For parents of children with dyslexia, teachers, and others who have wondered what it is like to be dyslexic, Hardin-Simmons University’s Center for Literacy and Learning will present a simulation of the experience tonight.
“Approximately 15 to 20% of the population experiences reading difficulties related to dyslexia”, said Dr. Emily Dean. Dean heads up the Center for Literacy and Learning at HSU. The Center of Literacy and Learning serves as a dyslexia resource for teacher training, parent support, and community resource in the Big Country and west central Texas.
“October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. Tonight’s simulation is about bringing awareness to the community”, says Dean. “Through Experience Dyslexia, you can experience reading as a dyslexic would. The participants actually see first-hand how dyslexia affects everything you do.”
The simulation, Experience Dyslexia, takes participants through six stations designed to increase awareness of the difficulties and frustrations that people with dyslexia encounter daily. The simulation is designed to be stressful and the experiences are typical of those that people with dyslexia encounter in their daily lives. “Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability with symptoms resulting in people having difficulties with a number of language skills, specifically reading and spelling”, Dean says. “Some of these symptoms include slow rate of reading, inaccurate reading, poor spelling, and/or problems with written expression.”
The event will be on the first floor of Moody Center, Tuesday, October 9, 2012, Room 108, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The event is free but space is limited. Please RSVP to centerforliteracy@hsutx.edu
For more information about dyslexia, go to: http://www.hsutx.edu/offices/literacy-learning