City/Town: Winston-Salem, NC

When did you join the Decoding Dyslexia North Carolina Board? August 2023

Why did you decide to join the DDNC Board? I am so impressed with everything they are doing throughout the state!  I am passionate about dyslexia advocacy and I thought this would be the perfect format.

Who inspired you to learn more about dyslexia? My children and my students

What is the best piece of advice you have received on your dyslexia journey? You know what you know- when you know it.  The decisions we make for children are done with the best intentions at that time.  When you know better- you can do better.  This has made me want to stay up to date and knowledgeable about my skillsets so that I can rightly advocate for kids. It has also allowed me to reflect on things without all of the guilt.

What is one piece of advice you would like to give others? Do not take no for an answer until the cops come 😉  But truly- everything is negotiable- do not ever give up advocating and speaking for your children. If you get a hard no, you may be in the wrong place or you need more support.  Always start with kindness and with the expectation that admin, teachers, therapists, etc. want the best for your child.  If proven otherwise- you may need to get feisty but always in a calm and knowledgeable way.

What are some of your favorite dyslexia resources? Learning Ally, Decoding Dyslexia, Wilson website, IDEA, ECAC, The Literacy Nest