Dyslexia News and Events in TN

Keeping you up to date

on what is happening with dyslexia in Tennessee!

Parents Ask...

and TNIDA Answers

We share answers for understanding and support...

parent question:

"Ever since my daughter was very little she has sometimes has gotten mixed up with her word choice. For instance she use the wrong word in the right category when at 2 years old explaining something like: "Mom look at that milk down there" when looking at the river. The category liquid was correct but meant water not milk. Or at seven years old "Mom I picked up a book tomorrow" when she meant to say I picked up a book yesterday. Or "Mom I love walking to Trader Joe's," and she what she meant was I love walking to the Stop and Shop.

A resource explaining word retrieval difficulty by Understood

A fact sheet on oral language and dyslexia from IDA

See list of books about Dyslexia compiled by IDA-TN Board Member Gay Landaiche...for students and their parents!

In an eye-opening article "Solving the Reading and Writing Problems caused by Dyslexia", Mike Matvy describes his 18-year struggle to learn to read and write. He shares how he solved his problems with sounding out and spelling words and teaches students with dyslexia to do the same. This article sheds light on the misinformation and institutional rigidity that keep students from taking advantage of life-changing technologies and discusses the digital wave that makes our classrooms and world more inclusive for people with dyslexia.

Assistive Technology (AT) Can Help!

--as early as 1st grade

Read or download the full article from Closing The Gap Assistive Technology Resources for Children and Adults with Disabilities Solutions, February / March, 2023, Pages 21–27.

Jessica Dainty Joins TNIDA Board

Jessica Dainty serves as the recording secretary on the TN IDA executive board. She recently accepted the role as the Statewide Dyslexia Coordinator with the Tennessee Department of Education within the Office of Academics and the division of Special Education and Intervention Programs.

She earned her Ph.D. from Middle Tennessee State University in Literacy Studies with a focus in dyslexia and reading disabilities. Additionally, she is a published author who loves language and reading.

She has dedicated her career to enriching children's lives through the access to written language.

TNIDA Board Members at Southern Festival of Books

"We enjoyed connecting with so many community members and sharing free books!" --Michele Richter and Jean Hutchinson

An estimated 13 million students in the United States have dyslexia, a neurologic disorder that impairs reading. Reading quickly and accurately is often the key to success in school. Without it, many dyslexics struggle and fail. Some, however, go on to achieve wild success. How? In this true story, dyslexic high school student Aidan Colvin decides to ask them. Over the course of one year, he writes 100 letters to successful dyslexics. He doesn't expect anyone to write back, and is genuinely surprised when people do. This book features letters from Writer John Irving, Arctic Explorer Ann Bancroft, Surgeon and CEO Delos Cosgrove, Sculptor Thomas Sayre, Poet Phillip Schultz and others. It also features conversations with Comedian Jay Leno and Filmmaker Harvey Hubbel.

Amazon link

This is a story about growing up, fostering grit and humor in the face of challenges, and seeing one's differences in a new light. It is also a story about the importance of heroes -- for kids like Aidan, but also for anyone. Throughout the book, Aidan shares tips that have helped him succeed in the classroom. Aidan was awarded the 2016 Remy Johnston Merit Award by the International Dyslexia Association. Since then, he has spoken to over 2500 students, teachers and parents across the country about the lessons he learned over the course of this project. This second edition provides a layout and Dutch font optimized for struggling readers.