We are excited to bring you a new mini-series called "Literacy Now, Together." We've teamed up with FULCRUM’s Kareem Weaver to interview parents, literacy experts, and thought leaders to examine the literacy crisis and highlight the steps people are taking to improve literacy rates across the county. In this episode, we meet Jackie and Lawrence from Niagara Falls, New York, who have two children with IEPs. Although their eight-year-old daughter, who has dyslexia and dysgraphia, showed signs of reading difficulties in kindergarten, these were initially misinterpreted as behavioral issues. The school offered intervention in first grade through the Reading Recovery program, a program broadly criticized for using debunked instructional methods and having poor reading outcomes. The approach proved detrimental, leading to heightened anxiety and emotional distress for their daughter. Despite the parents' requests to stop the program, the school insisted on continuing, which left their daughter in a challenging emotional and psychological state. Jackie and Lawrence describe how their advocacy journey began with their daughter’s struggles but expanded into broader community action. They formed a PTA and built connections with other parents facing similar challenges, creating a support network to push for better literacy instruction. They share their frustration with a school system that blames children and parents for poor performance, despite the district being the lowest-performing in the county. When asked why it is essential for their daughter to learn to read, Jackie and Lawrence give a heart-wrenching answer about the incredibly difficult choices they have to make to support their children's educational needs, forcing them to figure out themselves what the school should have done but failed to do. The couple underscores the far-reaching consequences of inadequate reading instruction, linking it to poverty, limited job opportunities, crime, teen pregnancy, and systemic inequities. Their advice to other parents is practical and empowering: trust your instincts, educate yourself on learning disabilities and dyslexia, and connect with organizations and resources in your community. Their story is a call to action, demonstrating the importance of persistence, self-education, and community advocacy in navigating a flawed educational system.
Resources:
Child Find MandateCox Campus courses
Cox Campus- Dyslexia Quick Facts
William A vs Clarksville-Montgomery County School System
Endrew F case (Understood.org)Reading Rockets, A Guide for Parents
Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children
Right to Read filmOur Dyslexic ChildrenWNY Literacy Initiative
Niagara Community Information Group
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Parents For Reading Justice is a nonprofit grassroots movement dedicated to ensuring every child learns to read by engaging parents and educators in adopting the science of teaching reading.
About Brett Tingley: https://parentsforreadingjustice.org/brett-tingley-bio
About Kareem Weaver: https://tinyurl.com/KareemWeaverBio
About Parents for Reading Justice: https://linktr.ee/parentsforreadingjustice
About FULCRUM:https://linktr.ee/fulcrumliteracy
Join us on our socials, watch our documentary, take our Masterclass, register your parent group, pay it forward, and DONATE!
DISCLAIMER: All information in this video is presented as our shared experience only, with the intention of helping others to understand our efforts and experience. Nothing presented herein should be construed as offering legal advice. We encourage everyone to seek professional legal advice pertaining to their individual circumstances. We welcome you to share your experiences with us on all matters relating to dyslexia as we are continuously learning new information to help push our cause to help as many people with dyslexia as possible. Thank you for your continued support!
