Hello,

I have dyslexia. I also have a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Simmons College.

Many years ago when I still didn’t understand my dyslexia, my mother and I saw a counselor in private practice. We talked about all sorts of topics that dealt with the stressors in our relationship. But we missed the biggest one: the elephant in the room—namely, the legacy of dyslexia and ADHD in our family.

Here was this unique moment in time, where my mom and I chose to work on our relationship and no one knew to talk about learning differences. What a lost opportunity.

Eventually I ended up in social work school. While I was getting my degree, I visited one of my clients at her home. It was like walking into my grandmother’s house. Total disorganization. Papers everywhere. Trouble finding necessary everyday things…her purse, wallet, house keys.

For me, that was a light bulb moment. Whatever was troubling her was the same thing my grandmother had. It was ADHD.

Around the same time, I reconnected with my elementary school tutor and finally understood my dyslexia. I was 29 years old.

Realizing that many families must share multi-generational struggles with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning challenges, I started to make a film about my efforts to get my family to understand dyslexia and to look at themselves as well.

The end result is the award-winning documentary, Read Me Differently.

While therapy was not very fruitful for my family, today, I am very excited to be able to share the film with you for use in your social work practice.

“This very valuable film has done a better job of expressing the life experiences of someone with dyslexia than any I have seen.
It was very brave of all of you.”

-Shirley Tipton
Clinton, Mississippi

If you have clients who are grappling with dyslexia and other learning differences, watching Read Me Differently can open up the door for profound realizations and conversations.

“As therapists we talk about how hard it can be for families to communicate, especially when various members of the family have different ways of communicating and processing, but the film does a beautiful job of showing what it is like in reality. We found ourselves both tearing up and smiling as we watched this amazing young woman begin to discover who she is as a learner and then began to educate her family.
‘Read Me Differently’ is a remarkable film.”

-Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. and Sue George Hallowell LICSW
Co-Authors, Married To Distraction

There are two ways you can access the film. You can purchase a DVD, or sign up for a one-year streaming license that enables you to share online access to Read Me Differently with as many clients as you’d like.

What’s more, we have a comprehensive viewing guide that provides detailed suggestions about how to best use the film with your clients. Start planning now for Dyslexia Awareness Month coming up in October! This is a great time to explore new ways to support students and clients who are grappling with learning differences.

Order DVD

Order Streaming License

I made Read Me Differently so that families living with dyslexia and other learning differences would have an easier time navigating their relationship dynamics and to promote understanding and healing.

I’d love to hear from you about how your clients respond to the film.

Warmest wishes,

P.S. If you would like to preview Read Me Differently, just send me an email with “NASW preview” in the subject line and I’ll send you a link to watch it.