Embracing Dyslexia (2013)

According to the National Institutes of Health, dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. Individuals with dyslexia have trouble with reading, writing, spelling and often with math despite having at least an average intelligence. It is estimated that 15 to 20 percent of the world's population is dyslexic but most are never identified or diagnosed. For those who are diagnosed it often happens after years of struggling in school, after self-esteem has begun to tumble and after the words 'I'm stupid' or 'I'm dumb' become more than just words. In 2008 filmmaker Luis Macias learned that his eight year old son, Alejandro, was dyslexic. Even though Alejandro was diagnosed relatively early, it came after he was held back in first grade due to his poor reading and writing skills and it came after countless homework battles, self-esteem issues, and Alejandro continuously being told that he was not trying hard enough. We know how to fix the reading, writing, and spelling issues that dyslexics struggle with. Dyslexic children can become successful readers and very successful students thus allowing them to reach their full potential as adults. But there is a tremendous roadblock in the way and it is there because our governments, schools and educators are simply misinformed about what dyslexia is or they have no information at all. By carefully weaving together interviews with parents, educators, researchers, experts, and adult dyslexics, Embracing Dyslexia tackles the issues surrounding dyslexia like no other documentary film. Parents share emotional stories of their anxiety and frustration over failing to understand why their children were struggling with reading, writing, and spelling and the the life-altering impact the word dyslexia had on their lives. Adult dyslexics courageously open up and speak candidly about their dyslexia, sharing their struggles and successes they have had in school and in their adult lives. Experts and educators define what dyslexia is and illustrate why early dyslexia screening for all children is vital. They also share how effective tutoring inside and/or outside the school, accommodations in the classroom, and recognizing and fostering the dyslexic child's natural gifts and abilities can take them from feeling stupid and experiencing failure on a daily basis to believing in themselves and knowing that they can be as successful as their peers. For being the most common learning disability, dyslexia is grossly misunderstood in the one environment where it can least afford to be - our schools. Embracing Dyslexia sets out to change this by enlightening and inspiring those who are responsible for the education of these amazing children.

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