Rethinking Dyslexia: Local Organizations Host a Screening of The Big Picture and Presentations From Specialists to Address New Learning Solutions for Students with Dyslexia

LIVONIA, Mich. – April 24, 2014 – Local organizations are partnering to address the myths and stigmas associated with dyslexia and will uncover new learning and teaching solutions for students with the learning difference. 

The full-day will include a film screening, presentations from local experts and solutions-based exhibits on Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Schoolcraft College, located at 18600 Haggerty Road in Livonia, and it is open to teachers, students and parents throughout the community.

The highly anticipated film screening, Director James Redford’s acclaimed HBO Documentary “The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia,” provides a close look at the experience of being dyslexic,  and the New York Times says the film “busts any preconceptions about limits on what people with dyslexia can achieve.”

The day’s lineup of presentations from local specialists will include:  “Welcome and Introductions,” Mable Fox, outreach director, Brightmont Academy; “What is Dyslexia?” Dr. John McCaskill, clinical psychologist, McCaskill Family Services; “Building Better Brains: Teaching Strategies that Work,” Stephanie Cork, director of education, Reading Language Arts Centers; “From the Right Environment to Success,” Ann L. Beatty, director, Michigan Dyslexia Institute;  “Teacher Tips and Legislation,” Lisa Barnett, special education teacher, parent of a child with dyslexia, founding member Decoding Dyslexia and Denise Diaz, parent of a dyslexic student, founding member Decoding Dyslexia; and “Entering College,” Denise Schell, disability support services counselor, Schoolcraft College.

“When I was given the extraordinary opportunity to make a film about understanding dyslexia, the mission was simple: make the movie I wish my family could have seen when my son, Dylan was functionally illiterate in fourth grade,” said Redford, whose son Dylan’s story is told in The Big Picture Documentary.

The film follows Redford’s son Dylan as he is preparing to enter college – a major challenge for a boy who had a serious learning difference, and interviews several young dyslexic students and an array of public figures diagnosed with the learning difference and shares their decades-long research into the perplexing disability.

“Dyslexia is the most common learning difference as one in five children have it, yet it remains to be the most publicly misunderstood,” said Mable Fox, the outreach director for Brightmont Academy, an accredited private school specializing in one-to-one instruction. “Many students still go undiagnosed, meaning they are often performing below their potential; the goal is to bring awareness to the disability and spread knowledge about teaching and learning solutions.”

The Michigan Department of Education has also approved this event as an opportunity for educators to earn four hours towards their teaching, counseling and administrator certification renewal.  The event will provide four clock hours of Public and Private School Educators State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs).

Many thanks to event sponsors, presenters and exhibitors: Michigan Dyslexia Institute, Brightmont Academy, Warner’s Corner Toys, LEGO Education, See it Right!, Reading and Language Arts Centers, McCaskill Family Services, U2 Can Learn, Decoding Dyslexia and Schoolcraft College. 

Registration is required to attend as space is limited. To learn more about the event and to register, please visit: www.brightmontacademy.com/the-big-picture.

About Brightmont Academy

Brightmont Academy is an accredited private school that provides one-to-one instruction. One experienced teacher works with one student throughout every learning session. In this research-based approach, the teacher focuses on developing academic and study skills a student needs to be a successful learner. Students can enroll full-time to earn a high school diploma, take a 6th- to 12th-grade individual course for credit, or receive individualized tutoring for all K-12 subjects, study skills, and test preparation. Brightmont Academy has served 2,000 students since 1999 and has campuses in Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington. For more information visit: www.BrightmontAcademy.com