Dystinct - Issue 10 | July 2022

In this issue

The July 2022 issue of Dystinct Magazine brings to you:

1) The Dystinct Journey of Zavier Cruz - interviewed by Zahra Nawaz (https://www.instagram.com/cruz.woodworks.furnishings/)

2) Foundational Knowledge for Teaching Reading - Dr Pledger Fedora (Director at Dyslexia Institute for Literacy and Learning https://www.dyslexialiteracy.com/)

3) Three Common Mistakes We Make When Teaching or Parenting a Child with Dyslexia (and what they tell us about ourselves) - M. Colleen Cruz (Educator, Author, and Consultant. https://www.mcolleencruz.com/)

4) Why Did John Need to Change Schools? - Cheri Dotterer (Dysgraphia Educational Consultant, international speaker, and author https://www.cheridotterer.com/)

5) Decoding Math: How understanding the science of math can transform instruction - Rebecca Lord (Elementary Math Coach, Special Educator, and Middle school Math Teacher http://lordmath.com/)

6) The Dystinct Journey of Nick Grissom - interviewed by Zahra Nawaz

7) Both Sides of the Table - By Erica Kaufmann (Literacy Coach)

8) Dyslexia - How to best reduce anxiety and lift self-esteem - Paloma Forde (Educational Trainer, Consultant, Speaker, and Author https://screening4dyslexia.com/)

9) Ten Ways to Incorporate the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom - Wendy Darasz and Jen Yagid (Wilson certified and credentialed Dyslexia Practitioners https://informedliteracy.com/)

10) Tutoring or Dyslexia School? -Factors to consider - Lisa Parnello (Dyslexia specialist, Wilson credentialed trainer https://www.parnelloeducation.com/)

11) Starting AT Off Right: What to Do Once AT Has Been Added to the IEP - Katie Larew (Assistive Technology Specialist and Dyslexia Practitioner https://assistivetechnologyfordyslexia.com/)

Dystinct Magazine Description:

Dystinct Magazine seeks to find the extra ordinary that lies within the ordinary. Every dyslexic child is blessed to be distinctively different. We have set out to identify and nurture these differences to instil a strong sense of achievement in children who are often forgotten about. We also bring to you relevant up to date advice from leading experts in the industry to help you navigate the path to success.

1 in 5 children who pass through our one size fits all education system are on the dyslexia continuum, diagnosed or not. They are repeatedly dismissed as too dumb or unaidable leaving desperate parents with very few avenues to turn to. Our beautiful children are broken by the very system that is meant to nurture and raise them. These are promising young minds who are made to feel worthless over and over again because the system has failed to recognise their differences. Their struggles are often brushed under the rug or the system recognises their existence but lacks the capacity to make the changes necessary to accommodate their uniqueness.

There is a need to change the narrative around dyslexia from that of ‘slow’, ‘not working hard enough’, ‘lazy’ to one of hardworking, passionate, uniquely different and worthy.

Dystinct Magazine aims to instill a strong sense of self-worth in dyslexic children who have had unfair opportunities chipping away at their self-esteem throughout their existence. Our mission is to foster a community that celebrates the difference of dyslexia.

Not every dyslexic child is magically a genius. Oftentimes, we spend hours looking for the genius or outside the box thinking in our dyslexic kids failing to realise that it was in them all along, hidden in plain sight under the years self-doubt and shame that the society ingrained in them for not matching up to their peers. We aim to peel back at these negative layers of damaged self-esteem and provide the children with a platform to truly appreciate their uniqueness, take pride in their difference and revel in the knowledge that within their difference, lies their strength.

We are here with a commitment to empower dyslexics and their champions so that, they can discover the strengths within themselves and appreciate the uniqueness that dyslexia has offered them.