The Dyslexia Cheer
Spring 2021 • Mom2Mom • Expert Advice
Rosette Roth, Co-Founder of Decoding Dyslexia PA, discusses her role as a cheerleader for the dyslexia community.
By Rosette Roth, Decoding Dyslexia PA
Cheerleader:
“A person who is a member of a group who shouts out or chants to encourage his or her team.”
I tried out, without success, for the cheer team in middle school. I could neither sing nor dance, but I tried. We do not always achieve our goals, but we grow and move on to other, more successful goals. Failures and obstacles lead us to our future selves and future triumphs.
Fast forward 25 years later and I have become, along with my wonderful husband, Steve, a cheerleader for our kids and for others as well. I now cheer on my family and friends who also encounter obstacles, especially due to dyslexia and the lack of understanding and support that the students, parents, and even educators may face.
I have two bright kids who have dyslexia, but dyslexia does not define them. Just like I could not cheer for a school, there was a time when reading was difficult for my children. Rather than “make the team” in reading, they ran into a brick wall and did not “make the cut.” Their school at the time could not appropriately identify their dyslexia or remediate them. Suddenly, I had to become their cheerleader, to encourage my kids despite their reading challenges and help them to learn how to overcome the obstacles they faced. And more importantly, to shine in their strengths.
When my kids were first diagnosed, I taught myself as much as I could about dyslexia. We discovered the Children’s Dyslexia Center in Harrisburg and my kids were tutored there. They learned how to read there since their public school could not provide what they needed. I had to learn about IEPs and 504 plans, as those were also confusing. One needs to learn which accommodations at school are best for their children.
In 2012, I co-founded Decoding Dyslexia PA, a grassroots advocacy group that offers support to others navigating dyslexia. Pennsylvania became the second state and the start of a larger Decoding Dyslexia movement, a wonderful force, and we recently re-invented ourselves to be even stronger.
Today, we exist in all 50 US states, Washington DC, in Canada (5 Provinces), Bermuda, and Decoding Dyslexia Military.
Decoding Dyslexia holds dyslexia awareness rallies and events including an event in Washington, DC to meet face to face with each other and to lobby, or cheer on, our legislators for both local and federal dyslexia and educational laws. The next #SayDyslexia Rally will hopefully be in the summer of 2021.
Since Decoding Dyslexia was launched, Dyslexia education and awareness have expanded. Movements like Decoding Dyslexia and other organizations have taken a subject like dyslexia, which was not talked about often, and turned it into something we now hear about. And while there was very little social media presence about dyslexia years ago, now social media has a great deal of information. Of course, always fact check and be sure your information is from a reliable source, especially while on social media.
Children with Learning Differences have been ignored for too long. Now, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and many cheering voices are amplified and making a difference for our kids and for our future.
If you or someone you know is struggling with reading, writing, math, or seems to be processing things more slowly, there are many things that you can do as a parent or teacher, or mentor.
First, parents should request in writing for a full psychoeducational evaluation to be done through your school. Second, be prepared to fight if this is denied, or get your own private testing done. Information is power, and if there is an issue you need a diagnosis in order to help your student.
Make sure your student has activities that they love and thrive doing. Students who struggle will especially need that feeling of many successes inside and outside the classroom.
Educate yourself and surround yourself with allies! Make sure your student has someone to talk to when they get frustrated.
That is what Decoding Dyslexia has been for me: my “tribe” to share success and failures with. You are not alone.
In addition to being cheerleaders, we are advocates and change agents. We are seeing a change in the classrooms, the state capitals, and even in the US Capital. For this, I am grateful.
Keep cheering and advocating. We have come so far, but we have more work to do. The future lies in our hands.
Rosette S. Roth studied Psychology and English at the University of Delaware. Her work experience includes the Direct Marketing Association, Macmillan Publishing Company, and freelance work in social media marketing and sales. She is a Co-Founder of Decoding Dyslexia PA and also volunteers for Parent to Parent PA and Families to the MAX. Rosette holds several past and present board positions in her community.
