parents

Sign up for Headstrong Founder Ben Foss's upcoming webinar on dyslexia empoweremnt. Learning Ally will be hosting the webinar free for all members. Ben will be covering much of the framework that he builds in his book: understanding the myths, identification, strenghts not shame, and building community.

If you are already a Learning Ally member, this is no-brainer! Not a member? Learn more here.

Learning Ally is a nationa non-profit that provides people with access to thousands of audio titles through their monthly membership. Originally conceived of as Recording for the Blind, Learning Ally serves a much broader audience today—hello ear-readers!

Having a learning difference impacts family relationships. Watch Headstrong Nation fellow Sarah Entine explore how undiagnosed dyslexia and ADHD impacted three generations in her family, starting with her own struggles, in her award-winning film Read Me Differently.

With surprising candor, vulnerability and even a touch of humor, Read Me Differently reveals the strain of misunderstood learning differences on family relationships. It is a unique film that will generate thoughtful discussion whether in a classroom setting, work environment or at home with family members and friends.

Watch the trailer here:

Besides being an incredibly inspiring and moving journey, the film has a lot of practicaly applications. Sarah Entine invites parents to use the film "to faciliate discussion on how learning disabilities influence family relationships... Counselors, both school-based and those in private practice, can use the film to promote awareness and healing, and universities can use the film in psychology, social work, education, special education, counseling, and guidance curricula."

Read Me Differently was selected for the prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award in 2010 (past winners include Steven Spielberg, Ken Burns, Spike Lee, and Martin Scorsese). In the same year, Simmons School of Social Work awarded Sarah with an Alumni Special Recognition Award. In 2011, Read Me Differently was chosen to screen at the Superfest International Disability Film Festival where the film received an Achievement Award. 

We are proud to support Sarah in her efforts to share her story with others, and to help dyslexic and LD families learn to thrive together. 

Ben Foss's last presentation at Eagle Hill Southport in June 2013.

Come and listen to Headstrong Nation founder Ben Foss as he addresses the dyslexic community and its supporters next week at Eagle-Hill Southport in Fairfield, CT. Presented by the Eagle-Hill School and Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities, Ben will be speaking about his recent book as well as how to take advantage of Headstrong Nation. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Date: Thursday, September 19th

Time: 7-9pm

Where: Eagle Hill - Southport School

REGISTER HERE!

If you know someone in the tri-state area that would benefit, please share!

The hardest part about dyslexia is the loneliness. The same is true if you’re the parent of a dyslexic child. Feeling cut off from your friends, your school or, worse, your child, is tremendously painful.

People tend to focus on the functional challenges: spelling tests, chapter books, standardized tests. But it’s the secret fears about how dyslexia will play out that hold us back the most.

Read the rest of Headstrong Nation founder Ben Foss's most recent post for the NCLD: Dyslexia Insight #4: Seven Secret Fears About Your Dyslexic Child.

"A big part of being successful when you’re dyslexic is being able to engage people who don’t know much about dyslexia in a conversation. I like starting with some stats: “Dyslexics are 10 percent of people, 35 percent of entrepreneurs and 41 percent of prisoners.” 

Read the rest of Headstrong Nation founder, Ben Foss's post for NCLD: Dyslexia Insight #2: The Best Way to Start a Conversation about Dyslexia

Parents Education Network (PEN) is a coalition of parents collaborating with educators, students and the community to empower and bring academic and life success to students with learning and attention differences. Listen to PEN Founder Dewey Rosetti and Executive Director Laura Maloney discuss the work of PEN.

Decoding Dyslexia (DD) is passionate, grassroots movement of parents who want to change the dyslexia game. The organization is a collection of state chapters and they offer amazing resources for approaching your state's government, connecting with other parents and working with your school. At our last count there were 33 state chapters 50 state chapters and four Canadian provinces registered. Learn more about Decoding Dyslexia here or do a quick Google search to see if your state has a chapter.

The Decoding Dyslexia Movement was started in New Jersey and you can read about the early beginnings of the the NJ chapter and the later Decoding Dyslexia National organization here.  You may also learn about using the Decoding Dyslexia name to start your own state chapter here. 

During a July, 2013 webinar hosted by Learning Ally, parents across the nation and experienced moms Deborah Lynam, Liz Barnes and Kathy Stratton - all parents and co-founders of the fast-growing Decoding Dyslexia movement - discussed how to become better advocates for their dyslexic children. The panel also highlighted the power of networking and communication - sharing an inside look at how Decoding Dyslexia has become a national force for parental advocacy and systemic change. The event is about an hour long.

You Are Not Alone from Learning Ally on Vimeo.

Eye to Eye's Camp Vision happens San Francisco and Keene, NH, from August 12-16 and provides an amazing opportuntiy to build community between LD mentors and mentees. From Eye to Eye: "Camp Vision gets campers excited about their unique abilities and teaches new skills to increase self-confidence and self-advocacy, so that they re-enter school in the fall with an entirely new outlook."