About 200 Visitors Expected at Fall Dyslexia Conference at Mississippi College

Dr. Jeff Black, conference guest speaker

About 15 percent of Americans suffer from the learning disorder of dyslexia. People with dyslexia typically experience difficulties with reading and spelling. Problems revolve around identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to numbers along with words.

The Fall 2018 Dyslexia Conference at Mississippi College is designed to give educators, students and parents greater insights into the learning disorder. About 200 participants are expected to attend the October 11 sessions at Anderson Hall on the Clinton campus. “Keys to Success” is the program’s title.

The guest speaker will be Dr. Jeff Black. He serves as medical director of the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. The pediatric hospital in Dallas treats neurological and learning disorders, orthopedic conditions as well as sports injuries.

Dr. Black also serves as a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He will discuss controversial therapies in the treatment of attention and learning disorders. He’s previously held faculty positions with pediatrics departments at the University of Maryland, the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of California at San Diego.

Experts say the precise cause of dyslexia isn’t fully understood.

Cost of the conference is $75, including a continental breakfast and lunch. The sessions are sponsored by the MC Dyslexia Education and Evaluation Center.

Registration begins at 7:15 a.m. that Thursday with the keynote address to start at 9 a.m. The registration process began in early September.

Continuing education credits are available for conference participants.

For additional information, contact Jan Hankins, director of the MC Dyslexia Education and Evaluation Center at 601-925-7766 or hankin00@mc.edu