Dyslexia Conference Reflections
March 13, 2013
I had the honor of speaking last week at the annual conference of the Southern California Tri-Counties Branch of the International Dyslexia Association in Riverside, California. As always, I feel very privileged to meet at conferences such wonderful people, and be able to share ideas/strategies with other educators and parents.
One of the evening events was a viewing of the DVD entitled, “The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia”. I had heard of this documentary that apparently first aired on HBO in October, 2012. I found the film to be uplifting and inspirational. However, there was criticism from some people viewing with me that the documentary didn’t provide a realistic picture for many – as they only showcased and featured highly gifted, successful folks with dyslexia. This is true. Nevertheless, I find the message of hope important for parents, teachers, and child.
There are countless success stories of people in this world with dyslexia, ADHD, or other disorders/disabilities. What it takes for most to succeed involves: a) a diagnosis and understanding the disorder that affects their life, b) receiving appropriate intervention and support, c) finding outlets for channeling their strengths & interests and compensating for their weaknesses, d) work on building and strengthening underdeveloped skills, and e) perseverance to achieve their goals in spite of the challenges.
Tags: dyslexia
