Old Enough To Carry A Message

At a recent hearing before the Iowa Board of Education, Lily Duffy spoke about Dyslexia. “My name is Lily Duffy. I’m seven and I have Dyslexia, which means I don’t read well. I had to go to summer school last year even though I get lots of tutoring and help. I bet I’ll have to go again this summer and it’s not fair. I should not be punished for being Dyslexic.”

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Leading the way on the discussion on any subject can be a big challenge, often filled with anxiety.

For Lily Duffy and her mom Betsy, leading and being a part of the discussion about dyslexia is important, as it’s a family affair for them. Dyslexia is often in families as it can be passed along the genetic line.

According to Wikipedia, “Dyslexia, also known as reading disorder, is characterized by trouble with reading despite normal intelligence. Different people are affected to varying degrees. Problems may include difficulties in spelling words, reading quickly, writing words, “sounding out” words in the head, pronouncing words when reading aloud and understanding what one reads.”

This past week, Lily and her mom Betsy traveled to Des Moines and spoke before members of the State Board of Education about how rules being generated in regards to reading proficiency can appear to be punishment for students such as Lily.

In plans outlined by the Iowa Department of Education, districts need to have “implemented a provision of universal screening in reading for students in kindergarten through third grade; progress monitoring for students who exhibit a substantial deficiency in reading.”

Lily, who receives extra reading help at home, along with tutors, to supplement her education at Oskaloosa Elementary, could once again be facing having no summer vacation because her reading may not meet the standards set by the State.

“Lily is learning to adapt and overcome her dyslexia,” says Betsy. Multi-sensory tutoring is something Lily uses to help her overcome and “helps her retrain her brain”. Part of the multi-sensory learning helps Lily by teaching her to tap words out and to break them down into syllables and phonics.

Lily isn’t alone, with up to 7%  of all students dealing with dyslexia, and potentially 20% overcoming dyslexia in one form or another to lesser degrees.

Feeling frustrated at school because she can’t get a word right is something Lily is learning to overcome by sounding out that word and, if necessary, getting some assistance from her teacher.

Iowa has set in motion a set of rules for 2017 that will require students to read proficiently at the 3rd grade level by the end of their 3rd grade year or be automatically retained.

Lily and Betsy hope to continue their conversation with the rule-makers to help educate them about students like Lily. Students who are already going those extra steps because of something like dyslexia, and may be facing an even harder time. Lily said to those rule-makers, “I should not be punished for being Dyslexic.”

Lily attended summer school last year, and feels frustrated by the situation, and wants to share that with those who are making the policy.

The policy of utilizing standardized testing may be falling by the wayside. In October of this year, President Obama called for limiting standardized testing to less than 2 percent of classroom time, as the debate nationally about the emphasis on test taking has taken center stage.

“Learning is about so much more than just filling in the right bubble. So we’re going to work with states, school districts, teachers, and parents to make sure that we’re not obsessing about testing. That the principles I just outlined are reflected in classrooms throughout the country—to make sure that our kids are enjoying learning, that our teachers are able to operate with creativity, to make sure we are preparing our kids for a lifetime of success,” Obama said in a video released on Facebook.

Betsy says that Lily, “is pretty proud. She wears dyslexia on her sleeve.”

“It’s not something I want her to be ashamed of, because it’s just a learning difference. It’s not a deficit. Everybody’s different.” says Betsy.

Lily isn’t done telling her story. She and mom Betsy head back to Des Moines on Tuesday to speak to the Administrative Rules Committee of the Iowa Department of Education in regards to those proposed rules about the summer reading programs that must be provided to 3rd graders as an alternative to being held back.