Megan Hunemuller is a mom of four who dove into dyslexia research after recognizing multiple signs of the dyslexia in her then six-year-old daughter. She learned all she could about special education and how to provide appropriate intervention in the academic setting so that her daughter could access the general education curriculum like her peers. Over the past seven years, Megan has focused on building long lasting and productive relationships with educators and legislators throughout Iowa. Megan now serves on the Iowa Department of Education’s Dyslexia Board. In this episode, Megan speaks about reigning in her “mama bear” mentality so that she could become an effective advocate for her daughter and other dyslexic students. 

Key Takeaways:

• Do not take this journey alone. Seek out the support of other parents in your own community – those who are willing to share their knowledge about the diagnosis and how to secure special education services.

• Decoding Dyslexia of Iowa has been an incredible resource for Megan. The organization aims to raise dyslexia awareness, empower families to support their children, and influence policymakers and educators on best practices to identify, remediate and support Iowa students with dyslexia.

• Knowledge is power! Megan’s education through the Dyslexia Training Institute instilled a new sense of confidence that helps her as she advocates for her daughter and other families. 

• Remember, when you’re advocating for your own children – they are always watching! Megan’s daughter credits her own self-advocacy success to watching her mom advocate for her.

Links from the episode:

• Decoding Dyslexia Iowa

• Iowa’s Dyslexia Handbook

• Dyslexia Training Institute

• Wrightslaw books

• Overcoming Dyslexia

• Dyslexia Advocate