About Us

DyslexicAdvantage.com

DyslexicAdvantage.com was founded by Drs. Brock and Fernette Eide to help connect the dyslexic community and increase awareness of dyslexic strengths and potentials. Although as many as 1 in 5 individuals have dyslexia, few people are formally identified, and even fewer are able to find community and access to supports and resources that would help.

Dyslexic Advantage is incorporated a non-profit organization in Washington state (501c3 status pending). For more information, click here.

Why We Do What We Do

Although people with dyslexia are among some of the most innovative thinkers the world has ever known, it is grossly misunderstood, perceived as a disease, deficit, or disability. As a result, many children and adults may be embarrassed or ashamed about their dyslexia, be reluctant to self-identify, and never discover their talents and strengths.

We want to change what people think of when they think about dyslexia, and we envision a world where dyslexic processing styles are celebrated and all people with dyslexia are given opportunities to flourish.

How We Do It

First, people with dyslexia and parents of children with dyslexia should never to feel alone. DyslexicAdvantage.com is the largest online community for dyslexia families and professionals in the United States. Members live all over the world, and they include people from all walks of life, viewpoints, and professions. It's often the case that we learn more from others who have been on the same journey, than others who may be on the outside looking in.

Too many people with dyslexia fail to get information about tips, strategies, and research that could be helpful to them in their day-to-day living. Dyslexic Advantage provides discussion areas for members to learn about information from their own community members as well as some of the latest scientific or clinical research.

Many adults with dyslexia have a tremendous ability to inspire because they've experienced many of the difficulties early on. There are wonderful lists of 'Famous People with Dyslexia' around the Internet, but it's also a goal of our organization to identify patterns of strengths, and share opportunities and sources of advancement so that young people with dyslexia or others adults contemplating life changes might find practical help. In the coming year, we would like to encourage mentorship and perhaps develop focus groups in fields like small business or IT.

There's a tremendous need to engage our dyslexia and non-dyslexia communities to improve education about strengths and ensure dyslexia-friendly classrooms and workplaces. We see ourselves as part of a larger grass roots movement to transform the field of dyslexia so that it reflects the interests and priorities of dyslexics across the lifespan and in every community.

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Comment by Sarah Martinez on March 16, 2012 at 7:58pm: Just finished reading "The Dyslexic Advantage." What I've learned is life-changing for me as the mother and wife of dyslexic individuals. As an A-type, extremely detailed-oriented person, I have a hard time relating to my daughter and husband on occasion. As I read the book, I immediately saw ways I could change my own behavior to better encourage my daughter. An example of some of the sticky notes scrawled as I read further into your book: "Allow and encourage her tendency to collect tidbits and trinkets." (Junk in my mind.) "Encourage her desire to cut and build with cardboard. Be more of a helper in the building of 'contraptions.'" (Mess-making in my non inventive mind.) "Create a narrative or story when assisting with homework concepts she's struggling with." (Because repetition of facts clearly isn't cutting it!) I can't thank you enough for this insightful and well-written book!

Comment by Drs. Fernette and Brock Eide on March 7, 2012 at 7:58pm: Thanks for writing, Cassia! You really made our day! Congrats on your long journey and congrats to Chase! Chase is very fortunate to have you as his mom and we admire you for sharing all that you've learned with others. You deserve the Super Mom award. : )

Comment by Cassia Montgomery on March 6, 2012 at 7:03am: Hi, My son has a Language based reading disorder. I have learned so much from your books. I started reading about Dyslexia and other Developmental Reading Disorders 5 years ago. Well I can say Im on the other side now and my little guy has shown so much success in using the non traditional literacy strategies from school. His Resource Room teachers have been so grateful with our at home proactive guidance. I am now being asked to speak at a SEPAC meeting for our district on DRD. What our success has been. There are soooooo many discouraged parents that may work 2 jobs and no one really has the time to research. So I said sure Ill share like its a typical homework night. That used to take hours, then an hour, now we are down to 30 minutes. We took breaks with those longer nights, but still a child can only do so much after a long day at school, especially with a disorder. But my son thrives, says thank you in his prayers for his dyslexia, tells the world at school. Its helped so many students look at how he uses technology as his link into their world of book reports, etc. Anyways I dont mean to sound scattered, but its been a long 5 years, and we have years ahead of us. But we have a toolbox now. I think its sad how the school could never give us one, just goals, an IEP and prayers it seemed like for years. Well, the district has seen what I have done and will continue to do with Chase. My background is Vocal Performance and Music. My husbands is Art Direction. We both had horrible issues with learning in some areas. Not all, like Chase. But we are leaders I believe and so is Chase! Chase has a twin brother who is advanced in reading and math...So lets just say our home has quite the spectrum on learning. I am also going to be certified in Brain Gym as I found that has alleviated Chases other issues such as SPD and Mild CP. My boys were born at 29 weeks. Chases cognitive psychologists said Chase sees Negative Space vs positive first. This is when the aha light came on for us to research dyslexia. Just thought to share. I will be bringing my tool box if you will to the meeting I will host in April and will bring in the books that have helped me so....I will tell everyone about Dyslexic Advantage. A must read!! I will say Dyslexia for Dummies(how I hate that series title) but they had some great remedial strategies I have been using. Also I used many Vocal strategies when I was learning to use different vowel sounds for many languages to sing in. Phonetics and Diction were the same thing Chase was struggling with. I saw that his ear was not discriminating fine units of sound. Also that ADD attributes, etc were like you described first cousins if you will in a contiuam, I heard you mention in a radio spot. I use a ton of multi Sensory too. Basically we learned that we needed to really Hear, then Feel, Say, See, Write and finally Spell. That is our little guide at home. Just thought to share. Thank you for your dedication and passion, Sincerely a Dedicated Mama, Cassia Montgomery

Comment by Drs. Fernette and Brock Eide on February 26, 2012 at 7:31pm: Hooray hooray, Melita! Bravo for your daughter! We really hope to catalyze a movement - to improve recognition of the gifts and strengths associated with dyslexia. If only people spent as much time researching the striking talents and abilities of children and adults with dyslexia as the traditional things!

Comment by Melita Guy on February 26, 2012 at 5:53pm: I have just read the MIND strenghts section of your book 'Dyslexic Advantage'.I wanted to thank you for giving some colour and texture to my hope. I knew that dyslexic minds were amazing ones and my 9 year old daughter’s amongst them, but couldn’t quite articulate how. After she was labelled as gifted, teachers and therapists kept asking “But how is she gifted?” and I could only answer “Well, cognitively”. It certainly wasn’t functionally because she was performing in the low-average arena for most things at school. Everyone looked at her performance from ”the flip side of the coin” and only addressed her areas of weakness, me included.

Now that you have highlighted her processing style for me, I can see for the first time how it is that she will progress from the caterpillar to the butterfly and I could weep from relief. That 16 page typed fairy story that she dictated to my mother at age four, is the masterpiece that I thought it to be and the beginnings of great things. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Melita

Comment by Denise Kerwin on October 10, 2011 at 11:54pm: I'm a 53 yr old women that was formaly DX with dyslexia 2yrs ago (I've know that I was dyslexic since undergrad) I needed the DX for accomadations for a test I needed to take. I have a Masters in Counsling Psy. I just found your site have order the book and will write more when I'm not on my smart phone and have spell check!