Dyslexia Center Expands at Mississippi College

Dyslexia Center director Jan Hankins

President Blake Thompson will serve as the keynote speaker at an event in the new year to showcase the expansion of Mississippi College’s Dyslexia Center.

The January 16 open house on the Clinton campus begins at 10:30 a.m. at the facility near the Longabaugh soccer fields. With the addition, the center includes three new rooms on the first floor to evaluate students. There are two additional meeting rooms as well.

“We are delighted to celebrate the new physical addition to the building,” said School of Education Dean Cindy Melton.

A generous donation from the Parker LifeShare Foundation of Mississippi made the expansion possible, she noted.

Dyslexia is a learning disability that impacts 15 percent of Americans. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition. Typically, dyslexic students have problems with reading, spelling and writing skills.

MC’s Dyslexia Center staff members offer dyslexia evaluations for students that take up to four hours. Educators offer student instruction, meet with parents, host conferences and tackle other duties. The innovative learning center is part of the School of Education.

Jan Hankins serves as the Dyslexia Center director. “She has worked tirelessly with the rest of our Dyslexia Center staff and faculty,” Melton said.

MC’s Dyslexia Center program serves students and families across Mississippi. Educators at the Baptist-affiliated university help area students become better life-long learners through research-based instruction.

The Dyslexia Center staff evaluates two to three children daily. The facility is open Monday through Friday.

Mississippi College also offers a master’s degree in dyslexia therapy.