Dyslexia 2013 – Lots to Be Thankful for!

Do you think any of the Pilgrims who stepped on that rock were dyslexic?  Most probably. Just like today, dyslexia was often inherited.  I imagine if you couldn’t read then, the explanation was simple – you were in some way mentally “defective” – understanding of course, severely limited in 1620!

But we too have come a long way in learning what dyslexia is all about.  Up until the mid-twentieth century, dyslexia was seen through a medical model – physicians concluded that reading problems were biologically based and felt that treatment for those affected regions was limited. Thinking slowly started changing – focus shifted to educational remediation and more struggling readers began getting help in classrooms and not doctors’ offices. We can be thankful!

In 1967, the Orton Dyslexia Society (now called the International Dyslexia Association) was established and validated further the reality of dyslexia in this country and helped dyslexic individuals gain visibility and support throughout the world. We can be thankful!

Today, neuroscientists at the Gabb Lab at Children’s Hospital in Boston and the Gabrieli Lab at MIT in Cambridge continue to unravel the mysteries and plasticity of the dyslexic brain and in turn enrich educators’ understandings. We can be thankful!

Howard Gardner’s book, Multiple Intelligences helped us realize that having dyslexia is not a learning deficit but instead a learning difference.  We can be thankful!

In 2013, we find that dyslexia is surrounded by scientific, educational and psychological understanding as well as dedicated professionals who will continue to grow our insight and thankfulness throughout the coming years!