Perspectives of our Master of Social Work Research Assistants:Throughout this process, we feel as though we have been challenged and rewarded as well. We both had a general idea of how to develop a website, however we were unclear on the acutal specifics and details; so this turned out to be a learning process for us.
Pam feels as though this research project has directly correlated with many of her courses in the Clinical-Community Social Work Program, and is able to intergate many of the concepts utilized in the project phases into her course work. "We have learned a great deal about the experiences and challenges that adults with dyslexia face on a daily basis," says Pam. A quote from one of our participants really stood out to me in this process, "Just because I'm not doing the best that I want, doesn't mean I am not doing my BEST!!" This quote in my opinion, truly represents and encompasses a common struggle shared by many adults with dyslexia. The participants have been eager to assist us in bringing validation to all adults with dyslexia, and without their investment in the project this research would have not been as successful. I feel that this innovative project has paved the way for future research.
The newest member of our research team, Malory believes that this project will bring insight to many people who don't understand the struggles of those living with dyslexia. "People not living with a learning difference, such as dyslexia, typically don't comprehend how difficult life can be with one," she says. Malory believes that this is the result of a lack of knowledge on the subject of dyslexia across most parts of the country. "Hopefully this study will be able to educate people and bring awareness to this issue that is affecting so many people in our society." Malory is looking forward to her continued work with the team.
We are so proud of our former graduate research assistant, Jessica! Below is an update on where she is today and how her research with Adults with Dyslexia has been influential in her career, in her own words...
I graduated with a BSW Degree in Social Work in May 2010. I am currently fulfilling the role as an Intensive In Home Team Leader, working with children, teens and adults in the local community of New Bern, North Carolina. A relationship driven, strength based treatment approach drives my team’s process in helping families to reach their goals. Because of the knowledge gained in the “Adults with Dyslexia: Pathways to Success” research project, I have an increased awareness of the importance of encouraging families to share their story in an effort to validate their life experiences, as well as an increased awareness of the prevalence of dyslexia. My knowledge is an asset to the in home team’s clients when children present difficulties in the learning environment. I am often in the role of empowering parents to advocate for their child in the educational setting.
The newest member of our research team, Malory believes that this project will bring insight to many people who don't understand the struggles of those living with dyslexia. "People not living with a learning difference, such as dyslexia, typically don't comprehend how difficult life can be with one," she says. Malory believes that this is the result of a lack of knowledge on the subject of dyslexia across most parts of the country. "Hopefully this study will be able to educate people and bring awareness to this issue that is affecting so many people in our society." Malory is looking forward to her continued work with the team.
We are so proud of our former graduate research assistant, Jessica! Below is an update on where she is today and how her research with Adults with Dyslexia has been influential in her career, in her own words...
I graduated with a BSW Degree in Social Work in May 2010. I am currently fulfilling the role as an Intensive In Home Team Leader, working with children, teens and adults in the local community of New Bern, North Carolina. A relationship driven, strength based treatment approach drives my team’s process in helping families to reach their goals. Because of the knowledge gained in the “Adults with Dyslexia: Pathways to Success” research project, I have an increased awareness of the importance of encouraging families to share their story in an effort to validate their life experiences, as well as an increased awareness of the prevalence of dyslexia. My knowledge is an asset to the in home team’s clients when children present difficulties in the learning environment. I am often in the role of empowering parents to advocate for their child in the educational setting.
Published Manuscripts
•Our second article is hot off the press! The title is "Using photography and art in concept mapping research with adults with dyslexia." You can find it in the May 2010 issue of Disability and Society, Volume 25, Issue 3, pages 317-329. This article describes how we used photography and art to help participants “tell their stories” and identity statements of how dyslexia affects them as adults.This is the first time this methodolgy has been used with adults who have dyslexia.
Our second article is hot off the press! The title is "Using photography and art in concept mapping research with adults with dyslexia." You can find it in the May 2010 issue of Disability and Society, Volume 25, Issue 3, pages 317-329. This article describes how we used photography and art to help participants “tell their stories” and identity statements of how dyslexia affects them as adults.This is the first time this methodolgy has been used with adults who have dyslexia. •Our first article, "The use of participant-generated photographs in addressing social justice issues among research participants" was published in the 2009 issue of Social Justice in Context, Volume 4, Issue 1, pages 59-68.
Our first article, "The use of participant-generated photographs in addressing social justice issues among research participants" was published in the 2009 issue of Social Justice in Context, Volume 4, Issue 1, pages 59-68. DJohanson, 2008 Exciting Things Happening.... Because of our participants’ passion and drive to make a difference in the lives of adults with dyslexia and their involvement in our project, we want to share the exciting news from this ongoing project. This page will be continually updated as we move forward with our aim to bring validation, inform policies and services, and increase knowledge of the lives of adults with dyslexia.
Please Contact Us: 1-877-261-9822 (toll free)E-Mail: Nalavanyb@ecu.eduPresentationsLDA Presentation 2011:
We had the honor of presenting at the Learning Disabilities Association of America 48th Annual International Conference in Jacksonville, Florida on February 23, 2011. We provided a brief historical summary of this ongoing project on the social and emotional aspects of adults with dyslexia. We then presented an overview and the findings of the “Adults with Dyslexia: Pathways to Success” study. In addition to the workshop presentation, we also presented a poster presentation later in the week.
We believe the most important part of our workshop was the input from our panelists and the comments and questions of the audience. We are grateful for our 4 panelists from all over the country for taking valuable time away from their busy schedules to attend and share their experiences and wisdom as an adult with dyslexia. In keeping with our intent to make adults with dyslexia front and center in our work, their stories gave voice and context to what we believe are the compelling findings from our study. The commitment, conviction and support from individuals like our panelists provide the spirit and energy to keep this project moving.
As researchers we understand that wise teachers light fires and create revolutions. From our perspective the teachers are the adults with dyslexia. We only put the pieces together. We thank each of our panelists for coming to Jacksonville and sharing their experiences. Let’s go out and create a revolution that will inform professionals, families, and the public about the realities of being an adult with dyslexia.
We believe the most important part of our workshop was the input from our panelists and the comments and questions of the audience. We are grateful for our 4 panelists from all over the country for taking valuable time away from their busy schedules to attend and share their experiences and wisdom as an adult with dyslexia. In keeping with our intent to make adults with dyslexia front and center in our work, their stories gave voice and context to what we believe are the compelling findings from our study. The commitment, conviction and support from individuals like our panelists provide the spirit and energy to keep this project moving.
As researchers we understand that wise teachers light fires and create revolutions. From our perspective the teachers are the adults with dyslexia. We only put the pieces together. We thank each of our panelists for coming to Jacksonville and sharing their experiences. Let’s go out and create a revolution that will inform professionals, families, and the public about the realities of being an adult with dyslexia.
LDA Presentation 2010:
We had the pleasure of presenting the findings from phase I (concept mapping) at the Learning Disabilities Association of America's 47th Annual International Conference in Baltimore February 17-20, 2010. We had a great turnout at our presentation and participants asked important questions and provided compelling comments. We met many committed key stakeholders throughout the conference and look forward to partnering with them for future work.
Eastern AHEC Presentation:
We presented our work on adults with dyslexia at the 2010 Annual Eastern Region Adult Services Conference on April 27. The goal of the session was to help mental health professionals understand dyslexia, the life experiences of adults with dyslexia, and discuss the policy and practice implications for this population. We had a great discussion on the practice implications of the findings as well as enlightening discussion about personal implications as some attendees had family members with dyslexia.
East Carolina Univeristy Master of Socal Work Field Education Orientation and Training:
In August 2009 we presented the findings of Phase I (concept mapping) to over 100 graduate level social workers and nearly as many professionals in the community. To say the least, the audience was greatly moved by the findings. One courageous student who participated in the study expressed her honest feelings about what it is like to be an adult with dyslexia and how touched she was by participating in the study. Since our presentation we have heard from many professionals in the community who are much more aware of how dyslexia affects adults and what they can do to intervene in the best way possible.
Doctoral-Level Class Presentation:
In September 2009 we presented the findings of Phase I (concept mapping) to an interdisciplinary master and doctoral level qualitative research class.
The Adults with Dyslexia, Pathways to Success survey is now closed. We are pleased to announce that 227 adults with dyslexia have completed the online survey! The feedback in the comments section is thoughtful and compelling. We appreciate your time and commitment in making this one of the largest studies to date on the social and emotional aspects of adults with dyslexia. Without your help this would not have been possible.
Please continue to check back on our website and Facebook fan page for exciting news regarding the findings of the survey and for upcoming events. As always, we welcome and encourage feedback so please do not hesitate to contact us!
PRESS RELEASE - September 29th, 2010
College of Human Ecology
Office of the Dean
RW-246 Rivers Building
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858-4353
252-328-1098
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Contact:
Peggy Novotny, Director of Marketing and Communication
252-328-2882, novotnym@ecu.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Adults with dyslexia use photography and art to convey their world view Greenville, N.C. (September 28, 2010)—Children with dyslexia grow up to be adults with dyslexia. The challenges associated with dyslexia do not diminish with time but often become more complex in adulthood. Researchers at East Carolina University and the Dyslexia Research Institute used a unique process to help adults with dyslexia describe just how challenging their lives can be over and beyond their language-based difficulties. Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference which affects people's abilities to read, spell, write and pronounce words. According to The International Dyslexia Association, dyslexia is the most common type of learning disability, with as much as 15-20 percent of the population having symptoms of dyslexia. Blace A. Nalavany, Lena Williams Carawan, and Robyn A. Rennick conducted the first study to use the mediums of photography and art to help adults with dyslexia communicate their day-to-day challenges with life. Using their own photos and artwork to generate ideas, fifteen adults (mean age of 42) with dyslexia generated seventy-five statements to express what it is like to live with dyslexia. Thirty-nine participants then sorted and rated the statements into categories reflecting their own personal experiences. From this process, the researchers produced an innovative visual representation/concept map of the social and emotional experiences of adults with dyslexia. The concept map revealed nine distinct yet related categories of experiences with dyslexia, including organizational skills for success; finding success; a good support system makes the difference; on being overwhelmed; emotional downside; why can’t they see it?; pain, hurt, and embarrassment from past to present; fear of disclosure; and moving forward. “While many of the participants in this study reflected histories of pain associated with living with dyslexia, there was an overall belief that the general public, educators, and mental health professionals do not understand the deep emotional and social pain that occurs from dyslexia,” says Blace Nalavany. “Educators, employers, colleges, mental health professionals, policy makers, and researchers are all called upon to acknowledge the unique needs of adults with dyslexia. The study underscores that dyslexia is not something in your head, but is a day-to-day reality that is both real and powerful and does not go away.”
The authors published an earlier article on the use of photography, art, and concept mapping in research with adults with dyslexia in Disability and Society in May 2010. The current article may be found in The Journal of Learning Disabilities and online at http://ldx.sagepub.com/content/early/recent
The researchers are currently working on Phase II of their ongoing research and will focus on identifying the specific experiences that help or hinder adults with dyslexia in leading successful and satisfying lives. Data collection for Phase II is completed. Data are being analyzed and findings will be disseminated at the Learning Disabilities Association’s (LDA) 48th International Conference in Florida, USA, in February 2011 and through upcoming manuscripts.
The researchers have established a project website at www.successwithdyslexia.com
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Blace A. Nalavany and Lena Williams Carawan are on the faculty of the School of Social Work in the College of Human Ecology at East Carolina University. The college educates professionals who enhance the well-being of people and communities. For more information on the ECU School of Social Work, visit www.ecu.edu/che/socw
Robyn A. Rennick is co-director of the Dyslexia Research Institute of Tallahassee, Florida. Since 1975, the goal of the Dyslexia Research Institute, Inc. has been to change the perception of learning differences, specifically in the area of dyslexia and attention deficit disorders (ADD). Visit http://www.dyslexia-add.org/.
Please take the time to review our new published manuscript!
Nalavany, B. A., Carwan, L. W., & Rennick, R. (2011). Psychosocial experiences associated with confirmed and self-identified dyslexia: A participant-driven concept map of adult perspectives. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 44, 63-79.
We have been invited to present the findings from the online survey at the Learning Disabilities Association of America 49th Annual International Conference in Chicago in February 22-25, 2012. For details please visit the LDA website ! http://www.Idanatl.org/conference/index.asp We hope to see you there!
