What does it really mean to teach beyond the diagnosis? In this inspiring Dyslexia Awareness Month conversation, I sit down with Casey Harrison—Licensed Dyslexia Therapist, Certified Academic Language Therapist, and founder of The Dyslexia Classroom®—to unpack how we can meet the academic needs of students with dyslexia and nurture their confidence, self-understanding, and advocacy skills.

Casey has been immersed in structured literacy for nearly three decades and recently published her new book, Teaching Beyond the Diagnosis: Empowering Students with Dyslexia. In this episode, she shares why dyslexia is never the whole story, how to honor the unique learning profile of each student, and why self-esteem and metacognitive awareness are just as essential as phonics instruction.

Key Takeaways:

• Why dyslexia looks different in every child (and why contradictory signs are common).
• The power of the “dyslexia iceberg” and the hidden emotional toll beneath academics.
• How structured literacy can (and must) adapt to the student in front of us.
• Strategies for building student confidence and authentic self-advocacy.
• Why celebrating progress—every baby step—is crucial to student success.

If you’ve ever wondered how to balance evidence-based literacy instruction with the human side of teaching, this episode will leave you inspired and equipped to look at your students holistically.

Resources Mentioned:

• Casey’s Book: Teaching Beyond the Diagnosis (or on Amazon)

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!

Connect with Casey Harrison:

• Website: www.thedyslexiaclassroom.com
• Instagram: @thedyslexiaclassroom 
• YouTube: The Dyslexia Classroom
• Casey’s Teachers Pay Teachers Store
• Casey’s Membership Site: Empowered Beyond the Program
• Casey’s Course: The Color-Coding Method to Teaching Sight Words
• Together in Literacy Podcast

🎧 For more episodes in the Dyslexia Awareness Month bonus series, check out the playlist here.

Check out our Dyslexia Awareness Reel here!

Connect with Me:

• Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
• Join our Facebook Community
• Sign up for my Newsletter
• Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom
• Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com
• Join The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

Want to Support the Podcast?

• Make a Donation to Support Production

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Take our Course: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator