The Locker Helper

Middle School orientation found us abruptly this August. It was a face pace, whirl wind of a summer with a lot of experiences and changes. Middle School being the largest adjustment for "Frito," leaving a school of just over 200 students for one with well over 700. I hold out hope that with in a school of this size dyslexia will be more discussed and accommodated for.

On orientation night we split into two mass herds, one to fill the gym and one to fill the cafeteria. Administrators and teachers took turns introducing themselves and their programs. Pretty typical. With so many attending the orientation the school had developed an alternate idea to a tour....a walking video. "Frito" froze. The idea of learning where classes were was being delivered to her through the narrow eye of a badly shaking home movie, wasn't what she held in her non-linear mind. She much would have preferred a line of blue tape to follow from room to room. However, it was the next chapter in which the color drained from her face; "Opening a combination locker."

What dyslexic wouldn't prefer the key lock method (if it were not for the almost guaranteed fact that they would loose the key)? But these babies were built right into the lockers; two for each kid, one regular and one for gym. A daily sequence, number transposition, left and right direction trap! If I know my kid she has already decided she will be carrying everything with her in a book bag all year.

After the show, I mention the issue to a friend of "Frito's" mother, she's been through this school before and she might have a suggestion. "Frito's" friend hears the conversation and questions her mother and they have a discussion about dyslexia on their way home that evening. They ponder not only that it could be difficult to remember the numbers in the correct order but also how they can reverse when a person is dyslexic; throwing the right vs. left directional challenge in on top of the numbers got them thinking.

The next day at summer camp "Frito" received a gift, a homemade - straight from the heart gift. Her friend had designed "The Locker Helper." A thick piece of red construction paper that when folded in half was about the size of a business card, perfect for a pocket. Inside was a place to fill in her locker combination numbers, categorized in different colors with directional arrow stickers labeled with "left" and "right." And another advocate is found, in an 11-year old middle schooler with a huge heart!

Time to catch up!

So where have we been???




Well we spent July preparing and rallying votes for Pepsi Refresh, as we had entered the contest in hopes of winning a grant to help Despite Dyslexia get of the ground.

We ran in the contest for two months and considering how young our organization is I am pretty impressed that Despite Dyslexia finished 88 in July and 116 in August, out of over 400 other entries. Even though we didn't win a big fat check we were blessed by the support of some of the most amazing dyslexia advocates, made a boat load of new friends, and touched on the awareness of dyslexia to tons of the voters of our alliances!

October was time to re-energize, regroup and do some major research. We have talked to a lot of extremely talented people....even a real life Pirate!! We have been given greatly needed and appreciated advise as well as stormed through some ideas of our own. We have found friends to help with those tricky 501 c (3) forms and grant writing.

November is approaching, there is so much work to do... and this vision is worth every bit of it.

Coach Daron on Dyslexia

We were hanging out at our friends Heather and Daron's house and Cub asked Heather if he could watch cartoons...."Sure Bud, just change the channel to 300 on the remote." He looks up at me, eyes wide and deer like and I know he doesn't want me to tell her. I walk over and help him change the channel, he relaxes and grows little antennas as he gets lost in the animated world. Heather looks at me quizzically...."well," I explain, "it's hard to use the remote when you don't recognize the numbers."

Dyslexia doesn't discriminate between reading words and numbers. A symbol is a symbol and it represents a sound or a combination of sounds, whether its a letter, word or number. To succeed in math you must be able to read the symbols...so dyslexia creeps in.

Later, after we have left, Heather discusses the scene she has witnessed with her husband Daron, who happens to be Cub's baseball coach. (And boy, does Cub ever love Coach Daron). As Daron tries to wrap his head around the fact that this happy-go-lucky, bouncing ball of all boy energy, seven year old can not use the remote he starts thinking. (...As Heather puts it thinking and drinking).

......Thinking about how it is a man's right of passage to be able to command the remote.....thinking about how can it be that no one has figured out how to teach him numbers.....thinking about how he could teach Cub his numbers by teaching him to use the remote!

And so, the baseball coach finds a technique to teach a 7 year old dyslexic player his numbers and a mastery skill of man-hood. Sounds like a grand slam to me! Thanks Coach!

Lacy Leader...

Here is how it all started....


"Lacy Leader"

Here I am volunteering to help out and seeing how my kids spend their days when at summer camp. As the later afternoon approached, after a ton of fun in the sun, sporty games and a fashion show - was free time. And there in the dance room, with mirrors and bars all around, was a stereo with a microphone that worked like a PA system, Lacy Leader wasted not a second in claiming it.

Lacy began a passionate motivational speech while staring down her audience in the giant mirror, even keyed, announcing "we are here today and we will not leave without the answer." Her voice rose as she pointed her shaking finger at the guilty. Her claims of protest were bold and vibrant as she warned that they would not go away, they would not back down, they were prepared for this fight. They were here for change and justice and would accept nothing less. I was in awe of the pure emotion that she was projecting; she was on fire.

Lacy continued this rant for almost 20 minuets, not missing a single beat. She never stated her actual cause for protesting, but there was something there in the wide-open-endness that allowed me to relate. To witness this child project with such passion and fearlessness, to be heard and to hold ears and eyes hostage like so, proves a born leader. I wanted to take Lacy Leader and her PA system to the front steps of the school board and plug her in. Let her shake her finger and demand attention, change and nothing less.

Instead, I have opted to listen to her speech time and again in my head and used it to recharge and began to make a change myself. Blessed, I am being joined by the amazing talent of a few others.

And so...

Despite Dyslexia

A forming non-profit dedicated to raising funds to defray the costs of the educational needs of children with dyslexia by providing financial support for educational evaluations, tutoring and schooling; to provide support to families with workshops and tools to help their children succeed; to promote awareness.

Thank you Lacy Leader; I can't wait to see what you do next!