Power in a Name - Dyslexia

Before there was a name, I made my own: dumb, failure, stupid or anything related. Why couldn't I read like my younger sister? I was placed in lower level reading groups. I hated school. Just thinking about homework, created a monster I could not control. I procrastinated. My parents thought I was defiant. I yelled. I threw my books. Noise was overwhelming. I did everything I could to keep from starting homework. Defiance was my protection from feeling like a failure, but shame grew. I pretended at school to please my teachers and came home from school mentally exhausted. My speech and hearing were tested: negative. There was something wrong with me and since I didn't have a name, I made my own.

In third grade my hearing was tested again. Hearing loss was found in one ear, the frequency that caused problems with hearing site words. By the way, I believe I always had the hearing loss. While taking the hearing test, I could figure out the answer from the nurse's face. I had an answer, but only for a short time.

My frustration with homework grew. I excelled learning on the football field, but homework took hours. Reading a chapter, took an hour. Writing a paper resulted in tearing my paper in anger due to the repetitive sentences or constantly erasing. I couldn't organize my thoughts.

Finally, after each teacher in elementary and middle school and tutors stated I didn't have dyslexia, I was tested. I was diagnosis with dyslexia by Children Mercy Hospital. I had a name.

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a language based learning disability which causes difficulties with reading, spelling, writing, and pronouncing words. It never goes away, but one can learn to adapt and learn in other ways. Dyslexia doesn't dictate intelligence. Unfortunately, dyslexia can impact self-image.

People with dyslexia read backwards. - Myth. People with Dyslexia struggle with reading, learning to speak, memorizing math facts, reading comprehension, and learning a foreign language.

Rights of a Student with Dyslexia

Students who have been diagnosed with dyslexia are entitled to services and accommodations. Ask your school counselor to schedule a meeting for a 504 Plan or IEP so one has the opportunity to succeed as the same as their peers. These plans are placed in the child's file to follow them in school so their accommodations are granted every year.