To the editor:
Last February, I listened to my son’s teachers explain that by all accounts he was one of the hardest-working children in his elementary school, but he was not progressing in literacy, even with interventions. Something didn’t sit right with me. I guess that’s what we all refer to as our motherly instinct.
I remember jokingly telling my husband all I wanted for Valentine’s Day was an independent evaluation for our son at a dyslexia center. It’s not that we usually drop that kind of cash on Valentine’s Day, but you get my point. My son was identified weeks later with severe dyslexia.
The next year involved endless reading of articles, books, talking to dyslexia experts, attending conferences and advocating for him to the best of my ability. It’s so important to know all you can about anything that impacts your child so that you can be the expert at the table.
The most powerful seminar I attended wasn’t one that told me how to help my son, but instead let me feel what it is like to be him. For that reason, my husband Mike and I have rented the banquet room at Pheasants Landing and invited Learning Ally to Hillsborough to bring to you that same powerful seminar, “Dyslexia: Making It Personal, An Interactive Simulation and Presentation.”
“Making It Personal” shows you what it’s like to have dyslexia. Designed for teachers, administrators and parents, this simulation gives you firsthand knowledge about the challenges and frustrations faced by people with this language-based learning difference. You’ll experience what dyslexia is like — and understand it like never before.
Please consider coming out to this free event on Tuesday, March 8, from 6-8 p.m. by registering at http://www.learningally.org/hillsborough.
Dyslexia impacts 1 in 5 children. This remains my favorite informational video — https://vimeo.com/130490727 — and this my favorite pick-me-up video, https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/like-a-dyslexic.
Courtney Newman
Hillsborough
