Finding Your Personal Connection to Literacy: Guest Blogger Debra Semans Comments On Her Ties to Literacy and Literacy Action!

Debra Semans, Literacy Action Trustee

Have you ever know someone who struggled with a learning disability? Who hasn't, right? Whether your own child or another family member, a friend or their child, learning disabilities have become widely identified and treated by educators.

For me, it was my son, Paul, who was diagnosed as dyslexic when he was 5 years old. Fortunately, he was attending a wonderful school that identified this challenge and supported us with resources. We were able to move him to The Schenk School, where he learned to deal with this challenge. He graduated from the Galloway School, received his BA in English from the University of Puget Sound and today he is pursuing his Master's in Teaching English from Georgia State University. While he is still dyslexic, he has learned how to deal with his weaknesses and leverage his strengths-and he is never seen without a book (or more usually two or three books) in his hand.

When I was approached to become a Literacy Action Trustee, of course I wanted to visit the school and see for myself the great work being done. Imagine my surprise when I entered the classroom and found Karen Gregory, Paul's teacher from The Schenk School! After class, Karen and I spoke and she told me that many of LAI students probably had undiagnosed learning disabilities when they were at the age of learning to read. She also told me that LAI uses the same teaching method as The Schenk School, the Orton Gillingham method, the same method used when Paul was learning to read.

As I drove home after my site visit, I thought about this "coincidence." While schools today are getting better and better at identifying and dealing with students with learning disabilities, that was not neccessarily the case when today's adults were in grade school. And not all parents have the resources and inclination to obtain the special services and education needed to overcome learning disabilities. I decided that I was meant to pay back the blessing of Paul's learning to read by joining the LAI Board of Trustees.

I have been a Literacy Action Trustee now for a little over two years and I continue to be amazed and impressed with this organization and what they accomplish. The students are nothing short of amazing and their courage and tenacity is truly inspiring. My term may expire, but I know I will be involved with this organization for the rest of my life.

If you have or know someone who has a learning disability, I urge you to support LAI, for all those adults who were not able to get the specialized instruction they needed at the time. Donate, volunteer, attend events-please help in any way you can to make sure the work continues.