Dyslexia Explored

In this episode of the Dyslexia Explored Podcast, host Darius Namdaran welcomes Nora Fink, co-founder and co-CEO of ever-growing GBH, to discuss innovations in dyslexia screening using AI and handwriting analysis. Nora shares her personal journey with dyslexia, spurred by her son's diagnosis, and how it led to the development of the Dyslexia 99 program. The conversation delves into the program's pilot studies, achieving over 99% accuracy in detecting dyslexia, and the potential for early detection and intervention in schools. They explore advancements in AI, challenges in the current education system, and the future of personalized learning for children with dyslexia.

Link:

In this episode of The Dyslexia Explored Podcast, host Darius Namdaran is joined by Christian Boer, the creator of the Dyslexie font, a typeface designed specifically to aid those with dyslexia. Christian shares his personal journey with dyslexia, from his struggles in school to the innovative font he designed as his final year art school project. The discussion delves into the unique features of the Dyslexie font, its global impact over the past 17 years, and practical tips for making reading easier for individuals with dyslexia. Sponsored by Dyslexia Productivity Coaching, the episode offers rich insights into the challenges and solutions surrounding dyslexia and literacy.

In this episode of 'The Dyslexia Explored Podcast,' host Darius Namdaran speaks with Danielle Cudjoe Michalski, a microbiologist turned neurodiversity trainer and coach. Danielle shares her journey of discovering her dyslexia during her final year of university, the challenges she faced in the corporate world, and how a mentor helped her pivot into project management. They discuss the intersection of dyslexia and mental health, the impact of recognizing one's strengths, and the importance of personalized support strategies for adults with neurodivergent traits. Tune in to hear Danielle's inspiring story and insights on creating inclusive work environments.

In this episode of the Dyslexia Explored Podcast, host Darius Namdaran converses with Mike Guesty, a multifaceted photographer and fellow dyslexic entrepreneur. They discuss Guesty's journey of discovering his dyslexia, overcoming chronic pain through foundation training, and the practical strategies he has implemented to manage dyslexia, including note-taking, organizing, and coping with emotional stress. Guesty shares insights on the mental and physical interconnections of dyslexia, the importance of self-compassion, and the value of seeking external support. The episode emphasizes the significance of developing a personalized approach to manage dyslexia effectively.

In this episode, Darius Namdaran talks with author Jamie Waller, the author of The Dyslexic Edge. Jamie shares personal journeys of overcoming challenges, the intersection of dyslexia with other conditions like ADHD, and the importance of self-acceptance and resilience. The episode delves into practical strategies for leveraging dyslexic strengths, the impact of diverse representation, and the role of education reform. He also touches on his insights from influential figures, the process of writing impactful literature on dyslexia, and the systemic issues leading to disproportionate incarceration rates among dyslexic individuals. Tune in for a compelling narrative on embracing and thriving with dyslexia.

In this episode of The Dyslexia Explored Podcast, host Darius Namdaran sits down with Edward Keelan, a partner at Octopus Ventures. Edward opens up about his early diagnosis with dyslexia and how he navigated the challenges in both education and his tech career. From organizing charity fundraisers to landing pivotal roles at Rolls Royce and becoming the first employee at a promising startup, Edward's story highlights the power of perseverance, unique problem-solving skills, and the critical support of family and mentors. This inspiring conversation sheds light on the misconceptions about dyslexia and champions the distinctive strengths it can offer in high-stakes business environments.

In this episode of the Dyslexia Explored Podcast, host Darius Namdaran interviews Sonya and Nick Solter, parents of a dyslexic teenager and creators of 'The Dyslexia Journey' YouTube channel and podcast. They discuss their experience with their daughter's dyslexia, the reasons behind starting their own podcast, and the challenges they've faced. Sonya and Nick share insights into their backgrounds, their advocacy efforts, and the importance of a broad view of intelligence. They emphasize the need for parental instinct, proactive advocacy, and the significance of emotional support in helping children with dyslexia thrive.

In this episode of 'Dyslexia Explored,' host Darius Namdaran is joined by Donna Stevenson to delve into the journey of supporting neurodivergent individuals. They explore strategies across various life stages, from childhood to adulthood, including early indicators and practical methods for dyslexic adults. The discussion highlights the transformative role of creativity and AI in learning, with tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot breaking down barriers. Together, they provide a comprehensive overview of how evolving cultural understanding and innovative techniques can enhance the lives of those with dyslexia and ADHD.

In this episode of 'Dyslexia Explored,' host Darius Namdaran talks to Josh Wilkins, the Dyslexic Painter, to explore his journey from the struggles of school life to a successful career in painting and decorating. They discuss the impact of dyslexia on his personal and professional growth, the invaluable guidance of mentors, and the importance of viewing dyslexia as an asset. Josh also shares insights on leveraging digital platforms like TikTok to complement traditional trades and highlights how modern educational policies can enhance practical skills for a fulfilling career. Sponsored by Dyslexia Productivity Coaching, this episode offers inspiration and practical advice for harnessing creativity and building a digital presence.

Links:

In this episode of Dyslexia Explored, host Darius Namdaran is joined by Annie Hitchman and Nikki Allford to delve into the impact of hormones on dyslexia and ADHD, particularly in women. They discuss how fluctuations such as menopause and menstrual cycles can exacerbate challenges. The episode also examines how mind mapping can aid individuals with dyslexia in managing time, projects, and communication, both personally and professionally. Annie shares her personal journey and practical tips, focusing on emotional regulation, mental health, and the importance of self-awareness in navigating neurodiversity.

Welcome to this episode of Dyslexia Explored. Today, Darius is joined by Natalie Brooks, a professional who has navigated the complexities of dyslexia throughout her varied career paths. From her early educational experiences to her current role aiding others with dyslexia in their professional lives, Natalie shares insightful stories and practical advice. This episode not only explores how dyslexia can both hinder and enhance workplace performance but also delves into Natalie’s personal experiences with the "Access to Work" program. Join us for a thoughtful conversation that illuminates the nuanced impacts of dyslexia in professional settings.

In this episode of the Dyslexia Explored podcast, join me, your host, as I take you to the Dyslexia Show 2024 in the UK. We interview over 20 participants and attendees about dyslexia in the workplace. This episode delves into how dyslexia impacts professional environments, featuring personal stories and expert insights. We also explore awareness of the Access to Work grant—a significant UK government aid supporting individuals with dyslexia and ADHD. Discover how this grant can revolutionize workplace experiences through specialized coaching and adaptive technologies. Tune in to uncover the diverse strategies and experiences of those navigating their careers with dyslexia.

In this heartwarming episode of Dyslexia Explored, host Darius Namdaran invites us into the inspiring world of Shilpa Rao, a visionary who navigates the complexities of dyslexia with grace and innovation. Shilpa's narrative is a beacon of hope and creativity, blending artificial intelligence with her personal journey of discovery and acceptance of her dyslexia. As an entrepreneur in a leading IT services company, she delves into how technology, especially AI, can revolutionize healthcare and business strategies, while also sharing her vibrant experiences from leading an AI-powered strategic intelligence platform to holding over 35 patents. Shilpa's story is a rich tapestry of overcoming obstacles, embracing diverse talents, and the power of seeing the world through a different lens. Her involvement in Mrs. India worldwide, alongside her artistic endeavors and life as a devoted pet parent, illustrates the multifaceted strengths and capabilities that come from thinking differently. This episode is a celebration of the unique paths individuals with dyslexia tread, offering encouragement and understanding to parents, tutors, and educators in nurturing and appreciating these extraordinary minds.

Links:

In this insightful episode of the Dyslexia Explored podcast, we are thrilled to have performance coach Bevis Moynan join us to share his unique perspective on dyslexia and executive function. Bevis, an expert in motivational mapping, timeline therapy, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), doesn't have dyslexia himself but has been closely touched by it through family experiences and his professional practice. We delve into his personal journey, discussing the recent dyslexia diagnosis of his daughter and reflecting on the broader impact of dyslexia within his family. 

This conversation sheds light on the complexities of navigating dyslexia, the challenges faced within the education system, and the potential for innovative support methods like NLP to make a significant difference. Bevis's approach to coaching emphasizes understanding individual learning styles, the importance of neurodiversity, and the power of overcoming limiting beliefs to unlock potential. 

In today’s episode of Dyslexia Explored, host Darius Namdaran warmly sits down with Arran Smith, the visionary founder of the UK’s Dyslexia Show, an event that stands at the forefront of dyslexia and neurodiversity advocacy. Arran, who himself has navigated the challenges of dyslexia, shares his compelling journey from concept to realization of the UK's primary exhibition dedicated to dyslexia awareness. This episode delves into the origins of the Dyslexia Show, its evolution amidst the pandemic, and the remarkable growth it has experienced, including the introduction of the Dyscalculia Show. 

Arran's story is a beacon of inspiration, illustrating the power of resilience, community, and the impact of creating a national dialogue around dyslexia support and education. This conversation is a must-listen for parents, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the complexities of dyslexia and the transformative power of inclusive events in fostering understanding and support for individuals with learning differences.

Welcome to another episode of Dyslexia Explored, your go-to podcast for insights into dyslexia and executive function. This time, we're thrilled to feature Aly Young, the visionary owner of Dyslexia Reading Center and Learning Lab. She's here to demystify the Barton Reading and Spelling System, an acclaimed instructional method tailored for children with dyslexia and ADHD. Join us as we dive deep into the intricacies of literacy—an essential but often misunderstood aspect of thinking differently.

In the episode, Aly also shares her personal journey that led her to focus on this area, providing invaluable perspectives that parents, tutors, and educators will benefit from. We talk about her Learning Lab, its mission, and how it is shaping the futures of children who think differently. If you've been curious about the Barton Reading Program or simply wish to better understand literacy's role in dyslexia thinking, this episode offers you an in-depth look at these key issues.

Until next time.

In this episode of Dyslexia Explored, we delve into the captivating journey of 16-year-old actor Liam Nicolosi. Not just a rising actor with a Netflix show under his belt, Liam opens up about embracing his dyslexia and how it has shaped him both personally and professionally. The episode offers a blend of inspiration and practical insights, touching on Liam’s challenges, rewards, and his advice for young individuals who are navigating through life while thinking differently. 

Whether you're a parent, educator, or tutor, this episode provides a unique perspective on the interconnectedness of creativity, acting, and dyslexia. Don't miss this chance to understand how young talents like Liam are redefining success and breaking barriers, while offering relatable, uplifting advice for those on a similar journey.

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Dyslexia Explored, where we delve into dyslexia and social entrepreneurship. We are thrilled to host our special guests, Shelley Gregory-Jones from Allia, a prominent fund dedicated to social entrepreneurship, and Marina Pritchard, the program coordinator fostering social entrepreneurship at Allia. Join us as we unravel the nexus between dyslexia, entrepreneurship, and the strides Allia is making to create a nurturing and empowering environment for dyslexic individuals venturing into the world of entrepreneurship. 

In this enlightening conversation, we will be uncovering the entrepreneurial ecosystem at Allia, discussing the varied programs aimed at helping entrepreneurs overcome their growth barriers, and understand how these initiatives are designed with accessibility and inclusivity at the forefront. Learn how Allia is prioritizing the dyslexic community by creating an atmosphere where neurodiverse founders can unlock their potentials and thrive. This episode is sure to be an eye-opener for anyone interested in understanding how the entrepreneurial world can be tailored to accommodate the unique abilities of dyslexics.

Links:

Welcome to a fresh episode of Dyslexia Explored, where our host, Darius Namdaran, engages in a riveting conversation with multi-talented Sarah Ann Macklin. Together, they navigate the intriguing interplay between dyslexia and diet, challenging you to reconsider the impacts of dyslexia on everyday life.

In the spotlight is Sarah Ann's captivating journey: from discovering her dyslexia at 23 to her present work as a model, nutritionist, and successful podcaster. She opens up about her mental health organization, the Be Well Collective, and her top-rated European Health podcast, "Live Well Be Well".

🎙️ Welcome to a brand new episode of Dyslexia Explored, where we delve into the fascinating world of dyslexia and its impact on everyday lives. Today, our host Darius Namdaran is thrilled to introduce Rebecca Kamen, a former professor, visiting scholar, and artist in residence at the University of Pennsylvania. Once seen as "not college material," Rebecca has transformed her narrative into one of immense success, spending over 35 years in sculpture and design, and bridging the worlds of art and science to understand the human mind.

In this compelling episode, Rebecca walks us through her early years before the discovery of her dyslexia, a time when her curiosity and supportive environment laid the foundation for her future endeavors. Get ready for an inspiring journey of defying stereotypes, embracing learning differences, and the influential power of curiosity. Listen to how Rebecca juggles her diverse interests - a common trait amongst individuals with dyslexia, and get a glimpse of her innovative work. This episode promises to motivate budding artists, curious scientists, and parents who are keen to foster their children's talents and passions. 🎙️

Have you ever experienced rejection? It's not a pleasant feeling, but our guest for today has persevered despite being rejected by publishers 95 times. Join us this week as we discuss determination and dyslexia with Abi Elphinstone, the author of The Dream Snatcher Series and The Unmapped Chronicles.

Abi grew up in Scotland, spending her weekends building dens in the woods, hiding in treehouses, and exploring the highlands. Despite being labeled as "unteachable" and "prone to spasmodic outbursts of silliness" by her headteacher, she pushed through school and earned an English degree at Bristol University. After teaching English in Africa, Berkshire, and London, she now spends her time building dens and hiding in treehouses - both in reality and through her books.

Links you might want to check:

This week, we'll learn more about the benefits of webbing and mind mapping for children with specialized learning needs. During my recent conversation with a multisensory coach, she shared how she tutors children with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning disabilities, which, interestingly, is a lot similar to my approach.

Our guest for this week runs a reading coaching service called EBL Coaching, which tutors over 2000 people across multiple locations in the United States. Dr. Emily Levy has got a master's degree in special education, and a doctorate in general education, and has been in the world of remediating reading and writing and special education for the last 20-plus years.

Links you might want to check:

If you’ve ever tried teaching your child to read, you’ll know that it's not as easy as it looks, especially for a child with a learning difference. I had a great conversation with Nora Chahbazi, the founder of Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction or EBLI. She has been training and coaching teachers, parents, and educators for over 20 years to help them teach students how to read.

Nora shares her experience of how EBLI started and what made her pursue the field. Her daughter was having trouble reading but the school didn’t think it was anything unusual. She began researching ways to help her child and found a revolutionary book that really made a difference for her child. Shortly after, Nora founded EBLI and now, they have trained thousands of teachers from around the world.

Nora also sheds light on the different approaches to teaching reading, like balance literacy and phonics-based, and where her approach falls into the mix.

Do you constantly receive ideas and inspiration from various sources? Do you start countless hobbies or artistic pursuits with crazy ideas on a whim? You might be hypercreative.

I had a very interesting conversation with Karen Daniels about hypercreativity. Karen has a Masters's degree in Education Psychology. She has also written 9 books of both fiction and non-fiction. She does content writing and ghostwriting for all sorts of people. She also teaches Martial Arts apart from being a full-time mum.

In the episode, Karen talked about the difference between hypercreativity and creativity, her being a writer and her journey through her creative path. She also shared about the limit of creativity and how to make the most out of it.

Links you might want to check:

This week, I sat down with Avi Warshavsky, the Founder and CEO of MindCET. They gather groups of entrepreneurs in an incubator environment and help them establish their businesses. He’s also the founder of Global Education Technology Startups Awards or GESAwards, one of the biggest awarding bodies for Ed-Tech Startups in the world. He is also the father of 5 children and 4 of them have dyslexia.

Avi Warshavsky shared his background on how he came to be in the startup world and how his father’s dyslexia helped him observe his children’s dyslexia. Avi also talked about closing the gap with dyslexia and the future of technology in terms of assisting dyslexia.

Links you might want to check:

Ash Voisine was a business and entrepreneurship graduate but when a teacher of her child admitted that they can’t help the child, she decided to homeschool her kids. She looked for other ways to teach with programs like the Orton-Gillingham system. She’s now finishing her master’s degree in special education.

This week, we talked to Ash Voisine about how she found out she’s dyslexic when she was studying to be an Orton-Gillingham tutor for her children. She also talked about the IEP and the red tape parents may encounter when fighting for their child's rights at school. Listen to her story now.

Links you might want to check:

Children with dyslexia often have brilliant and incredible stories to share in their heads but always struggle to get them out and put them into words. A lot of the time, their imagination and creativity go beyond what was required in the question and they get so overwhelmed halfway that they ended up leaving it unfinished. Going off-topic is a common occurrence and the lack of cohesiveness forces the teachers to mark it as failed.

It’s in every exam in the world they ask students to “Write a Short Story”. It sounds easy but for a child with dyslexia, it’s not. We, dyslexics, have no shortage of mind-bending theories and hyper-realistic worlds to share but how to share it is the problem. How do you make sure you have a beginning, middle, and end in your story? How do you make sure your teachers get what you wanted to say? And most importantly, how do you finish the story on time?

Links you might want to check:

GCSE English - Story Star (Nov 24 at 730pm)

This week, we had a lovely conversation with Katrina Cochrane, the head of education and policy for the British Dyslexia Association. Katrina has had a wide range of knowledge regarding dyslexia for the past few decades but we focused on what’s happening with dyslexia in the workplace.

As dyspraxic herself, Katrina was exposed to the struggles and confusion of neurodiverse workers in the workplace. She later specialised in dyslexia teaching and became part of the British Dyslexia Association.

In the UK, Katrina observed that dyslexia in the workplace had improved more than in schools in the last ten years. Companies are learning how to accommodate people with dyslexia as they understand that it can be a good investment in their companies. Listen to the podcast as Katrina also discussed what a workplace needs assessment is and how it is assessed.

Links you might want to check:

Website:

This week, I have invited Lois Letchford, a returning guest here in Dyslexia Explored, to talk about her recently published research paper through the International Literacy Association titled “Moving beyond Decoding: Teaching Pronoun Resolution to Develop Reading Comprehension”.

In her paper, Lois Letchford and her co-author, Timothy Rasinski, identified that less proficient readers like people with dyslexia often are not as proficient in resolving pronouns. It is another comprehension task that teachers often dismiss as the student being lazy or dumb.

Lois shared with us how pronouns such as; he, she, they, it, etc., confuse people with dyslexia. They often find it difficult to remember which noun was the pronoun replacing. She also offered strategies on how we, as parents and teachers, can help our students overcome this challenge. Listen to her story now.

Links you might want to check:

Have you tried studying another language? We all know it can be extremely hard to learn something you are not used to. Now, imagine what a child with dyslexia feels after moving to a country with a very different language. Learning a language is hard enough, but to learn another language while you are still learning to read with dyslexia is daunting. That is what our guest for today has experienced, when she and her family transferred to another country. Aimee Kyffin was not yet diagnosed with dyslexia when they moved to the Netherlands. Early on, she was having difficulty reading and understanding her lessons but people were just shrugging it off as they suspected it was just because she wasn’t used to the language.

This week, I had a great conversation with Aimee Kyffin as she talked about her dyslexia story. She also shared a new technology they developed where children can learn in a multi-sensory way. It basically lets you use colour to visualise spelling. It’s a very interesting technology which they plan on publishing in 2022. Listen to the podcast and hear her story.

Links you might want to check:

This week, I had an interesting conversation with Elizabeth Trudeau, a mother of a daughter with dyslexia. Elizabeth wants to share her passion, a project she just completed which initially started when she wanted to help her child understand her dyslexia. She noticed that her child responded greatly to stories about other professionals with dyslexia who have made it through school and life.

Seeing that other children also responded well to these success stories, Elizabeth wrote and published a children’s story book about real life people with dyslexia. In this podcast, Elizabeth shared what she realised while writing and researching the book about the social and emotional aspect of dyslexia and what we, as parents, can do about it. Listen to her story now.

Links you might want to check:

This week, I had a very interesting and musical conversation with Ruth Travers, the founder of Stave House. Ruth has developed a process for children to master music theory through visual and creative language. As we learnt from the previous episode, dyslexia is affecting children to learn and read music just as it is affecting them to read words.

Through Ruth’s fun and engaging program, children use their imagination and creativity to make sense of what they are seeing in the music sheet. Listen to the episode and discover Ruth Travers’ story as she explains how her process helped her students.

Links you might want to check:

This week, we invited children with dyslexia, parents and educators to ask them about their experiences with learning music. It surprises me that people are amazed when they hear that dyslexia might affect reading music when it definitely affects reading words.

In this episode, we want to start a conversation about dyslexia and music because there aren’t many people who are talking about this. The group talked about the struggles they or their children have encountered and some of the techniques that helped them cope. Music educators shared some common challenges that children with learning differences can be tripped up with, when learning music. This discussion barely scratched the surface but hopefully this will spark a new wave of conversations about learning music in a different more dyslexia-friendly way.

Links you might want to check:

We have a very fascinating story we’d like to share this week. It’s about Andrew Nehring who has a photographic memory, excellent auditory memory and dyslexia. It is a very interesting combination because people tend to correlate dyslexia with poor memory. Some of Andrew’s teachers didn’t believe he has dyslexia because he could relay what the teachers told him.

In this episode of Dyslexia Explored, I talked to Andrew Nehring as he shared his dyslexia story and how playing dungeons and dragons as a child helped him write stories for his books. Andrew has written 2 science fiction novels while he was in college. Now, he’s going to publish his 3rd book “David Massie and the Quantum Flux” this July 2021.

Links you might want to check:

Let’s listen to the story of Lois Letchford, a physical education teacher who became a reading specialist when she discovered her son has dyslexia. She’s written a book called “Reversed: A Memoir”, where she shares her son's story and her own - learning differences.

The school diagnostician called her son the worst child he’s ever seen in 20 years of teaching. That fueled her and her son to look for ways to help him with his dyslexia. She’s passionate about transforming literacy instruction for the most vulnerable students. She believes that we can’t change the children but we can control what we teach.

Links you might want to check:

Have you ever heard of the job title Head of Happiness? That’s exactly the job title of our guest for today. She’s a stand-up comedian who thought of bringing stand-up comedy into schools to help them with reading and writing. This week I had a very interesting conversation with Stephanie Davies, the founder of Laughology.

Stephanie says that her misbehaviour in school was a direct result of her difficulties keeping up in class. Stephanie started her own business and practically invented a job that she’s happy doing. She also ran school initiatives that help children with learning differences. At the end of the podcast Stephanie shared some tips on happiness, so look out for that. Listen to her story now.

Links you might want to check: