In Their Own Words: A Mother and Teacher's Experience with Dyslexia

Hi everyone!

This is our first guest post, coming from a mother who fought to get her dyslexic daughter diagnosed and into a school that recognized learning differences and the need to teach children in different ways. She managed to succeed and even went on to found Dyslexia Testing and Information Service, LLC and write a children's book with her daughter about dyslexia. Here's her story for you. Please send in your own experiences as well, to captime@optonline.net. We look forward to hearing from you all!

My name is Shelley. I am the parent of a dyslexic child. My husband is dyslexic. My father and my grandfather are both dyslexic. When my daughter, Delaney, began to struggle in Kindergarten, I was told to practice more, read to her, she is so cute, so smart, she will outgrow her reading problems.

I am an English teacher, and I taught in a private school for children with learning disabilities- many of them were dyslexic. I knew that waiting for Delaney to outgrow her problem and forcing her to practice more was not the answer. However, it took me a year to find someone to evaluate Delaney. Every one said that she too young. She was 6.

I got proactive. I did not wait any longer. I knew that early intervention was key to her becoming successful in school. I went to CA, from OH, to take a graduate course in diagnosing dyslexia. In the meantime, I enrolled Delaney in Orton-Gillingham tutoring and a private school that recognizes and accommodates dyslexia. She is thriving!

After taking the graduate course, I started my company Dyslexia Testing & Information Services, LLC. I provide diagnostic testing and Orton-Gillingham based tutoring. I speak publicly to schools and professional groups about dyslexia, and Delaney and I have written a children's book entitled, I Have Dyslexia. What Does That Mean? (*available very soon at Amazon.com). My mission is to raise awareness for this hidden disability. I do not want another child to be told they just need to work harder or practice more, and I don't want another parent to feel the guilt and frustration that I felt when trying to get my daughter diagnosed.