Fall Dyslexia Conference at Mississippi College Attracts Record Numbers

Pam Dollar, executive director of the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities addresses the conference at Mississippi College on October 11.

Marquita Shelby gained insights to assist adult learners seeking to improve their reading skills.

Mississippi College’s Fall Dyslexia Conference was where she discovered new strategies to benefit students. “It’s been awesome,” Shelby said during a break at Thursday’s program on the Clinton campus. “So far, it’s been very informative.”

Among 230 conference participants at MC on October 11, Shelby received valuable information to utilize in her job working at a GED program in Jackson. Many adult learners deal with obstacles in the classroom due to reading issues.

In addition, the Mississippian said she picked up tips to help her do a better job helping her one-year-old son learn to read.

With over three million cases diagnosed in the USA each year, dyslexia is a learning disorder that can be lifelong. Dyslexia makes it difficult for kids to read, spell, and even speak.

With the Fall 2018 conference attracting more educators, parents and students than ever before, Jan Hankins was pleased with the record turnout. “Interest is growing. We are seeing a need,” said the director of MC’s Dyslexia Center, the conference sponsor.

Conference visitors traveled to Mississippi College from cities south of Memphis to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

When it comes to this subject impacting so many people, “you can never learn enough,” Hankins said.

Pam Dollar, executive director of the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities, was among a list of speakers on the Clinton campus.

A dyslexia simulation, a panel discussion for parents, sessions on reading success and writing were all on the agenda. Visitors tackled social and emotional difficulties facing children with dyslexia.

Dyslexia therapist Penny Green has attended dyslexia conferences for years at Mississippi College.

She enjoys chatting with professionals in the field and always returns home with fresh ideas. “It’s the little things that people say,” says the Mississippi College graduate from Leakesville. “It’s a good way to stay on top of things.”

Mississippi College will host another dyslexia conference for educators, therapists, parents and others on February 28.