hello and good afternoon I am dyslexic this means I have difficulty
this means I have difficulty
this means I have difficulty interpreting words letters and other
interpreting words letters and other
interpreting words letters and other symbols I also have difficulty acquiring
symbols I also have difficulty acquiring
symbols I also have difficulty acquiring and processing language this puts me a
and processing language this puts me a
and processing language this puts me a disadvantage for reading writing
disadvantage for reading writing
disadvantage for reading writing spelling and sometimes speaking in the
spelling and sometimes speaking in the
spelling and sometimes speaking in the third grade it became obvious that I was
third grade it became obvious that I was
third grade it became obvious that I was falling behind in reading and writing so
falling behind in reading and writing so
falling behind in reading and writing so my mom had me tested at the center of
my mom had me tested at the center of
my mom had me tested at the center of human development at Belmont and I was
human development at Belmont and I was
human development at Belmont and I was officially diagnosed with dyslexia it
officially diagnosed with dyslexia it
officially diagnosed with dyslexia it probably came the no surprise to my mom
probably came the no surprise to my mom
probably came the no surprise to my mom to find out that I was dyslexic as my
to find out that I was dyslexic as my
to find out that I was dyslexic as my older brother Brad had been diagnosed
older brother Brad had been diagnosed
older brother Brad had been diagnosed with dyslexia at the same age and at the
with dyslexia at the same age and at the
with dyslexia at the same age and at the same place a team at Harvard Medical
same place a team at Harvard Medical
same place a team at Harvard Medical Center determined that dyslexic brains
Center determined that dyslexic brains
Center determined that dyslexic brains are wired differently than other
are wired differently than other
are wired differently than other people’s that dyslexic brains are wired
people’s that dyslexic brains are wired
people’s that dyslexic brains are wired differently than other peoples on the
differently than other peoples on the
differently than other peoples on the board there are two brains side by side
board there are two brains side by side
board there are two brains side by side on the left is a brain without dyslexia
on the left is a brain without dyslexia
on the left is a brain without dyslexia on the right is a brain with dyslexia
on the right is a brain with dyslexia
on the right is a brain with dyslexia the red represents what is stimulated
the red represents what is stimulated
the red represents what is stimulated when the person is reading and there’s a
when the person is reading and there’s a
when the person is reading and there’s a very large difference between stem each
very large difference between stem each
very large difference between stem each this was all dyslexia was often also
this was all dyslexia was often also
this was all dyslexia was often also referred to as word blindness and it was
referred to as word blindness and it was
referred to as word blindness and it was considered that these kids were dumb
considered that these kids were dumb
considered that these kids were dumb poor spellers and weak readers and they
poor spellers and weak readers and they
poor spellers and weak readers and they were left behind fortunately now times
were left behind fortunately now times
were left behind fortunately now times have changed and much more is known
have changed and much more is known
have changed and much more is known about this learning difference these
about this learning difference these
about this learning difference these students were considered to be dumb and
students were considered to be dumb and
students were considered to be dumb and lazy if they were left behind they were
lazy if they were left behind they were
lazy if they were left behind they were considered that they had to catch up on
considered that they had to catch up on
considered that they had to catch up on their own and their spare time which we
their own and their spare time which we
their own and their spare time which we all know students don’t want to do that
all know students don’t want to do that
all know students don’t want to do that but um unfortunately now times have
but um unfortunately now times have
but um unfortunately now times have changed and much more note about the
changed and much more note about the
changed and much more note about the fluting difference even though it can be
fluting difference even though it can be
fluting difference even though it can be very misunderstood I want everyone to
very misunderstood I want everyone to
very misunderstood I want everyone to close their eyes and imagine that there
close their eyes and imagine that there
close their eyes and imagine that there was an invisible rope tied around their
was an invisible rope tied around their
was an invisible rope tied around their lives and everyone is treating you as if
lives and everyone is treating you as if
lives and everyone is treating you as if you can walk with no special assistance
you can walk with no special assistance
you can walk with no special assistance you can’t keep up and you can’t figure
you can’t keep up and you can’t figure
you can’t keep up and you can’t figure out why everyone’s going faster than you
out why everyone’s going faster than you
out why everyone’s going faster than you and this can lead to low self-esteem and
and this can lead to low self-esteem and
and this can lead to low self-esteem and being frustrated when teachers try to
being frustrated when teachers try to
being frustrated when teachers try to leave you behind you can’t keep up and
leave you behind you can’t keep up and
leave you behind you can’t keep up and you can’t figure out why it was going
you can’t figure out why it was going
you can’t figure out why it was going faster than you from an early age I can
faster than you from an early age I can
faster than you from an early age I can remember feeling different I remember in
remember feeling different I remember in
remember feeling different I remember in elementary school I would pull this sick
elementary school I would pull this sick
elementary school I would pull this sick card just to get out of reading class
card just to get out of reading class
card just to get out of reading class because I
because I
because I scared the word I was trying to say
scared the word I was trying to say
scared the word I was trying to say would not make any sense they don’t get
would not make any sense they don’t get
would not make any sense they don’t get laughed at sometimes I feel that we are
laughed at sometimes I feel that we are
laughed at sometimes I feel that we are measuring people by their ability to
measuring people by their ability to
measuring people by their ability to read write and do mathematics dyslexia
read write and do mathematics dyslexia
read write and do mathematics dyslexia has impacted my ability to take notes in
has impacted my ability to take notes in
has impacted my ability to take notes in class learn a foreign language organize
class learn a foreign language organize
class learn a foreign language organize papers and even completing homework done
papers and even completing homework done
papers and even completing homework done on time the simplest things can be made
on time the simplest things can be made
on time the simplest things can be made so hard for someone who is dyslexic
so hard for someone who is dyslexic
so hard for someone who is dyslexic fortunately now students are protected
fortunately now students are protected
fortunately now students are protected under law by section 504 section 504 of
under law by section 504 section 504 of
under law by section 504 section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides protection against discrimination for
protection against discrimination for
protection against discrimination for individuals who are dyslexic or have
individuals who are dyslexic or have
individuals who are dyslexic or have other disabilities its aim is to provide
other disabilities its aim is to provide
other disabilities its aim is to provide equal academic access to help those
equal academic access to help those
equal academic access to help those students become smarter or pay get more
students become smarter or pay get more
students become smarter or pay get more attention in class if needed section 504
attention in class if needed section 504
attention in class if needed section 504 has given me the option to way before in
has given me the option to way before in
has given me the option to way before in language receive teachers notes get
language receive teachers notes get
language receive teachers notes get extra time when I passed and even get
extra time when I passed and even get
extra time when I passed and even get the use of a calculator dyslexia is a
the use of a calculator dyslexia is a
the use of a calculator dyslexia is a cognitive disability which basically
cognitive disability which basically
cognitive disability which basically means it takes words long to be
means it takes words long to be
means it takes words long to be processed a very large misconception
processed a very large misconception
processed a very large misconception that goes to this Lexia is that I am not
that goes to this Lexia is that I am not
that goes to this Lexia is that I am not as smart or as gifted as everyone else
as smart or as gifted as everyone else
as smart or as gifted as everyone else this which is not true it does not mean
this which is not true it does not mean
this which is not true it does not mean I have a lower IQ it just means that I
I have a lower IQ it just means that I
I have a lower IQ it just means that I learned in different ways and
learned in different ways and
learned in different ways and accommodations need to be put in place
accommodations need to be put in place
accommodations need to be put in place to help me become more successful
to help me become more successful
to help me become more successful research shows that people who are
research shows that people who are
research shows that people who are dyslexic would rather miss class or hide
dyslexic would rather miss class or hide
dyslexic would rather miss class or hide their disability than be sibling out by
their disability than be sibling out by
their disability than be sibling out by his or her peers people would rather do
his or her peers people would rather do
his or her peers people would rather do poorly in class than be labeled weird or
poorly in class than be labeled weird or
poorly in class than be labeled weird or different or stupid or unable to
different or stupid or unable to
different or stupid or unable to function with everyone else in our
function with everyone else in our
function with everyone else in our society futures are becoming more aware
society futures are becoming more aware
society futures are becoming more aware of students who are dyslexic by programs
of students who are dyslexic by programs
of students who are dyslexic by programs that have been implemented in their
that have been implemented in their
that have been implemented in their schools but I think that many students
schools but I think that many students
schools but I think that many students fully will never understand what it’s
fully will never understand what it’s
fully will never understand what it’s like there are still many students who
like there are still many students who
like there are still many students who believe that getting extra time on a
believe that getting extra time on a
believe that getting extra time on a test or the use of a calculator or not
test or the use of a calculator or not
test or the use of a calculator or not using a foreign language is a leg up or
using a foreign language is a leg up or
using a foreign language is a leg up or a form of cheating this is not true it’s
a form of cheating this is not true it’s
a form of cheating this is not true it’s it really gives me um a level playing
it really gives me um a level playing
it really gives me um a level playing field to compete with everyone else it
field to compete with everyone else it
field to compete with everyone else it imagine you have a prescription for
imagine you have a prescription for
imagine you have a prescription for glasses but when it came time to take
glasses but when it came time to take
glasses but when it came time to take your gyrus test you were unable to wear
your gyrus test you were unable to wear
your gyrus test you were unable to wear them you would most likely fail your
them you would most likely fail your
them you would most likely fail your test but clearly things have improved
test but clearly things have improved
test but clearly things have improved especially with the advancement of
especially with the advancement of
especially with the advancement of technology I use many apps on daily
technology I use many apps on daily
technology I use many apps on daily basis which helped me which helps level
basis which helped me which helps level
basis which helped me which helps level the playing field there helps me learn
the playing field there helps me learn
the playing field there helps me learn in a better way one of which is learning
in a better way one of which is learning
in a better way one of which is learning ally ally this allows all of my
ally ally this allows all of my
ally ally this allows all of my textbooks to be transformed to an audio
textbooks to be transformed to an audio
textbooks to be transformed to an audio version so I can fully understand when
version so I can fully understand when
version so I can fully understand when I’m reading another favorite is Kurzweil
I’m reading another favorite is Kurzweil
I’m reading another favorite is Kurzweil 3000 this allows all of my tests and
3000 this allows all of my tests and
3000 this allows all of my tests and quizzes to be transformed into an audio
quizzes to be transformed into an audio
quizzes to be transformed into an audio version so I can fully understand what I
version so I can fully understand what I
version so I can fully understand what I am being tested on or learning but um I
definitely do not want sympathy
definitely do not want sympathy yet I would like to see instructional
yet I would like to see instructional
yet I would like to see instructional techniques techniques developed to help
techniques techniques developed to help
techniques techniques developed to help teachers fully understand what it’s like
teachers fully understand what it’s like
teachers fully understand what it’s like to be dyslexic but there are still many
to be dyslexic but there are still many
to be dyslexic but there are still many wonderful stories of people who are
wonderful stories of people who are
wonderful stories of people who are dyslexic and did you know that Albert
dyslexic and did you know that Albert
dyslexic and did you know that Albert Einstein was dyslexic and he’s done so
Einstein was dyslexic and he’s done so
Einstein was dyslexic and he’s done so many wonderful things but one of my
many wonderful things but one of my
many wonderful things but one of my favorite quotes by him is everybody is a
favorite quotes by him is everybody is a
favorite quotes by him is everybody is a genius but if you judge a fish by its
genius but if you judge a fish by its
genius but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live
ability to climb a tree it will live
ability to climb a tree it will live it’s whole life believing that it is
it’s whole life believing that it is
it’s whole life believing that it is stupid and I can really relate to this
stupid and I can really relate to this
stupid and I can really relate to this quote by going to Cranbrook we’ll put we
quote by going to Cranbrook we’ll put we
quote by going to Cranbrook we’ll put we are put in small classes like fifteen or
are put in small classes like fifteen or
are put in small classes like fifteen or sixteen kids which is good because it
sixteen kids which is good because it
sixteen kids which is good because it gives teachers allow one-on-one time
gives teachers allow one-on-one time
gives teachers allow one-on-one time with other students and this allows them
with other students and this allows them
with other students and this allows them to learn on how they learn or how they
to learn on how they learn or how they
to learn on how they learn or how they function in the classroom so they can
function in the classroom so they can
function in the classroom so they can help them if need be but um the example
help them if need be but um the example
help them if need be but um the example if we are in a class and the teacher
if we are in a class and the teacher
if we are in a class and the teacher goes hey Mac can you read this paragraph
goes hey Mac can you read this paragraph
goes hey Mac can you read this paragraph and like Nell can you have this kid read
and like Nell can you have this kid read
and like Nell can you have this kid read it can you have anyone else but me read
it can you have anyone else but me read
it can you have anyone else but me read it and teacher goes no no you read it
it and teacher goes no no you read it
it and teacher goes no no you read it then it does at that scenario this
then it does at that scenario this
then it does at that scenario this becomes my hypothetical tree that I am
becomes my hypothetical tree that I am
becomes my hypothetical tree that I am forced to climb and if I can I’m left to
forced to climb and if I can I’m left to
forced to climb and if I can I’m left to feel stupid or if we’re in an English
feel stupid or if we’re in an English
feel stupid or if we’re in an English classroom and we’re reading our
classroom and we’re reading our
classroom and we’re reading our vocabulary words out of a vocab books I
vocabulary words out of a vocab books I
vocabulary words out of a vocab books I would count how many people are in front
would count how many people are in front
would count how many people are in front of me so how was the fourth I go one two
of me so how was the fourth I go one two
of me so how was the fourth I go one two three four and if I’m number four I
three four and if I’m number four I
three four and if I’m number four I would open my book and find one two
would open my book and find one two
would open my book and find one two three four and I would read that
three four and I would read that
three four and I would read that sentence as many times as I possibly
sentence as many times as I possibly
sentence as many times as I possibly could so when the teacher came around to
could so when the teacher came around to
could so when the teacher came around to me I would have that sentence basically
me I would have that sentence basically
me I would have that sentence basically memorized so I would be proud of myself
memorized so I would be proud of myself
memorized so I would be proud of myself at that scenario this becomes my
at that scenario this becomes my
at that scenario this becomes my hypothetical tree that I’m forced to
hypothetical tree that I’m forced to
hypothetical tree that I’m forced to climb but Cranbrook has helped me get
climb but Cranbrook has helped me get
climb but Cranbrook has helped me get all the accommodations that I need
all the accommodations that I need
all the accommodations that I need so it helped allows me to climb the tree
so it helped allows me to climb the tree
so it helped allows me to climb the tree I’m not left feeling stupid but there
I’m not left feeling stupid but there
I’m not left feeling stupid but there are many other wonderful people who have
are many other wonderful people who have
are many other wonderful people who have become successful like Bill Gates and
become successful like Bill Gates and
become successful like Bill Gates and Charles Schwab all very successful CEOs
Charles Schwab all very successful CEOs
Charles Schwab all very successful CEOs and Steven Spielberg Muhammad Ali and
and Steven Spielberg Muhammad Ali and
and Steven Spielberg Muhammad Ali and Tom Cruise but the person who has
Tom Cruise but the person who has
Tom Cruise but the person who has inspired me the most is my older brother
inspired me the most is my older brother
inspired me the most is my older brother Brad and I have watched him overcome
Brad and I have watched him overcome
Brad and I have watched him overcome challenges with administration teachers
challenges with administration teachers
challenges with administration teachers advisers academic deans and other
advisers academic deans and other
advisers academic deans and other students to get all accommodations that
students to get all accommodations that
students to get all accommodations that he deserves he is paid the way for me to
he deserves he is paid the way for me to
he deserves he is paid the way for me to become a more successful learner and he
become a more successful learner and he
become a more successful learner and he has helped me advocate for myself which
has helped me advocate for myself which
has helped me advocate for myself which I hope I can do for others but uh in the
I hope I can do for others but uh in the
I hope I can do for others but uh in the future I hope that we will not judge
future I hope that we will not judge
future I hope that we will not judge people by their ability to read write
people by their ability to read write
people by their ability to read write and do mathematics but yet their ability
and do mathematics but yet their ability
and do mathematics but yet their ability to apply everyday knowledge to everyday
to apply everyday knowledge to everyday
to apply everyday knowledge to everyday scenarios and today I have learned that
scenarios and today I have learned that
scenarios and today I have learned that it is better to be different thank you
it is better to be different thank you
it is better to be different thank you [Applause]
”
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