How a dyslexic learned to help fellow struggling readers.
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Over the years, as I developed what became No Fear Reading, I always took into account what I experienced as a non reader. I did everything I could to keep fear, embarrassment, and frustration out of the program. I made it as unlike the remedial programs I had been through as possible.
Labels, Labels, Labels
I was retained in third grade because I was unable to read and was diagnosed with Dyslexia, ADHD, and APD (Audio Processing Disorder). I did not fit in and was bullied as a result of being unable to do the simplest tasks, like work the combination on my school locker or recite the months of the year.
(My reading woes even made my mother's scrapbook!)
A Dyslexic Joins the Army
With a lot of tears and hard work, I eventually did learn to read and graduated from high school. When I joined the Army, things started to turn around. The structure of military life helped me tremendously. Here I learned I was a kinesthetic learner and I had to do to learn. I realized I was smart. I was just hyper and easily distracted. I began developing coping skills to help me function in the military and life in general (which I still use today). To my astonishment, I began to win academic awards as well as awards for my general mission accomplishment and became an airborne military police officer.
A Dyslexic Goes to College
After I was honorably discharged from the Army, I got the crazy idea to go to college, get my teaching degree, and help students that were struggling and hurting like I had in school. College was tough, but I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. I taught sixth grade and coached academic teams at Jamestown Middle School in Jamestown, North Carolina. I also taught summer sessions with children that had severe, cognitive, physical and/or mental disabilities at the nationally acclaimed Gateway Education Center in Greensboro, NC. I won the “Teaching Excellence Award” for my work to increase academic achievement levels as well as decreasing behavioral infractions of at-risk middle school students. I was also the recipient of the “National Impact Award” for my efforts at parent outreach and education.
A Dyslexic Develops a Remedial Reading System
I started my own parent coaching practice working after school with children that were struggling with reading, behavioral issues, academics, and family dynamic challenges. Working with families in their home was rewarding and allowed me to have greater input on not only child behavior but parent behavior as well. I was able to teach parents simple strategies they could use to help their children academically, behaviorally, and socially. I began to focus exclusively on developing a remedial reading program that would be simple for parents to implement and get dramatic results in a short period of time. Years of development and real world experimentation led to No Fear Reading
