Dyslexia Journey | Real Stories & Strategies for Thriving with Dyslexia

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Dyslexia is a brain difference that primarily affects reading and writing. However, dyslexia affects many areas of life that you might not expect! Listen to this episode to learn about eight ways dyslexia can affect your whole life.

We're Sonja and Nick, parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community, this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at [email protected].

You can find complete episode transcripts on our website, as well as a list of Dyslexia Resources and summaries of Dyslexia Research.

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This episode was first published on Sep 9, 2023. 

In Part 1 of our interview with Dr. Silverman, we explore how giftedness and dyslexia interact, and dig into the details of what psychologists are looking for when you bring your child in for a dyslexia assessment.

Linda Kreger Silverman, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical and counseling psychologist. She directs the Institute for the Study of Advanced Development, and its subsidiary, the Gifted Development Center (GDC) in Denver, Colorado, which has assessed over 6,500 children in the last 40 years. This is the largest data base on the gifted population. She and her colleagues at GDC have developed 40 instruments. For nine years she served on the faculty of the University of Denver (DU), in Counseling Psychology and Gifted Education. She developed a course on Assessment of the Gifted at DU, which was also a short course taught abroad. She has been studying the assessment, psychology and education of the gifted since 1961 and has written over 300 articles, chapters and books, including the textbook, Counseling the Gifted and Talented, adopted at 50 colleges. Her latest book, Giftedness 101 (Springer, 2013), contains a chapter on assessment. It has been translated into Korean and Swedish.

Find out more at https://gifteddevelopment.org/

We're Sonja and Nick, parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community, this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at [email protected].

You can find complete episode transcripts on our website, as well as a list of Dyslexia Resources and summaries of Dyslexia Research.

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Also check out our YouTube channel!

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As a followup to our previous episode about when to consider homeschooling (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2077817/episodes/15731825), this episode covers making the decision to pull your kid out of school, and some factors to consider when you make that leap.

This interview with a special-education attorney is invaluable to understanding your rights if you keep your child in school: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2077817/episodes/16095504

We're Sonja and Nick, parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community, this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at [email protected].

You can find complete episode transcripts on our website, as well as a list of Dyslexia Resources and summaries of Dyslexia Research.

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Also check out our YouTube channel!

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I don’t want to bury the lede, so here’s the link to the new ROAR@Home online literacy test that your child can take for free! https://roar.stanford.edu/homesignup/

The full interview is well worth a listen as well. Dr. Jason Yeatman is an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Education and Department of Psychology at Stanford University and the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine. As the director of the Brain Development and Education Lab, the overarching goal of his research is to understand the mechanisms that underlie the process of learning to read, how these mechanisms differ in children with dyslexia, and to design literacy intervention programs that are effective across the wide spectrum of learning differences. His lab employs a collection of structural and functional neuroimaging measurements to study how a child’s experience with reading instruction shapes the development of brain circuits that are specialized for this unique cognitive function.

You can read more about Dr. Yeatman at https://psychology.stanford.edu/people/jason-yeatman

We're Sonja and Nick, parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community, this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at [email protected].

You can find complete episode transcripts on our website, as well as a list of Dyslexia Resources and summaries of Dyslexia Research.

Follow us on Instagram!

Also check out our YouTube channel!

Send us Fan Mail

It's tempting to encourage our dyslexic kids to keep working on their literacy skills over the summer, but they often need the break! In this video, we break down (pun intended) the reasons why they need breaks, the scientific evidence that breaks are ok, and give you some tips for a great summer.

We're Sonja and Nick, parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community, this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at [email protected].

You can find complete episode transcripts on our website, as well as a list of Dyslexia Resources and summaries of Dyslexia Research.

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Also check out our YouTube channel!

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I was excited to host Colorado State Senator Chris Kolker this week to discuss his universal dyslexia screening bill, education funding, and a few other topics!

You can find Senator Kolker online at https://leg.colorado.gov/legislators/chris-kolker

The dyslexia screening bill is https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-200. 

As of this posting, the bill hasn't passed yet, so call and email Colorado senators and representatives and encourage them to pass it before the end of the session!

We're Sonja and Nick, parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community, this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at [email protected].

You can find complete episode transcripts on our website, as well as a list of Dyslexia Resources and summaries of Dyslexia Research.

Follow us on Instagram!

Also check out our YouTube channel!

Send us Fan Mail

We all have goals for our dyslexic kids, but they often seem overwhelming and out of reach. In this episode we provide specific, practical tips for organizing the goals into smaller chunks and making daily progress.

Here is our first episode on the topic of long-term goals:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2077817/episodes/16849774

We're Sonja and Nick, parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community, this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at [email protected].

You can find complete episode transcripts on our website, as well as a list of Dyslexia Resources and summaries of Dyslexia Research.

Follow us on Instagram!

Also check out our YouTube channel!

Send us Fan Mail

With all the changes in the US recently, it’s hard to keep track of all the implications. In this episode we dig into the changes at the Department of Education, executive orders, lawsuits, and more in order to understand how these changes could directly affect your kids!

Attorney Laura Heneghan proudly practices solely in the area of special education, representing children and adolescents with disabilities who are not receiving appropriate services from their public school district. She began practicing in this area after experiencing this process as the parent of a child with disabilities, including a son with dyslexia. She brings this experience, her passion, and her unique collaborative abilities to her clients to change their outcomes for the better.

Janyce Toth has an MS in Criminal Justice and is a Legal Assistant in the Law Office of Laura Heneghan.

You can find Laura online at https://sped.esq/

To sign up for the community newsletter from the Law Office of Laura Heneghan, email [email protected].

We're Sonja and Nick, parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community, this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at [email protected].

You can find complete episode transcripts on our website, as well as a list of Dyslexia Resources and summaries of Dyslexia Research.

Follow us on Instagram!

Also check out our YouTube channel!

Send us Fan Mail

Sasha Saidman is a cherished voice in children's literature, weaving tales of wonder and wisdom from her home in the vibrant heart of the Washington, D.C., area. Alongside her devoted husband and their two delightful children, Sasha crafts stories that celebrate the diverse tapestry of families, drawing from her own unique journey through life. Despite facing the challenges of dyslexia, which made the written word a formidable puzzle in her youth, Sasha's indomitable spirit saw her transcend these early obstacles. Her journey from a high school dropout to a GED achiever stands as a testament to her resilience and determination, qualities that have guided her path to becoming a beloved children's author. Sasha's work is more than just storytelling; it's an invitation to embrace life's adventures and to find joy in every moment.

You can find Sasha and her books at https://www.sashasaidman.com/

We're Sonja and Nick, parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community, this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at [email protected].

You can find complete episode transcripts on our website, as well as a list of Dyslexia Resources and summaries of Dyslexia Research.

Follow us on Instagram!

Also check out our YouTube channel!

Send us Fan Mail

While it's tempting to focus your child on academics, arts and sports opportunities are important for all kids, but especially those who are dyslexic. 

We're Sonja and Nick, parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community, this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at [email protected].

You can find complete episode transcripts on our website, as well as a list of Dyslexia Resources and summaries of Dyslexia Research.

Follow us on Instagram!

Also check out our YouTube channel!