11/16/2023
Nearly a hundred years ago
It's not true that no one knew what to do about dyslexia until recently. Learning about dyslexia is a purposeful choice. Free information is readily available. The choice is yours.
Social media has allowed us to see which schools and educators chose to or chose not to study all of the topics related to neurodiversity and the science of learning.
1. Private schools for dyslexia have been helping students for over 75 years. These private schools also had educational outreach and continuing education classes for any public school educator that was interested.
2. The International Dyslexia Association has written journals and offered teacher workshops for over 75 years. It’s a choice to learn.
3. A fifty year historical overview of dyslexia was published in 1975 covering the years of 1925-1975!
4. The classic book "Overcoming Dyslexia" was published in 2003 based on research that started in 1980. Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity
5. The Wilson Language Training has offered training for teachers since 1988.
See why Barabara Wilson wanted to help students and teachers here: https://www.churchillstl.org/blog/barbara-wilson/
6. The The Florida Center for Reading Research was established in 2002 and provides literacy help for preschool onward.
https://fcrr.org/resource-database
7. When do most educators become interested in literacy or dyslexia? Usually when they discover their own family member is struggling or the district has to address poor literacy scores. It's not new. The information has been available for over 75 years. What is new is our ability to see which places know better because they CARE better.
8. The history of special education can be found here:
https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/art/history.spec.ed.law.htm
9. We know better and do better ----occurred long ago. Yes. People have to study on their own and not expect the system to pay for their ongoing knowledge.
Some people say “ it’s not my job, not my problem, I don’t have to do this “ but those with expertise have chosen lifelong learning as a they ethically feel the need.
No one in any profession can expect to learn everything in college or during work hours.
10. It’s unfortunate that many places around the globe made a purposeful choice not to participate in lifelong learning on their own. These people are only going to learn if they get paid more, paid time to learn and on-the-job learning during professional development hours. They are light years behind because they believe “ we won’t know better or do better unless we are paid better” or “ it’s not my job” or “ the union says I don’t have to “ in some parts of the world.
All other similar professions have a code of ethics that requires lifelong learning as a lifestyle so those professions continue to learn.
The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity reminds us that we do not have a knowledge gap. Society has an action gap. People need to take action to decide that . The responsibility is community wide.
11. Outdated beliefs. Years ago people would think “ only the special ed teacher handles the struggling learners, it’s not my job” mindset. Kids with neurodiverse learning needs are in every classroom.
However, society was also sent the message that not all kids are smart and not all kids are academic. ( lazy, unmotivated, not working to potential, low average potential , prefers sports, class clown, too shy, too active , not trying, late bloomer, will catch up later ). It was easier to label a child more than put in the time and effort to learn about dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and executive functions.
Union rules- in some parts of the world , the educators are not required to learn more unless paid to learn , given time and step pay increases. That puts enormous pressure on having to learn everything in college or during work-related professional development. It’s just not possible to develop any expertise or keep up with knowledge with these huge union based constraints.
Many of these schools have turned down free learning opportunities due to union rules of a 9 month contract. All other similar professions that work 12 months and an 8 hour day still require the professional keep up with ongoing learning with their own time and money. Similar professions that require ongoing learning also do not have the excellent union-negotiated benefits package, reduced health care costs, holidays, summer off, sick time, funeral time and step- pay increases with tenure.
12. Buy the book DyslexiaLand written by the creative journalist that made these graphics because she has walked in your shoes.
Society must be grateful for the thousands of professionals that chose to invest their time and energy into lifelong learning about dyslexia and all related learning needs.
We will need to encourage many more young adults to go into professions that see the value in neurodiversity.
https://ldaamerica.org/60-years-of-learning-disabilities-advocacy-celebrating-progress-inspiring-change/
20 years ago. Info to help teachers teach reading.
https://childrenofthecode.org/interviews/moats.htm?
Emily H - https://learningally.org/Solutions-for-School/Educator-Blog/emily-hanfordteaching-children-to-reada-watershed-movement?mibextid=Zxz2cZ
