Whether you’re 5 or 55, we all just want to be understood. At Dyslexia School of Houston, we recently talked to some of our own students and parents about what they wish their peers, friends and family members knew about dyslexia. Here’s what we found:
1. “Reading is harder and we need patience from our friends.” We talked to Lucia and her
mom about how kids can be bullies and we can teach people about being kind through informing them about dyslexia.
2. Most kids with dyslexia want others to know that just because they read differently
doesn’t mean they aren’t intelligent.
3. Carter defines dyslexia as “a disability of not knowing how to read because sounding out the words is hard.” He wishes others “understood that [he] has to work harder in school.”
4. Even when students with dyslexia try harder than most students have to, sometimes grades and test scores don’t reflect their hard work and endurance. At the end of the day, students with dyslexia want others to know they are giving it their best.
5. Our very own Dyslexia School of Houston tutor and college intern, Jonathan explains that the accommodations students with dyslexia receive at school don’t give them an upper hand; the accommodations merely provide an equal playing field.
6. Especially when people aren’t patient or kind about a learning difference, it’s easy for
shame to become a burden. Dyslexia is a different-ability and unique quality, yet one in every five people are bound to have a form of dyslexia, according to the Yale Institute for Dyslexia & Creativity.
7. For students with dyslexia, reading their own handwriting can be difficult. Carter’s mom
says, “he isn’t being lazy or sloppy.” She explains that her son has a hard time forming letters and words but it doesn’t make him any less intelligent. In fact, Carter can practically do math problems in his sleep!
8. Kids with dyslexia want others to know they are really good in other areas at school like numbers, fine arts and sports. Being dyslexic helps them think differently and contribute in ways people without dyslexia cannot.
9. Mitchell is also one of our students and his mom explained to us that without the proper
tools, therapy and learning environment, dyslexia is like having blinders on. Having dyslexia therapy has really changed their lives.
10. Last but not least, our students want everyone to know that we can ALL do anything we
put our minds and hearts to, whether we have dyslexia, or not.
There are world-changers throughout history who did not let dyslexia stop them from becoming who they were meant to be. From George Washington or Albert Einstein to Cher or Richard Branson, there are legends throughout history who paved the way and proved others wrong. Kids with dyslexia want you to know that they can, and will, do that, too.
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