How a Learning Coach Transformed One Teen's Struggle with Dyslexia
Fifteen-year-old Charlie was diagnosed with dyslexia just before finishing secondary school. With support from learning coach Paola Cichellero, he has developed new strategies to manage his studies and daily life. His experience highlights both the benefits of personalised learning support and the challenges families face in accessing it.
Charlie now uses a personal checklist to stay organised, a system he created with Paola's guidance. The coach, who specialises in neurodivergent young people, helped him adopt tools like mind maps and better navigation techniques. These changes have given Charlie more confidence as he works toward an apprenticeship in drafting or civil engineering.
Learning coaches like Paola focus on building individualised strategies to foster independence. However, in Switzerland, their role in public education remains inconsistent. While some cantons—such as Zurich, Bern, and Geneva—offer structured programmes, others lack formal integration. Zurich's *Lerncoaching-Modell* (launched in 2020) provides up to 80% funding (capped at CHF 5,000 per coach annually), and Bern's *Neurodiversitäts-Netzwerk* (2022) supports school projects with CHF 10,000–20,000 grants. Geneva's *Programme NeuroAdo* (2021) subsidises coaching for neurodivergent teens in public schools, offering up to CHF 3,500 per student yearly. Despite these regional efforts, families often bear the full cost themselves. Charlie's mother finds this problematic, as financial barriers can limit access. Mattia Mengoni, head of special education in Ticino, acknowledges the value of learning coaches but notes there is no legal framework to recognise their work nationally.
Charlie considers himself fortunate to have received coaching, which taught him how to learn effectively. The support has improved his organisation and focus, bringing him closer to his career goals. Yet the patchwork of cantonal programmes means many students still rely on private funding to access similar help.
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