The Dyslexia Project
a 501 (c)(3)
Federal ID #83-1968155

Category: Gallery

  • The Incredible Loneliness of the Dyslexia Mom…But You Are Not Alone

    By Cheri Rae

    This afternoon, I placed my lunch order for a Cobb salad at my favorite sandwich shop.

    While I waited for it, Florence and the Machine’s “Dog Days are Over” blasted over the sound system. Hearing the catchy, upbeat tune, the first thing that popped into my mind was, “Oh, yes, Florence Welsh is dyslexic.” The next thing that popped into my mind, as I kept time and watched the staff bop along to the song was, “I bet I am the only one in here who knows that.”

    And then I thought about all the other stuff I know about dyslexia that sticks in my head and comes out in the most unexpected times and ways. When my dad and I watched “Patton” I told him that the famed general was dyslexic. When my friend posted her admiration of Antonio Gaudi, I mentioned that the brilliant artist/architect was dyslexic. When I spoke with the executive director of an education nonprofit, I confirmed that a local philanthropist is dyslexic.

    This arcane knowledge just sticks in my head and pops up when least expected. But this kind of depth about dyslexia, after so many years as a determined advocate, goes far beyond identifying famous dyslexics. It extends to approaches to reading, local and national literacy statistics, frustration over the lack of institutional change over time, the concept of literacy as a civil right and an issue of equity, the articles, charts, research, videos and books that best explain various aspects of what can be done to improve the lives of dyslexics.

    Like so many parent-advocates, I’ve endured the eye-rolls from educators who make comments like “I’ve never had a student with dyslexia, so you’ll have to give me some information.” I’ve had a superintendent tell me, “Students with dyslexia just have to learn how to suck it up.” And I’ve even had friends who have questioned accommodations, asking, “Don’t you think it’s unfair that your son gets more time, and my son doesn’t?” 

    I’ve learned all about special education and IEPs, and worked hard to get exactly the right wording, the right goals in place, only to have the document ignored by classroom teachers. And my son rebel against having anything to do with special education.

    I’ve attended school board meetings where parents weep as they beg for help for their dyslexic children but after their three minutes are simply dismissed by stone-faced trustees who don’t bother to comment or follow-up. Or learn what they could do to stop the educational struggles of kids in their care. I’ve read the campaign literature that touts the transparency and communication skills of those same trustees running for re-election. So they can continue their same ways for another term and never make any meaningful progress.

    It makes me want to scream out the truth, but no one wants to listen to that.

    We have to be careful, civil, mask our anger with reasonableness, forgo our humiliations, and go along and get along or they won’t listen. But when we are patient and collaborative, they don’t listen to that, either.

    My inbox, phone records and daily journals reflect that I am not alone. Every week, I hear from parents who are stymied by the educational system, feeling so very alone in their journey to understand the numerous complex issues associated with dyslexia, and frankly, in fear for the futures of their children. I share my experiences, provide insights when I can, offer support and a sympathetic ear. I even wrote a book to help other parents.

    We moms of children with dyslexia seek out support anywhere we can. Since the school districts know there is strength in numbers, they work hard to keep us apart, citing confidentiality concerns. But the kids all know who is struggling and who isn’t.

    On social media, we connect with literal strangers far, far away who often understand our concerns better than our real-life friends and members of our own families. We don’t want to talk about dyslexia all the time, but quite honestly, it’s often the most important issue going on in our lives, and we need to unburden our hearts, express our concerns, vent our frustrations at the hands of the education establishment. But even social media has been taken over by groups with agendas not apparent to most who participate. And while social media may connect like-minded people in the virtual world, it’s not likely to have much effect on making much institutional change in our local schools.

    Individually, we seek solace in learning everything we possibly can about supporting dyslexic strengths; all those inspirational success stories about dyslexics who have “made it,” and buy into the notion of dyslexic superpowers. In doing so, we worry if we’re putting too much pressure on our kids, who maybe don’t want to claim superpowers, they just want to be considered typical kids who can just enjoy their childhoods, their classroom experiences and their day-to-day lives.

    My parenting mantra has always been “roots and wings.” Providing that supportive platform for all our kids, including those with dyslexia, so they can fly on their own. I admit to getting a bit research-obsessed about dyslexia, but now that my dyslexic son is an adult, and flying strong and secure on his own ~ after the trials and tribulations of public school ~ I want to offer a little support to those parents on the journey: Go ahead and learn all you can and do all you can about dyslexia, protect your child’s well-being from bureaucratic excesses and know that they will be okay because you are there, a loving, supportive and knowledgeable parent. 

    Yes, it is lonely along the way. But reach out in your community where you find it ~ or create your own. And dance to the music when you hear it. Because, even when you least expect it, it’s there.

  • Coffee, Talk and Tears: On Meeting with Mothers of Dyslexic Children

    Worried mothers contact me by phone, email and social media; they introduce themselves and launch into vivid descriptions of how they are struggling with the Education Establishment as they to find help for their bright dyslexic children who are struggling to read, write and spell. They typically have been very resourceful at finding the limited number of affordable services children in our community—but are flummoxed when their children age out and there is no more help available.

    They need direction, reassurance and conversation about dyslexia—which pretty much no one wants to talk about, particularly those in the education community.   Those who live near me often ask to meet for coffee.

    I can’t say no.

    It’s not my job, but it’s become my calling. I was once in their place of confusion, seeking insight and assistance. I was lucky to find the kind of support they need it in the form of a very wise and now-retired advocate who ran a local dyslexia non-profit—so now it’s up to me to pay it forward.

    We share an immediate bond, as mothers united in a cause—some would call it a crusade—just to obtain an appropriate education for our children, without subjecting them to the emotional damage that’s all too real for far too many. It is lonely and heartbreaking to mother a smart child who is working too hard in school with too little results—with few easy answers and more mystery than mastery for a long, long time.

    We usually meet for a couple of hours—always more time than we intended—in coffeehouses all over town.  It’s not the caffeine that gives me the jitters that this familiar angst about school is felt so widely, so deeply, and for so long. It’s just that it never, ever ends—not for generations of mothers who have come up against the dyslexia-denying culture in our public schools.

    We share stories about how we stay up late into the night searching the internet for a miraculous revelation that changes everything; we agonize about where to find thousands of dollars to pay for private tutoring to make up what the school won’t do; we are terrified about what the future holds for our children. We pore over statistics about how third-grade reading levels determining the number of prison beds needed; of high levels of anxiety among struggling readers; of dyslexic misspellings in suicide notes. We admit that in those dark hours we weep alone.

    Our sense of familiarity emboldens us to speak of our deep fears we dare not say to others who do not understand. We are part of a sorority that simply knows the spirit of our children, their great potential and their strong desire to succeed. We know the heartbreak, how the magic of childhood ended for our little ones when the misery of school began.  In the warm comfort of camaraderie over coffee, we weep together.

    The mothers I’ve recently met with comprise a range of the dyslexia experience:

    • The 3rd grader whose teacher thinks he has ADD, and suggests the mother get him on medication. He’s been privately assessed, and he doesn’t; he’s simply not engaged in the reading program that is inappropriate for his dyslexic needs.
    • The 4th grader who attends a private school and works with an educational therapist to great result, but it’s costing the family a small fortune to pay for the tuition and supplementary specialized instruction—and Dad is getting nervous about whether or not the investment is worth it.
    • The 6th grader who was warehoused in special education class for four hours a day for an entire school year without receiving instruction appropriate for a dyslexic student. He still can’t read, write, spell or do math anywhere close to grade level.
    • The high-schooler who avoided reading in elementary school by hiding under her desk, who was finally identified with dyslexia this year and offered a 504 plan;
    • The 20-year-old who graduated in 2016 who still wants to learn to read, write and spell so he can get a better job than delivering restaurant meals.

    These women are bright, strong, determined mothers who are dedicated to doing everything they can to help their children succeed. Additionally, they are nice, sweet, thoughtful and kind with no intention of raising a fuss or causing problems with the schools—but too often they encounter the bureaucratic resistance from educators that sends the very clear message: If you push too hard, we won’t like you anymore. And we might not like your kid either.

    We politely call this kind of conversation “advocating.” In reality, it’s fighting with school officials who don’t even use the word “dyslexia,” much less deliver appropriate services.

    The reason it’s a fight is quite simple: The Education Establishment does not teach dyslexic students in the way they learn.

    When we seek help at the school, we participate in meetings with educators who typically offer little insight, information or illumination about why they cannot deliver appropriate instruction to our struggling children. Initially, we trust and believe that teachers are well-qualified to teach reading. Only after much research do we finally learn that a teaching credential does not necessarily correlate with knowledge about the science of reading, the latest research about the reading brain or how the “balanced” approach so in vogue for so long is so different from actually teaching to read the English language in a direct, structured, explicit way as verified by scientific research.

    We mothers are left to meet, share our stories, suggest strategies and make plans on what to do the next year, and the next. We speak of how our dyslexic children exhibit great strengths and resilience, how they are filled with great potential, with a wealth of talent, and with great, big hearts they share with the world. We know they are worth the investment it takes to teach them what they need to know, and how they need to learn it. From Day One in Kindergarten all the way until Graduation Day.

    If only educators would learn that, too.  I’d love to have a nice chat with any who are interested; yes, over a steaming cup of coffee.

  • October is Dyslexia Awareness Month

    For many years, The Dyslexia Project has worked in the community to increase awareness about dyslexia every single day. But October, as Dyslexia Awareness Month, offers a special opportunity to focus attention on the issue, and we do our best to provide our expertise to the community.

    The County Board of Supervisors

    In 2014, we began a long and beneficial partnership with the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisor to recognize the official month and to honor individuals who are dedicated to improving the lives of the 1 in 5 with dyslexia.

    The first year, Santa Barbara Unified School District’s superintendent, Dr. David Cash, was recognized as an administrator who took a special interest in dyslexia. He initiated the creation of the Parent Resource Center at the district office, and was very supportive of efforts in the classrooms and the community to create greater awareness. In his remarks, he stated that acknowledgement of his efforts was one of the most significant awards he received in his career.

    Additional recipients pictured here with Supervisor Das Williams include:  Deidre and Barry Dubin, who operated the Dubin Learning Center, helping countless dyslexic students in more than two decades; Julie DeAngelis and Summer Calvert (of the Rite Care Childhood Language Center, Scottish Rite Masons, Santa Barbara; dyslexic Olympic gold medalist and advocate Kami Craig; learning specialist with Santa Barbara Middle School, Pam Boswell; and The Dyslexia Project’s own dyslexic photographer and determined advocate Monie de Wit. As Boswell noted, “I want all students to not feel limited by one’s learning style and to know that we can all pursue any passion or dream that we may have.”  

    We have also received Proclamations from the City and the State for our efforts and arranged displays in local libraries, bookshops, and other public places. The value of these public exhibits is to pause a moment in civic life to recognize dyslexia in front of an audience that might not otherwise know much about it. We are grateful to have this annual opportunity to speak about dyslexia in a positive way and to recognize the efforts of so many in our community who work on behalf of dyslexics. 

  • The Dyslexic Dozen

    This series of graphics was originally inspired by those inspired by the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Instead of a holiday theme, we re-created it to have year-round value and a reminder to celebrate the strengths that are often—but not always—a part of dyslexia, too often unrecognized.