October is Dyslexia Awareness Month: From a Mom's Perspective.

    by   SusanHN   

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Oct 24, 2018
161

My 8-year old son was diagnosed with dyslexia a few months ago. He doesn't like to talk about it and he doesn't tell anyone else he has it. So I don't usually either. However, it's Dyslexia Awareness Month and I believe that the more who know about it, the more kids we can help. Plus, I tell my son all the time how proud I am of him, and I hope that one day he'll be proud of all that he is too.

My son makes friends everywhere he goes. He is kind and generous to everyone he meets. His smile is contagious. He also happens to have dyslexia. 

We suspected that there was something going on a few years ago. It was more than that he was having trouble reading. It's that he tried so hard and still struggled. Despite any improvements he was making, he was still falling farther and farther behind. Even when we gave him all the tools to learn, his brain just couldn’t put it together.

The diagnosis was actually a relief. No one’s happy to be told that their child has a learning disability. It broke my heart to hear someone tell me there was something wrong. However, seeing the tears in my son’s eyes while he tried to sound out words and sentences was already breaking my heart. This diagnosis would finally get him the help he needed to set him on a path to success.

In the last few months, I’ve tried to educate myself on dyslexia, and have found there are so many misconceptions about it. Some people think dyslexia means you just write letters backward; or that kids with dyslexia have low intelligence, have problems with vision, or just don’t try hard enough. But I’ve learned that none of those are right.

Dyslexia means that my son’s brain processes information differently than most people. He has to work extra hard to do what comes naturally to others, especially reading, writing and spelling. Using specific evidence-based reading programs, he can learn strategies on how to overcome many of the challenges, but he will never completely outgrow it. Dyslexia can vary to different degrees, but experts say that between 5-20% of the population has some form of it.

Because of how the brain works, many people with dyslexia tend to have incredible strengths too. My son is both innovative and resourceful - he can spend hours with cardboard and a roll of tape and turn it into something unique. In fact, some of the most famous storytellers, entrepreneurs, inventors and out-of-the-box thinkers even credit dyslexia for helping make them successful. People like Steven Spielberg, Richard Branson, Octavia Spencer, and Jamie Oliver are all dyslexic. Many believe that some of the world’s biggest game-changers had it too, including: Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Walt Disney, Pablo Picasso, and possibly even Albert Einstein.

You can find more info about dyslexia and other learning challenges on Understood.org. I highly recommend trying the simulations to see what it’s like for kids who have reading, attention, or other issues. Check them out here.

How does someone in your family (or yourself!) make you proud? Tell us below!

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by Gjprasad | BROOKLYN, NY
Oct 24, 2018

My 8 year old makes me proud. My youngest is autistic and my 8 year old is an amazing big sister. She created a little corner in her room with pillow and blankets and sometimes I find them both sitting there and my eldest is reading a book. My heart is full again in those moments.

by vspeaks | Raleigh, NC
Oct 24, 2018

My kids because they always strive to be the best they can be.

by wenrom31 | NARANJA, FL
Oct 24, 2018

I'm proud of my son. Human through a very hard time a few years back but he fought his way out of it and now he's on the right track. That takes guts!

by bechug | COLORADO SPGS, CO
Oct 24, 2018

My son has selective mutism and I am proud of how he is working to overcome it.

by Kbvinson13 | Lewisburg , KY
Oct 24, 2018

My 8 year old makes me super proud! She has struggled in school and now as a 3rd grader she's learning that she is going to have to be more independent at school. She's been working hard on not getting distracted and asking for help when she needs it.

by SunnySideUp | Parkton, MD
Oct 24, 2018

My daughter made it to National Spelling Bee finals this year! Considering it was her first spelling be experience, we are so proud of her!

by thebramble | REDONDO BEACH, CA
Oct 24, 2018

Have family members (cousins) who have dyslexia, so all their achievements are great. Have siblings and cousins who are teachers, so they deserve a shout out too.

by Kissmekatedelta88 | BROOKLYN, NY
Oct 24, 2018

I lost my mother ten years ago. She was my hero. I speak about her often. I am an Energy Healer in NYC. I am proud of my mom and all the things she taught me that made me the person I am today. . I am someone who had severe GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder). I let this go 12 years ago, had my last panic attack in the Spring of 2008. Now I help others get well. My mother never gave up hope that I would get well. And she was proud of me. I but I am proud to call her my mom.

by mcasella | REVERE, MA
Oct 24, 2018

My father makes me proud. He once worked 3 jobs at once to be able to buy us our own house.

by cusesoftie | DE WITT, NY
Oct 24, 2018

My nephew makes me proud when he draws...I love seeing him progress...and he's really good!

by beaniebaby70 | Mt PLeasant, TN
Oct 24, 2018

My daughter makes me proud working so hard

by betatester | HYATTSVILLE, MD
Oct 24, 2018

My mom who always looks at the world from two perspectives. She thinks about her own thoughts and feelings and then puts herself into the other person's shoes.

by DanielleCorrelle | Dover, PA
Oct 24, 2018

My husband makes me proud because no matter what he is there for us through it all.

by ink123 | CHICAGO, IL
Oct 24, 2018

My mom never lets life get her down

by tumcsec | TUSCALOOSA, AL
Oct 24, 2018

My brother is a paraplegic and my sister in law does a great job taking care of him.

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