Decoding Dyslexia Maryland: Eastern Shore Chapter is a grassroots movement driven by Eastern Shore families and professionals concerned with the limited access to educational interventions for dyslexia within our schools… We welcome all families including those who homeschool and have their children in public/private schools. To connect with Decoding Dyslexia Maryland: Eastern Shore Chapter, email: decodingdyslexiaES@gmail.com. To see our past events, visit www.beyondwordstutoring.com.
We recently interviewed Lindsey Parte, whose son Lincoln is dyslexic. She spoke about her experiences learning that her older son is dyslexic and the lack of resources available to diagnose and work with dyslexic children. Lindsey’s goals are to learn about available resources and to bring that information to others to promote a greater understanding about dyslexia. It is now her passion and life’s work.
Your son is dyslexic… how did you learn this about your son?
Our family moved to the Eastern Shore in July 2020. We decided to homeschool Lincoln who was 6 years old at the time. A red flag quickly appeared as I witnessed Lincoln not able to grasp reading. Why was reading so difficult for him? It especially became apparent when Lincoln’s younger brother (by 2 years) was quickly making gains on Lincoln. Lincoln was tested at 6 years old through the Child Find process in the public school, but the testing did not find dyslexia.
Lincoln started public school the following year; I voiced my concerns that Lincoln was struggling in reading and writing. The first week of second grade Lincoln came home saying, “I can’t do this. I can’t read. I hate school.” I demanded more testing; I sought the help of an advocate; and my research truly began. Four months later, Lincoln was officially given the diagnosis of dyslexia. If I could give any advice to fellow parents, always follow your intuition, and keep fighting for your children if something doesn’t feel right.
What situations with the school system led you to understand that the school system may not be doing enough to help those with dyslexia?
In my research and connecting with other families, I found it is common across the state of Maryland for teachers to be unaware about the signs of dyslexia; to know that early intervention is critical; and, to have knowledge about the ways we can intervene. Once mid first grade comes and a child is not already identified, that child’s gap is already big and will continue to get bigger; it becomes nearly impossible to fill those gaps.
There is minimal if not zero dyslexia knowledge taught in teacher college preparation programs. So it takes the public school systems to invest time and money into properly training ALL teachers to know the early warning signs of dyslexia and how to intervene effectively. There are many high-quality free training courses, but it takes the school system to prioritize using the teacher’s professional development time to learn about dyslexia.
What is Decoding Dyslexia Maryland and how did you become involved?
I reignited Decoding Dyslexia: Maryland Eastern Shore Chapter after it had fizzled out during the Covid pandemic. In 2022, I was a desperate mother, distraught over fighting for my son and came across the previous leader’s contact information. Denise Kastle was pivotal in helping me on my journey to advocate for Lincoln. Since helping Lincoln and diving into advocating and teaching myself about dyslexia, I have a passion for helping other families who may be going through the same journey. I have hosted and participated in several events as the leader of Decoding Dylexia including fundraising for and facilitating a Dyslexia simulation for the local community. I have compiled my resources into a list in hopes that the next family has a place to start. Send an email to decodingdyslexiaes@gmail.com to obtain a copy.
Tell me more about the simulation that you ran at the library. What are the steps involved in the simulation, and how did you develop the simulation?
I fundraised and purchased the simulation through the International Dyslexia Association. The free event hosted by Decoding Dyslexia Maryland, Eastern Shore Chapter, aimed to raise dyslexia awareness and empower families to advocate for their children. The following questions are answered during the simulation: What is it like to have dyslexia? How can I help and support a dyslexic learner? What are the early indicators of dyslexia? Is your child smart, but has trouble learning to read? Have you ever wondered what your child may be dealing with? The event offered six stations to help understand the dyslexic learner. Seeing how dyslexic learners learn has brought many adult workshop participants to tears.
What other ways of communication are you using to help others understand more about dyslexia?
Talking to members in the community and providing them with a virtual list of resources to help them start their research. Letting them know that Decoding Dyslexia and Beyond Words Tutoring are great resources available to them. You can meet Lindsey Parte at her table at Shore Kids Connection on April 27 and learn more about Decoding Dyslexia and Beyond Words Tutoring.
BEYOND WORDS-Academic Camp – July 29-Aug 16. Empowering bright children ages 6-12 who struggle in reading, writing and/or math. 3 individual weeks offered. Mon-Fri, 8:30am-3pm. $500/week. Location: The Edge Arena, Stevensville. Info: www.beyondwordstutoring.com.
BEYOND WORDS-Hybrid Homeschool Program – Sept 9 (start date). Empowering bright children ages 8-11 to step into their full potential. Drop-off program: Mon, Tues, Thurs. 10am-2pm. Location: The Edge Arena, Stevensville. Info: www.beyondwordstutoring.com.
BEYOND WORDS TUTORING-Celebrates Earth Day – Apr 20, 2-3:30pm. Park cleanup, flowerpot decorating, seed planting. Terrapin Nature Center. Free. RSVP www.beyondwordstutoring.com.