As we welcome December and the close of another remarkable year at the Central New York Children’s Dyslexia Center, we take a moment to reflect on the many blessings that fill our hearts with gratitude. This season reminds us how much can be accomplished when a community comes together with compassion, purpose, and perseverance.

As we move into November, we reflect with gratitude on a wonderful Dyslexia Awareness Month. October was filled with opportunities to spread understanding, build awareness, and celebrate the achievements of our amazing students at the Central New York Children’s Dyslexia Center.

I thought I would share a story here at the Center that really demonstrates what our kids go through, as well as a highlight from another student. 

Many of our students come in with a mask of what society, teachers, family members and others have told them they are.  They most often are beaten down and deflated. Sadly, they have turned inward to protect themselves from further hurt and failure.  The truth is they all want to be seen for who they are and be loved imperfections and all.  I want to tell you about one student who created a strategy to forge ahead even with her immense obstacles. 

My name is Alyssa Mittiga.  I am a tutor, currently in advanced training at The Children’s Dyslexia Center, a parent of a dyslexic child, and I myself am dyslexic.  All of these components shape who I am. 

I first came to the Children’s Dyslexia Center for two reasons, first to submit an application for my son, who is dyslexic, and second, to submit the paperwork to become a scholar myself.  You know the saying “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”?   I wanted to be taught how to teach my son to read.  I am the mother of four, with a background in education as well as a Masters Degree in Literacy.  Yes, a Masters Degree in Literacy and yet I couldn’t teach my son to read…

Hello, my name is Joseph Mittiga.  I would like to speak to you about my life after attending The Children’s Dyslexia Center.

At this point, I don’t really remember what life was like before I attended the Children’s Dyslexia Center.  I feel like I caught up with everyone else, and now I’m capable of attending a grammar and writing program that is intense.  It is not easy, but I persevere.  I would never have been able to attend my grammar and writing class, if it had not been for the Center, because I wouldn’t have been able to keep up with the amount of reading, and writing required…