countdown timers can also be great visual tools, as they are a physical representation of the time left for completing activities, which is often useful in curbing boredom or frustration with a task, and can help kids stay on track.
What if the child struggles with reading and writing, so visual reminders aren’t as helpful?
Audiobooks, text-to-speech, speech-to-text and accessible digital texts can help children access information or express ideas when decoding, spelling or handwriting is difficult. It’s worth trying a range of options that prompt the child to stick to their schedule using different sensory reminders, for example, alarms rather than only a diary.
Rest breaks
As mentioned above, children with learning difficulties often need to use extra energy to maintain concentration in school. They can become tired more quickly than their neurotypical peers. Frequent rest breaks can be an invaluable tool to aid them in managing brain fatigue, allowing them to stay engaged in learning. Rest breaks will mean different things for different people – some children might like to get up out of their seat and go for a walk around the classroom, others will prefer to go outside and run to reset, some might need a snack or want to switch to a different activity for a while, like drawing or listening to music.
Engage with the child about what works best for them. Some kids will like to take rest breaks on a set schedule, whereas others will prefer to have a ‘daily quota’ and be able to take them whenever they need to. It’s also important to note that some children are great at recognising when they need a break, and are able to articulate that they are finding it difficult to concentrate and need a few minutes to reset. Others, however, won’t be able to pick up on the early warning signs just yet and will require assistance and reminders that it’s time to take a rest break.
Sensory and regulation resources
It’s helpful to explore options such as quiet spaces, headphones where appropriate, fidget tools and sensory activities. Why not give the following a try?
Wobble Cushions
Wobble cushions and wedge cushions can be incredibly helpful for children with learning difficulties like ADHD, as they provide an outlet for movement while they stay seated. Children who struggle to sit still and are constantly moving around, wiggling or rocking in their chair are likely to benefit from this kind of aid.
These cushions are made from flexible rubber and are inflated with air to create an unstable surface. They encourage the user to engage their core muscles and sit in a more upright position. Wobble cushions provide sensory input, both vestibular and proprioceptive, and allow activity through the instability adjustments created.
They also come with raised bumps on one side for extra tactile input if desired. Wobble cushions are really helpful classroom tools as they facilitate movement for the user without them appearing to move in an obvious way. This limits the distractions their movement could create for others. Another added benefit is that they encourage core muscle development and good sitting posture.
They are easily portable and can be used on a chair at a desk at school, on the floor, or at the dinner table, just to name a few ideas. Wobble cushions are widely available and fairly inexpensive, making them an accessible sensory tool.
Balance Stools
Balance stools are an ‘active sitting’ option that replaces a traditional chair. They usually have a curved base that enables them to move freely, requiring input from the user to balance. Essentially, they function as a tripod, with the stool being one part and the user’s legs being the other two.
They allow for constant movement while remaining seated, so they are an excellent sensory outlet for motion. This can improve focus, allow kids to maintain concentration, and stay seated for longer periods of time. Also, similarly to wobble cushions, they support correct posture and help develop core muscle strength.
Balance stools are usually better suited to older children as they are less likely to overbalance. They are now used in many high schools in Brisbane. They are less portable and more expensive than some other active sitting aids, so we suggest trying one out before purchasing to determine if it will suit the needs of your child.
Fidget Toys
Fidget toys or sensory toys have experienced a huge surge in popularity, and have become very accessible. There are a multitude of these aids available, including fidget cubes, fidget balls, bubble popper toys and squishy stress balls, just to name a few.
These are useful for the sensory input and stress relief they provide. They can be really helpful for children with learning difficulties at school because they are portable and can be easily stored in a backpack, desk or pencil case and taken out when needed.
How Do You Choose the Right Resource?
Use the following checklist:
- What difficulty are we trying to address? Is the child struggling to organise tasks, read text, understand mathematical concepts or manage a particular learning environment?
- Does it suit the child’s preferences? Consider their age, interests, communication style, sensory preferences and existing strengths.
- Can we try it before committing? Start with a low-cost or free option where possible, and see how the child responds.
- Is it making a meaningful difference? Look for improved access, participation, independence or reduced frustration, rather than expecting immediate academic improvement.
Hope Tutoring in Brisbane and Online
There are a multitude of resources out there for children with learning difficulties, and we have only listed a few. We hope this blog has been helpful for you and provided some ideas and direction on the types of techniques and aids you can use to support children with learning difficulties to be engaged in learning.
Justin Clark is a learning difficulties tutor in Brisbane. He is formally qualified (MEd, MLearningInnovation, BEd, BA), experienced, very patient and supportive – skills which are essential in helping those with learning difficulties.
Contact Justin via email or on 0407 407 233 today if you are looking for a Tutor in Brisbane or remotely who offers tutoring for children with Autism, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and Dyslexia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Parents can explore free reading activities, printable phonics resources, accessible digital texts and information from reputable learning support organisations. Text-to-speech tools and audiobooks may also help children access written information. Choose resources that match the child’s current skills, and remember that assistive tools complement rather than replace appropriate reading instruction.
Look for practical changes, such as the child starting tasks more independently, understanding instructions more easily, completing activities with less frustration or accessing material they previously found difficult. Progress may take time, and not every resource will suit every child. If a tool isn’t helping, consider adjusting it or trying a different approach.
Not necessarily. Start by identifying the specific need you want to address and consider whether a free or low-cost option could help. For example, a handwritten checklist may work just as well as a paid planning app. More specialised tools may be useful when they address a clear need, but purchasing equipment alone does not guarantee better learning outcomes.
Resources can support learning at home and school, but they may not be enough when a child needs explicit instruction, regular feedback or help addressing persistent skill gaps. Specialised tutoring can provide individualised teaching that builds on a child’s strengths and targets their particular learning needs. The appropriate level of support depends on the child and the challenges they are experiencing.