Dyslexia Uncovered

For this conversation, I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of my closest friends, Dr. Laurie Cutting, the Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Special Education, Psychology, Human Development, and Radiology at Vanderbilt University. We chatted about the fascinating topic of neuroscience and literacy development.

We explore the significant impact of neuroscience on our understanding of reading

disabilities, discussing both the promises and the current limitations of this field. We also delve into the importance of early identification, the complexities of neurobiological risk factors, and the potential future of individualized interventions based on brain imaging. 

This conversation highlights the intersection between science and education, the power of neuroimaging in validating reading interventions, and the ongoing challenges in translating research into classroom practices.

Whether you're a teacher, parent, researcher, or someone with dyslexia, this episode offers valuable insights and a sense of hope for the future of literacy development.

Laurie and I both believe in the importance of our work and the impact it can have on the lives of those with dyslexia.

So, join me for this enlightening conversation filled with expertise, personal anecdotes, and a shared commitment to making a difference.

Today, we take time to hold space, learn, and engage in a conversation about the power of voice. Our guest speaks to the importance of uplifting Black voices and lived experiences, sharing her personal journey as a Black woman and parent to a son with dyslexia.

Our guest today is Resha Conroy, the founder and Executive Director of the Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children, a non-profit organization working to eliminate the amplified inequities for Black children experiencing unaddressed dyslexia and related learning disabilities. 

She is the mother of two children with learning disabilities, including a son with dyslexia. Ms. Conroy is motivated by her family's journey to pursue her lifelong passion for educational equity. A proud lifelong New Yorker and Bronx High School of Science graduate, Resha holds a BA in Economics from Smith  College, an MPA focusing on non-profit management, and an MS in Communicative  Sciences and Disorders from New York University.

Ms. Conroy is a speech-language pathologist with a strong interest in language, literacy, and culture. She also has over a decade of experience in education and non-profit management, serving on school leadership teams and as a consultant for schools in Washington, DC, and New York City. Ms. Conroy serves on the National Center on Improving Literacy (NCIL) Family Engagement Advisory Board, NYC Department of Education Literacy Advisory Council, Learning Ally National Advisory Board, Evidence Advocacy Center (EAC) Parent and Family Advocates Team, and the NYS Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Task Force.

Learn more about Resha's Organization, the Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children

Today’s guest is none other than Dr. Reid Lyon. For this conversation, we consider poignant questions that have served to advance understanding of reading and new questions to support creative thinking as we strive to translate what has been learned into practice. 

Dr. Lyon has had a distinguished career as a research scientist, professor, classroom teacher, special education teacher, neuroscientist, and leader in the development of evidence-based education policy at the federal and state levels. From 1992 until 2005, Dr. Lyon served as the Chief of the Child Development and Behavior Branch within the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health. While at the National Institute of Health, Dr. Lyon worked closely with the White House, the U.S. Department of Education, and Congress on the development of evidence-based education policy.

In this episode of "Dyslexia Uncovered," we dive deeper into a theme that resonates strongly with our community—the intersection of identity and the social-emotional realities faced by those with learning differences. Our guest, Dr. Stephanie Haft, a newly minted Ph.D. and clinical psychologist, has dedicated her research to exploring the impacts of learning differences and ADHD on individual well-being.

Dr. Haft's work extends beyond the often-discussed realms of childhood and adolescence, focusing on underrepresented groups. Her insights shed light on the broader psychological factors affecting our community and others, highlighting the diverse challenges and resilience among those living with dyslexia and related conditions.

Join us as Dr. Haft shares her extensive knowledge and helps us understand more about the social-emotional landscape that shapes our lives.

Continue the Learning

Access Stephanie's systematic review of learning disability stigma and stereotype threat.

Access a short article by Stephanie that describes a resilience framework and its application to dyslexia.

Access Stephanie's controlled trial of near-peer mentoring and its effects on indicators of psychological well-being in individuals with learning disabilities / ADHD.

In this episode, we visit with Dr. Rebecca Gotlieb. In the conversation, we touch on the topic of identity and the role that story creation and narratives can play in helping children and others form their understanding of themselves. We also touch on the topic of neurodiversity and chat about how this concept can help us create a community as we seek to define how we want the world to understand us and our needs.

Dr. Gotlieb is a human developmental psychologist and educational neuroscientist. She is an Assistant Researcher in the Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice in the School of Education at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research focuses on the coordinated neuropsychological development of literacy and social-emotional functioning in early childhood through young adulthood. Dr. Gotlieb completed her Ph.D. as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow in the Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education at the University of Southern California and completed post-doctoral research at UCLA.

Today, we delve into the life of my long-time friend, Diane Lyon. Diane shares her journey of growing up without a voice and struggling with dyslexia. She bravely found her voice and empowered her son to do the same, ensuring he wouldn't face the same challenges she faced. This led to a national movement, a testament to her resilience and the impact of her advocacy.

Diane Lyon has been a passionate and effective advocate for children, adolescents, and adults who struggle to learn to read, with a focus on learning strategies in the home and in the classroom.  In 1995, Diane founded the Parent Coalition for Literacy in Richmond, Indiana. She designed and implemented a statewide advocacy initiative that brought together parents and leaders from the education, legislative, business, and medical communities to build public awareness of the state of the literacy crisis.  The coalition was successful in disseminating critical research findings to educators, parents, businesses, and legislators to guide and improve instructional practices and policies, as well as in implementing professional development programs for teachers and administrators.

Diane’s passion for education led her to the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Over three years, she managed programs for a national network of Federal Parent Training Information Centers. Her role also involved developing initiatives to promote research-based educational practices setting critical priorities for parent training resources nationwide. Diane's contributions to the Department of Education underscore her national impact and influence on educational practices. 

Diane continues to share her personal story of her own experiences with dyslexia, which provides a different level of urgency and attention. She weaves in how she learned of her son’s dyslexia decades ago and what she learned along the way as a COO in an educational for-profit company and as a Reading Research Project Manager of a Federal Grant. She also adds practical strategies for navigating a school day for teachers, parents, and students with dyslexia.  

Continue the Learning

Recent Review on the Research Basis of Peer Mentorship for Neurominority Communities 

Learn More About Eye-to-Eye, one effective near-peer mentorship program for neurominorities like dyslexia and ADHD

In this episode, you will listen to and learn from Dr. Sarah Wood. She is a cognitive scientist and assistive technology expert with a passion for helping people with disabilities. She obtained a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Florida State University and was a research assistant at the Florida Center for Reading Research. Currently, she is an Accessibility Scientist at Educational Testing Services, better known as ETS. Her passion is leveraging her unique set of talents to empower all learners using her expertise in research, text-to-speech, and accessibility technology more generally. Through her advocacy, research, and systems thinking, she is an emerging leader in efforts to facilitate the learning process so that people with disabilities can reach their highest potential! Especially how people with disabilities can access their education and find how technology works best for them.

Continue the Learning

Read Sarah's Meta-Analysis on the effect of Text-to-Speech on Reading Comprehension.

Learn about Microsoft Immersive Reader

Learn about Grammarly

Learn about Equation Editor from texthelp

Learn about Microsoft Copilot

Learn about ChatGPT

The conversation highlights these assistive technologies and AI solutions. There are many others to explore and learn about.

In the latest episode of Dyslexia Uncovered, host Tim Odegard engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Maryanne Wolf, a distinguished research scientist and author in the field of dyslexia. Maryanne Wolf has dedicated her career to understanding the cognitive intricacies that underlie this fundamental skill.

As the Director of the Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, Maryanne Wolf brings a wealth of expertise to the exploration of dyslexia. Her groundbreaking research, coupled with her passion for advocacy, has positioned her as a leading figure in the ongoing dialogue surrounding dyslexia, literacy, and the evolving landscape of education.

Join Tim and Maryanne as they delve into a vast array of topics and, share their love of beauty art, and discuss some of the realities of living with dyslexia. It's a conversation that transcends academia, offering valuable perspectives for educators, parents, and anyone eager to deepen their understanding of dyslexia that touches on the heartbreaking realities and triumphs that can come with dyslexia.

Embark on a captivating journey into the roots of dyslexia with host Tim Odegard in this episode of "Dyslexia Uncovered," titled "The Origins of Dyslexia." Travel back to the late 1800s as the episode recounts the compelling case study of Percy F., documented by Pringle Morgan in 1896, marking the genesis of understanding developmental dyslexia. Come with us as we explore how aspects of this case study and similar case studies still resonate today.