About DD-NJ
Our group is comprised of parents of children who are dyslexic. We are not experts, nor are we a formal business or a traditional educational organization. We are truly grassroots! We offer other stakeholders the benefit of our collective experiences. We encourage parents and children to meet with their local, state, and national policy-makers to share their stories, report on unmet needs, and make suggestions for improved policy and/or legislative initiatives for identifying and supporting dyslexic children in our public schools.
October 2020 will mark our 9th Anniversary!
Our beginnings… In October 2011, 8 parents took a train ride to New York City to attend a National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) luncheon. On that trip, we shared our stories, our struggles, our heart breaks, and our frustrations and anger about trying to help our dyslexic children and getting nowhere within our public schools. No one was from the same NJ town, but we all had similar stories, similar journeys. We were virtually strangers to each other. By the end of the day, we declared that someone should do something to fix the system and to help other parents like us. We decided that collectively, maybe we could be that “someone”.
The news article that started it all: Trenton Times 2/27/2012
Princeton Group Says It’s Hard to Get Children’s Dyslexia Treated or Even Recognized
Decoding Dyslexia on the National and International Stage!
Since our inception, parents from across the nation and beyond have been inspired, empowered, and engaged. Today, we are happy to boast that the Decoding Dyslexia movement has expanded to all 50 U.S. states and internationally too!
To connect with the Decoding Dyslexia movement in your state, Canadian province,
or other country, download this contact information list:
Decoding Dyslexia Groups Contact Information List 2020
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
DD International:
Follow DD-NJ!
BONUS INTERVIEW SPECIAL GUEST: Telling Stories Through Pictures
It’s an honor to have award-winning illustrator, Jerry Pinkney, join us today to share his fascinating story of learning to embrace his dyslexia.
Growing up in the 40’s during a time of segregation as a young man of color was challenging enough. Adding to that, he had difficulty reading and spelling when dyslexia was unknown and untreated.
Jerry creatively figured out how to navigate the system and use his artist gifts to not only survive without being "found out" in class but to contribute, express himself, and go on to thrive.
What originally was his "safety net and escape" became his vehicle for visual storytelling that celebrates life and the world around us. He wants his audience to "read into his art and grow from it".
As he reflects on his journey of discovering and owning his dyslexia, he shares much wisdom for parents and children regarding the value of hard work, effort, and perseverance and having a willingness to learn.
He shares, "Out of the struggle, there is possibility."
Jerry’s message will not only inspire our budding artists but also anyone who is struggling with dyslexia and needs encouragement.
Please make sure to check out Jerry’s website: jerrypinkneystudio.com and Instagram page @jerrypinkneystudio. His eye for detail and creative way of capturing moments is a delight to see.
embracedyslexiaseries.com/telling-stories-through-pictures/
WELCOME TO DAY 16:
Comprehension ~ a Complicated Subject
What do you think it means to comprehend well? It’s more than just a set of strategies and list of questions to answer.
We are fortunate to have Nancy Hennessy join us today to fully answer that question.
Some of the ideas we'll be exploring include the following:
* Misconceptions about comprehension
* The scientific study of comprehension (including Scarborough’s Reading Rope)
* Comprehension difficulties for the dyslexic student
Parents! Get your pencils and notepads ready! Nancy is bringing you a wealth of valuable information that you don’t want to miss.
embracedyslexiaseries.com/comprehension-a-complicated-subject/
Dr. Nancy White makes a case for why explicit instruction and practice for handwriting is important: automaticity frees up cognitive energy for higher level skills; writing by hand is connected to the motor systems of the brain, proper grip reduces fatigue, and more. Like so many instructional topics, handwriting is useful to all but is especially beneficial for our dyslexic children.
**Please note that there will be a replay weekend at the end of the series for you to catch up on any videos that you missed.
embracedyslexiaseries.com/interview-with-dr-nancy-white/
Has Handwriting Become an Instructional Dinosaur? - Embrace Dyslexia Series
embracedyslexiaseries.com
Handwriting is not widely taught in classrooms these days. Many children don’t receive direct instruction in proper letter formation and pencil grip; however, writing by hand is connected to the mot..."Dyslexic children struggle with more than written language skills. They also may experience difficulty with mathematics, but it might not be for reasons that you think. Leading math expert and dyslexia specialist, Marilyn Zecher, joins us today to help you understand why your child may be struggling with math and what you can do to help your child at home in fun, engaging, meaningful ways."
embracedyslexiaseries.com/multisensory-math/
Multisensory Math - Embrace Dyslexia Series
embracedyslexiaseries.com
Dyslexic children struggle with more than written language skills. They also may experience difficulty with mathematics, but it might not be for reasons that you think. Leading math expert and dysl...A Systemic Solution to Low Literacy Rates, Poor Instruction, Dyslexia and Social Ills with Debbie Meyer
Date: 7/30/2020
Time: 4pm ET
A’Lelia Bundles Community Scholars Program Lecture
Presented by the Columbia University School of Professional Studies and Office of Government and Community Affairs
In this lecture, Bundles Community Scholar Debbie Meyer will address the systemic issues and the policies that continue to allow dyslexic students and struggling readers to fail. She will also discuss steps to confront these issues, including working with universities to have related lessons in their pre-service programs for teachers, pediatricians and social workers.
Debbie Meyer is a non-profit fundraising and strategic planning professional and an active volunteer. Ms. Meyer is a Founding Member of the Dyslexia(plus) Task Force and a member of the Board of Directors of Women Creating Change (formerly Women’s City Club). She also sits on the Citizens’ Committee for Children’s Advocacy Council, and on the Advocates for Children Arise Coalition. In spring 2013, she led the advocacy efforts of the public, progressive, and small Central Park East schools to expand with a combined middle school. Previously, she served on the boards of directors of College and Community Fellowship and Phys Ed Plus and the Women's City Club Task Force on Physical Education.
The A’Lelia Bundles Community Scholars Program, administered by the Columbia School of Professional Studies, Office of the Provost and Office of Government and Community Affairs, enables independent scholars to pursue their lifelong learning aspirations through access to Columbia University courses and resources.
sps.columbia.edu
As the School of Professional Studies at Columbia University, we open access to knowledge at the highest levels to move careers, communities and industries forward.Dr. Marcia Henry returns to the series to give you a peek into the history of English and an introduction to morphology. Learn more about: how written language began, the 3 main language origins for English, how the origin of words can help with spelling, and how morphology can make studying words more meaningful and interesting.
* Please note the video is available for 24 hours and there will be a "catch up" time at the end of the series.
embracedyslexiaseries.com/its-time-for-a-history-lesson/
Dr. Suzanne Carreker talks about spelling and why it’s difficult for dyslexic children. Because English has one of the deepest orthographies -- an alphabet with 26 letters that make about 44 sounds and countless combinations to write those sounds
-- it has "depth." The good news is that there is reliability with English spelling, and dyslexic students benefit from teaching that uses a structured literacy approach and introduces sounds, spelling patterns, and word origins in a systematic, logical sequence.
embracedyslexiaseries.com/what-is-a-witchs-favorite-subject/
What is a Witch’s Favorite Subject? - Embrace Dyslexia Series
embracedyslexiaseries.com
It’s SPELLING!!! Spelling may be a witch’s favorite subject; however, it probably isn’t for a child with dyslexia. Today we are fortunate to have leading expert Dr. Suzanne Carreker talk about s...Bonus interview for today: Dr. Tim Odegard is a developmental cognitive psychologist working in the field of dyslexia, the parent of a child with dyslexia, and is dyslexic himself. Learn more about Tim's story (one we hear too often about struggle and not qualifying for services) and why he does not see dyslexia as a "gift."
embracedyslexiaseries.com/a-trifecta-experience-with-dyslexia/
A Trifecta Experience with Dyslexia - Embrace Dyslexia Series
embracedyslexiaseries.com
I’m honored to welcome Tim Odegard to our series. Tim is a developmental cognitive psychologist working in the field of dyslexia. He not only shares his personal journey with dyslexia. He also share...Today you get to play with language with Hettie Johnson, a speech and language expert. Her motto for teaching is:
“If it’s not fun for YOU, it’s not fun for THEM.” She wants children to learn that “sounds are their friends” ~ a good reminder for us all. Through engaging activities, Hettie will explain the difference between phonological and phonemic awareness and give examples on a continuum of skills to help your child tune into words and manipulate sounds in spoken words.
embracedyslexiaseries.com/playing-with-sounds-the-building-blocks-of-success/
PLAYING WITH SOUNDS ~THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF SUCCESS - Embrace Dyslexia Series
embracedyslexiaseries.com
In this series, you have been learning about the importance of oral language development and how it lays a strong foundation for reading, but we don’t typically think about all of the little sounds ...Check us out on Instagram!
