Dyslexics Wanted

Today we welcome author/educator/illustrator Irene Buchine. Her impactful book for children and adults is entitled, “Celia and the Little Boy.”  It is the story of two children trapped in the darkness of depression, and what it took to find their way out. From struggling with dyslexia to raising a child with depression, Irene knows what it feels like to be unseen, marginalized and helpless.  She hopes her book offers hope and encouragement to children and their families.  Judging by the positive response from readers, her work is making a difference!

If you have a story worth sharing on this podcast, write to [email protected]. If you’d like to discover ways to support and become involved with the Webb Innovation Center for Dyslexia, please visit our website at dyslexicswanted.org.

Today we welcome Judge Gustavo Gelpi, appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in October, 2021. Our podcast is a personal account of  a young college student who received much from one of this country’s pioneers in helping students with learning disabilities. Born in Puerto Rico, Gustavo received his undergraduate degree from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. There he met and spent considerable time with Dr. Gertrude Webb, her husband Chet and their children. Judge Gelpi  has gone on to have a stellar career as a jurist and credits  much of his success to the kindness and mentorship of the Webb family.

If you have a story worth sharing on this podcast, write to [email protected]. If you’d like to discover ways to support and become involved with the Webb Innovation Center for Dyslexia, please visit our website at dyslexicswanted.org.

Today we welcome Dr. Phil Hulbig, who  has thirty years of experience teaching students who present with neurological uniqueness. He has developed and designed specialized metacognitive programs for students in various public school settings. He also works as an advocate, crisis intervention specialist, tutor, social skills coach, and skateboarding instructor. He was certified a NCLB highly qualified teacher in the four main subject areas at the middle and elementary levels. Since 2016, he has been a professor at PAL and an adjunct faculty in the Graduate School of Education at Lesley University.    Dr. Hulbig has a lot to say about the learning process and how it can be improved.

If you have a story worth sharing on this podcast, write to [email protected]. If you’d like to discover ways to support and become involved with the Webb Innovation Center for Dyslexia, please visit our website at dyslexicswanted.org.

We’re proud to spotlight John Rinaldo, who as he admits, “has this thing called Dyslexia.”  Growing up in Canada, John struggled in school for many years until he finally got the help he needed to move forward in life. One of his ambitions was to write and publish a book,  something John and those who knew him once thought to be impossible.  But hard work, determination and resilience propelled him forward and his dream has become a reality.  The book is now available for sale on Amazon and John is donating proceeds from the Audible sales to help children with Dyslexia.     His book is entitled  Surviving Covid 19: Being Alone was the Best Covid 19 Medicine.  John has a hopeful story and is thrilled to share it with listeners to his podcast from around the globe.

If you have a story worth sharing on this podcast, write to [email protected]. If you’d like to discover ways to support and become involved with the Webb Innovation Center for Dyslexia, please visit our website at dyslexicswanted.org.

Today we invite you to enjoy a conversation with an expert in the art of communication.  Jordan welcomes Rebecca Rolland, EdD to discuss her wonderfully instructive new book The Art of Talking with Children: The Simple Keys to Nurturing Kindness, Creativity, and Confidence in Kids. Rebeca is a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and serves on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. There are significant applications for helping children with dyslexia and other learning challenges as we learn to better communicate while fostering relationships with less conflict and stress and more kindness.

If you have a story worth sharing on this podcast, write to [email protected]. If you’d like to discover ways to support and become involved with the Webb Innovation Center for Dyslexia, please visit our website at dyslexicswanted.org.

Jordan invites a super fun guest to the podcast, sci-fi writer R.S. Mellette.   R.S. shares his personal story of coping with dyslexia and overcoming it to successfully work on the hit television show Xena: Warrior Princess.  He has taken his experience in the TV and film industries to craft a female-led YA (young adult) sci-fi novel sure to captivate readers of all ages.  It is a space opera entitled, Kiya and the Morian Treasure  and the reviews from fans and critics have been impressive.  R.S. is a prime example of the creative force so alive in people with dyslexia.  We are thrilled to highlight him today on the podcast!

If you have a story worth sharing on this podcast, write to [email protected]. If you’d like to discover ways to support and become involved with the Webb Innovation Center for Dyslexia, please visit our website at dyslexicswanted.org.

Today we take the microphones “across the pond” to interview a dynamic creative force whose work is celebrated in England and around the world.  Jordan invites you to meet inter-disciplinary artist Michelle Baharier.  She recounts enormous challenges as a child trying to read and write and how the kindness of a helpful teacher made such a difference in her life.    Art has always been Michelle’s  outlet and mode of expression.  And she is certainly great at it!   She is constantly drawing and sketching, achieving notoriety for her poetry, photography, painting, dress making and so much more. She lives and works in South London and exhibits internationally across the UK, Europe, the USA and Middle East.  She is also the Artistic Director/Founder and CEO of the charity CoolTan Arts, run by and for disabled people.

If you have a story worth sharing on this podcast, write to [email protected]. If you’d like to discover ways to support and become involved with the Webb Innovation Center for Dyslexia, please visit our website at dyslexicswanted.org.

Today Jordan welcomes a remarkable young woman with boundless energy, creativity and a keen business sense. Heidi Williams is an ex-competitive rock climber and parttime ski-patroller who loves the outdoors.   She is a highly popular  vlogger in the travel space  with thousands of international followers.  Heidi combines her love for the outdoors with prowess in business.  She founded  Mona, a successful surf and athletic wear company.  Realizing her talent in running her own business she launched a career as a business-life coach, helping others run their start-up businesses.  Along with her flourishing coaching work, she recently founded  LeadTalko a lead generation  agency that harnesses the power of organic conversation to gain start-ups 30 to 40 new leads per day via SMS and direct message marketing. She has never let dyslexia  slow her down. She is determined to learn and grow despite the odds.  Heidi Williams is a fine example of Dyslexics getting it done!

If you have a story worth sharing on this podcast, write to [email protected]. If you’d like to discover ways to support and become involved with the Webb Innovation Center for Dyslexia, please visit our website at dyslexicswanted.org.

Today Jordan introduces us to sci-fi novelist Andrew Nehring, who is the author of  “The Corrupted Light Chronicles” series and his latest entitled “David Massie and the Quantum Flux, Book 1.”   Possessing a vivid imagination with a flare for creative writing, Andrew is succeeding as a  writer, despite being told by some when he was younger (in a galaxy far, far away) that his dyslexia would hold him back, would burden him the rest of his life.   His many readers would strongly disagree.  They love his work and are anxious for sequels.  Like so many others,  Andrew shares his story of struggle and determination to use dyslexia to his advantage creatively.

If you have a story worth sharing on this podcast, write to [email protected]. If you’d like to discover ways to support and become involved with the Webb Innovation Center for Dyslexia, please visit our website at dyslexicswanted.org.

Today Jordan welcomes a dynamic teacher and student team to the podcast.  Meet Gabriela Diller, special educator, advocate and educational consultant.  She recently founded Lotus Advocacy, offering tutoring, advocacy and consulting for special education success.  Gabi specializes in executive functioning, coaching, transition skills and college and job readiness.

One of her former students is joining us as well.  Manny Valmir graduated from Boston Prep High School, then attended Westfield State’s learning disabilities program, transferred to Framingham University and recently graduated with a degree in criminal justice.  He’s proud to share news of his positive experience being helped by Gabriela.

The two are now good friends and their story reminds us that with time, dedication  and patience, anything is possible.

If you have a story worth sharing on this podcast, write to [email protected]. If you’d like to discover ways to support and become involved with the Webb Innovation Center for Dyslexia, please visit our website at dyslexicswanted.org.