Mississippi College Hosts Fall 2016 Dyslexia Conference
Tosha Dewitt attended a Mississippi College conference to discover as much as she can about dyslexia.
Three of her children on the Gulf Coast were recently diagnosed with dyslexia and a fourth will be tested soon.
The conference in early October “is opening my eyes to what to ask of the teachers,” the Pass Christian mother said. “And it’s telling me how I can help at home.”
Two of her kids attend Pass Christian schools and two others are enrolled in Hancock County schools. The conference, Dewitt said, “is teaching me how to become an advocate for my children.”
The Mississippi College Dyslexia Education and Evaluation Center sponsored the program drawing a record of 220 participants to the Clinton campus.
About 40 million Americans are challenged by dyslexia. It is a language-based learning disability characterized by poor word reading and spelling difficulties. While up to 15 percent of the USA’s population suffers from dyslexia, experts estimate only 5 percent receive help.
Experts like Robin Lemonis, bureau director of student intervention services at the Mississippi Department of Education, shared their insights Monday with visitors from across the state and Louisiana.
Ryan Smith, a senior at West Lauderdale High in Meridian, spoke of his journey with dyslexia for the past decade. He was first diagnosed at the Mississippi College Dyslexia Center in 2006.
Ryan received three years of therapy at the MC Center and completed the program in Clinton in 2009. He’s been a high-achiever in classrooms, serves on the student council, and worked as a lifeguard the past two summers. An Eagle Scout, Ryan is taking his first college classes through a dual enrollment program at Meridian Community College.
Success stories like the Mississippi teen aren’t unusual. People who suffered with dyslexia for decades include comedian Jay Leno and film director Steven Spielberg.
A dyslexia therapist with St. Anthony Catholic School in Madison, Kacey Matthews was delighted to share her expertise with other educators and parents. Kacey also picked up solid information about a profession that continues to experience change.
“Mississippi College’s Dyslexia Center does a fantastic job educating the public,” she said.
A parent from Jackson, Melissa Pringle sought help because her daughter faces dyslexia as a third-grader.
“I’m trying to learn all I can,” Pringle said during a break in the sessions at the B.C. Rogers Student Center.
Speakers offered the latest on dyslexia research and effective learning techniques. A dyslexia simulation depicted real frustrations that people face daily.
The MC conference won’t be the last. In Spring 2017, the Academic Therapy Association of Dallas, Texas will partner with MC officials for a similar program on the Clinton campus.
Located at 500 West Madison Street, near the Choctaws soccer fields, the MC’s Dyslexia Center works with about 40 students, from children in kindergarten through high school. In addition, center staffers test more than three dozen students each month.
For more information, contact MC center director Jan Hankins at 601-925-7766 or hankin00@mc.edu
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