Dystinct - Issue 8 | March 2022

In this issue

The March 2022 issue of Dystinct Magazine brings to you:

1. Phonics Instruction Myths - by Pryor Rayburn (Founder at OrtonGillinghamMama.com)

2. The Dystinct Journey of Spencer Thorne - An interview with Adrienne Adams

3. A Fresh Look at Classical Handwriting: Writing in Chancery Script- by Rebecca Loveless (RebeccaLoveless.com)

4. Meeting the needs of struggling students through the use of multisensory maths - by Adrianne Meldrum (Founder & CEO) and Matthew Lyda (Math Specialist) at MadeForMath.com

5. Dystinct Report -by Gwendolyn (Journalist at Dystinct.org)

6. Tools to Enhance Vocabulary Acquisition- by Lisa Barnett (Special education teacher, SeeTheBeautyInDyslexia.com and BarnettsBuzzingBlog.edublogs.org)

7. The Dystinct Journey of Bethany Danielle Summerville- (Artist at facebook.com/summervillebeth)

8. Building Successful School Relationships - by Simon Da Roza (Principal Consultant, Exceptional Learners. Xceptionallearners.com)

9. Teacher Preparedness to Address the Needs of Dyslexic Non-Native Speakers- Andrea Kulmhofer-Bommer (Researcher, Lecturer, and Teacher Trainer)

10. Roots matter- Neurodiversity and Employment for Youth Development – by Gavin Hoole (Qualitative researcher, Neurodiversity advocate, and Founder at Dyspraxia Lambeth)

11. I Think, Write and Remember in My Own Way- by Valerie Woods (Dyslexia Advocate, Author, and Blogger at Bricabraccat.com)

12. The Role of Poverty in Special Education- by Dr Tracy Johnson (Speaker, Learning Difficulties Advocate, Consultant, and Founder at VesselsOfHopeVessels.org )

13. The Dystinct Journey of Jacob Ainsley

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.