Do you know people, possibly family members, who have dyslexia? Have you ever wondered what this truly means? Join staff from the Nelms Foundation and the Nelms Dyslexia Center to learn about this fascinating, challenging, heartbreaking, and yet inspiring world of dyslexia. Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference that affects a person’s ability to read, spell, and write. It is neurological in origin, unrelated to intelligence, and often runs in families. Students with dyslexia face extreme challenges that significantly impact their self esteem. Yet, many people with dyslexia have made monumental achievements in society.

In this session, we will learn the science behind dyslexia, how it’s identified, and why effective instruction, called Academic Language Therapy, can rewire the brain for reading. We will discuss the support students need, Arkansas’s strong laws yet challenging loopholes, and the very different trajectories of those students who receive effective dyslexia support and those who do not. This session includes a dyslexia immersion activity, which offers a firsthand glimpse into the challenges of learning with dyslexia.

Finally, we’ll tour the Nelms Dyslexia Center to learn more about its mission and how it’s supporting students and families throughout their dyslexia journey.

Activity Level: 1