Dyslexia and Privilege | Samantha Coppola | TEDxTheMastersSchool

Summary

The speaker shares a personal journey with dyslexia, highlighting the financial and educational disparities in addressing the condition. With an average cost of $245,000 to raise a child, the speaker emphasizes the additional $400,000 expense for dyslexia remediation, often unaffordable for many. They recount their own experience with specialized schooling and contrast it with a friend's struggle in the public education system. The talk calls for teacher training to identify dyslexia early and argues for a more equitable approach to special education funding.

Takeaways

• 💰 The average cost of raising a child is $245,000, but for a child with dyslexia, the cost can escalate to around $400,000 for adequate remediation.
• 👶 Early intervention is crucial for children with dyslexia. The speaker had to meet with an occupational therapist twice a week at $100 a session for a year due to motor skill issues.
• 🏫 The speaker attended a world-renowned school for dyslexic children, costing $55,900 a year for six years, highlighting the financial burden on families.
• 📚 Despite attending a top-ranked private school, the speaker still required additional tutoring at $100 a session, three times a week for six years, due to learning differences.
• 🔍 Regular evaluations every 3-4 years are necessary to prove dyslexia to the College Board, costing $5,000 each time.
• 🌐 The disparity in educational outcomes for dyslexic children is influenced by socioeconomic status, with wealthier families able to provide more extensive support.
• 👩‍🏫 Teachers play a critical role in identifying dyslexia. The speaker suggests that better teacher training could lead to earlier and more effective interventions.
• 📈 The Read Act, a bill from the Obama Administration, is a step in the right direction by requiring schools to use terms like dyslexia to define students' needs.
• 🙅‍♀️ There's a common misconception about dyslexia, with some believing it can be 'fixed' with glasses or medication, which is not the case.
• 📚 The speaker advocates for a reevaluation of how educational resources are allocated, suggesting that investing in dyslexic intervention could save costs in the long run.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the speaker's presentation?

The speaker focuses on the financial and educational challenges faced by children with dyslexia, emphasizing the high costs of remediation and the inequality in access to proper diagnosis and education based on financial standing.

How much does the speaker estimate it costs to fully remediate a child with dyslexia?

The speaker estimates it could cost around $400,000 to fully remediate a child with dyslexia.

What personal experience does the speaker share regarding their own dyslexia diagnosis?

The speaker shares that they were diagnosed with dyslexia at age six after struggling with reading and recognizing letters in kindergarten. Their motor skill issues were first noticed at age four, and they began occupational therapy as a result.

What were the educational costs associated with the speaker’s dyslexia intervention?

The speaker attended a world-renowned school for dyslexic children with a tuition of $55,900 per year for six years, totaling $279,500. Additionally, they spent $93,600 on tutoring and needed $5,000 evaluations every few years to prove their continued dyslexia.

How does the speaker contrast their own experience with that of Ava?

The speaker contrasts their own experience of receiving expensive and personalized dyslexia support with Ava, a girl in public school who was never properly diagnosed and struggled in special education classes, remaining illiterate due to a lack of resources and early intervention.

Why does the speaker argue that many dyslexic children are not diagnosed in public schools?

The speaker argues that many dyslexic children in public schools are not diagnosed because their families cannot afford the $5,000 evaluation required for a formal diagnosis. As a result, these children are often placed in special education classes without receiving proper dyslexia intervention.

What solution does the speaker propose to help more dyslexic children succeed?

The speaker proposes that teachers need to be better trained to recognize the signs of dyslexia in young children. By identifying dyslexic students early, schools can provide more targeted interventions and help these children reach their full potential.

What is the significance of the Read Act mentioned by the speaker?

The Read Act, created under the Obama Administration, requires schools to use terms like 'dyslexia' to accurately define students' needs, rather than labeling them as 'stupid' or ignoring their learning disabilities. This is seen as a step toward greater recognition and support for dyslexic students.

Why does the speaker believe that reading is treated like a privilege rather than a basic human right?

The speaker believes reading is treated like a privilege because access to proper dyslexia diagnosis and intervention is often limited by financial resources. Children from wealthier families can afford the necessary evaluations and tutoring, while those from lower-income families are left behind.

What does the speaker hope society will do to address the dyslexia education gap?

The speaker hopes society will focus on improving teacher training to recognize dyslexia and rearrange school resources to prioritize dyslexia interventions, rather than requiring families to bear the financial burden.