TPP 235: Educational Advocate Micki Boas on Advocating for Dyslexic Students

I’m excited to be bringing Micki Boas on the podcast because not only is she incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the state of dyslexia services in our education systems, but she’s also one of those parents who created what she needed in the world so other families could benefit. Following her youngest son’s diagnosis with dyslexia, and the resulting four-year legal battle to get him the educational support he needed, Micki quit her day job as a marketing consultant to focus on dyslexia advocacy full time. The result is her new book called One in Five: How We’re Fighting for Our Dyslexic Kids in a System That’s Failing Them, referring to the statistic that one in five children have dyslexia, and yet so many are lost in a dysfunctional and underfunded system. Micki is also the founder of Invisible Red Tape, an online advising and crowdsourcing platform for parents to find practical, helpful solutions for fighting the inequalities in education for children with dyslexia. 

THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE:

How and why Micki came to write her book One in Five

The constellation of systemic issues in education that contribute to delayed diagnosis and gaps in support for dyslexia in the United States

Why early intervention is so important and how to start conversations with a pediatrician to request early free intervention services 

How the Covid-19 pandemic is draining resources needed for virtual special education learning and what parents need to know about their rights

Micki’s strategies and tips for how parents of dyslexic and special needs students can successfully navigate the remote school 

How One in Five is different from most books about parenting kids with learning disabilities

RESOURCES MENTIONED: 

Micki Boas’ website

Invisible Red Tape

One in Five: How We’re Fighting for Our Dyslexic Kids in a System That’s Failing Them by Micki Boas

FAPE / Free and Appropriate Public Education

IDEA / Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Orton Gillingham / Institute for Multisensory Education

Wilson Reading System

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