Sunday, July 29, 2012

Dyslexic Self Advocacy Network


Note to Reader: This blog post is about dyslexia so I have made the choice not to spell check my natural spelling

I had the opertunity this week to meet Andy Imparato and Senator Harkin for the first time in person. When I brought up the subject of dyslexia, Andy asked me if I would organize the demographic. “We have some parent groups,” he said, “but I want you to organize adult dyslexics.” When I hesitated mementarly Andy said, “just say yes.” And so I did.

I had never really thought of dyslexia as a parent-dominated disability or likened it to the issues suranding autism and self advocacy. But Andy’s order made me consider it differently. I had been aware for some time that none of the top dyslexia researchers and authorities were dyslexic themselves—mostly parents, at best with a once removed relationship to dyslexia—but had never given it much thought. But when I got home from the event where I had met Imparato and Harkin, I traveled to the International Dyslexia Assocation’s website and viewed their boad of directors. Only two out of twenty-one board members were dyslexic themselves. At once I proceaved the problem Andy had aluded to.

How strange it is that such a glaring issue in the dyslexic community had aluded me for so long. Of course self-reperesnenion and advoacacy are important in both research and public policy. What could be done? Ari Ne’eman’s Autisic Self Advocacy Network provides a great model for a disalbity rights organization run for and by people with autisom. Dyslexic Self Advocacy Network? Sounds good to me. Let me know if you want to help.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Commenters must avoid profanity, harsh language and disparaging remarks on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability. All comments to the blog are moderated by AAPD, and can be subject to removal at any time.

Please use the comments section to engage in the ongoing dialogue between our program funders, current and former interns, our colleagues, and the broader disability community, and to respond to intern posts that intrigue you, to share your own stories, or to simply express your gratitude for being allowed into the world of our summer interns.