Everyone Reading: Dyslexia - Making it Personal

This week I attended the first day of the 2017 Everyone Reading Conference in New York City. The unpredictable New York weather postponed our second day to a future date, but I can honestly say I am incredibly excited to return for day 2. Along with several of my colleagues and administration, we were presented with conference sessions focusing on a range of topics from selecting the right assistive technology tools, to multi-sensory structured language strategies, to learning about a New York State bill that will promote more training on dyslexia for pre-service teachers, to product demonstrations, to the neuropsychology of reading disorders. This is just a snapshot of the sessions available, and it was so hard to choose which session was the right one to attend.

The session that had a profound impact on me was Dyslexia: Making It Personal - A Simulation & Presentation presented by Learning Ally's, Mark Brugger. Mark openly shared his own personal dyslexia journey and the struggles he encountered and persevered through as he advanced in his educational career. Dyslexia is the largest disability group, yet receives far less attention and has an increased misrepresentation when compared to many other disability groups. 



It is important to understand that dyslexia is a real disability, which has been proven through anatomical and brain imagery studies to show differences in brain development and function. Additionally, dyslexia is not: 

•  rare
• associated with low intelligence or cognitive ability
• a vision problem
• a developmental lag which can be outgrown
• the result of laziness
• reading or writing backwards

The attendees were put through several interactive, hands on, orthographic and  phonemic simulations to enable participants to view learning through the eyes of a dyslexic. Within the session, the attendees shared how these simulations left them feeling "dumb", less confident, and wanting to give up...all real life feelings many of our students experience on a daily basis in the educational setting. If this is how the attendees felt in an isolated simulation, it is incredible to think of how many students sit inside of our classrooms daily feeling the same way. 

After discussing the impact of dyslexia, concurrent conditions, early warning signs, potential indicators, methods of screenings and intervention, the conversation turned towards the critical role of parents and educators to recognize and identify the characteristics of the condition and to provide, if/when possible, early intervention to help "rewire the brain", offset genetic vulnerability and implement life long, permanent strategies. Through the provision of extra time, addition of assistive technology, with specific mention of ear reading eBooks/audiobooks, and an intensive, Multi-Sensory Structured Language (MSL) Instruction program students can access what they know by mitigating areas of deficit.

I am looking forward to incorporating this knowledge in all future practices and reading the two books Mark shared...

                            

Everyone Reading Conference 2017 - NYC

The month of March is rapidly approaching, which means the 44th annual Everyone Reading conference on dyslexia and related learning disabilities is right around the corner. The Everyone Reading conference will present the most recent information regarding reading difficulties, with specific attention towards dyslexia, in addition to strategies and tools to help identify and remediate weakness in reading, writing and mathematics. Aside from the fact this conference is taking place in my home state, what I'm most enthusiastic about are the conference sessions that specifically focus on utilizing available assistive technology, educational technology tools and literacy strategies to support students with reading deficits. Additionally, the conference sessions are filled with presentations from experts in the field to provide insight into strategies to support struggling learners. Read further about the two featured keynote speakers or click here to see the full conference schedule.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Keynote Address – Dyalekt – Literacy Begins with the Beat! Dyalekt is an MC, educator, playwright, actor and radio host from St. Croix, USVI. He has promoted and celebrated the power of the spoken word in schools and on stages around the world. He uses his unique brand of Hip Hop education to empower students from grades K-Grad school, and provides training for teachers, writers, performers and professionals. He's the co-host of Brunch & Budget on Bondfire Radio, and has recently been using that platform to teach Hip Hop and finance workshops to high school and college students. His curricula are rap albums/are plays, and he is a member of the Public Theater's Emerging Writer's group as well as a Hip Hop artist with several records and tours under his belt. He wants to cypher with you. Dyalekt.com twitter: @dyalektraps

HELEN DIANE FOSTER Commissioner, New York State Division of Human Rights Helen Diane Foster was appointed by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to head New York  Division of Human Rights. In her capacity as Commissioner, Ms. Foster is responsible for the enforcement of New York State’s Human Rights law, the oldest such law in the country.  Under her leadership, the Division has made substantial progress such as the elimination of case backlog. Commissioner Foster is able to deliver Governor Cuomo’s message of the importance of the Human Rights Law through her public engagements throughout the State. She is called on to represent the State and the Governor is different capacities. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Foster served in the New York City Council for 11 years, representing the 16th District in Bronx County. As Council member, she represented 170,000 constituents at City Hall, was responsible for passing legislation, approving New York City’s $70 billion budget, attending Council hearings as well as community meetings, and for being an advocate for the under-served and underrepresented people of New York City. Ms. Foster has participated on numerous panel discussions about her own struggles with dyslexia. Speaking about dyslexia is one of her passions.  She especially enjoys speaking to children with dyslexia.  In addition, Ms. Foster is often called upon to speak at churches, schools and community events.  She uses speaking engagements as a tool to empower communities and encourage youth through access to information. Source: Everyone Reading