

Dyslexia Journey | Real Stories & Strategies for Thriving with Dyslexia
Sonja and Nick
Is your child struggling with reading? You're not alone. Dyslexia Journey helps parents understand dyslexia, navigate school systems, and support their child's confidence and growth. Hosts Sonja and Nick share practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent just getting a diagnosis, fighting for accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community and connection, this is the podcast that walks beside you. New episodes every two weeks.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 29, 2023 • 14min
5 More Ways Your Dyslexic Student Can Use ChatGPT Right Now!
Send us Fan MailIn this video, we provide five more specific ways your dyslexic student can benefit from using ChatGPT.You can find ChatGPT at https://chat.openai.com/We're Sonja and Nick — parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community — this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at parentingdyslexiajourney@gmail.com. Also check out our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingDyslexiaJourney

May 20, 2023 • 21min
Why Is There Still So Much Dyslexia Denialism And Ignorance? Ft. Literacy Advocate Cheri Rae
Send us Fan MailIn part two of our three-part interview with author and literacy advocate Cheri Rae, we dig into dyslexia denialism, misconceptions about dyslexia, and the reasons for our continued struggles to get our dyslexic kids identified, diagnosed, and taught to read.Here is a biography of Cheri:Two words best describe the direction of Cheri Rae’s writing career: worthy causes. After graduating from California State University Northridge with a degree in Political Science, Cheri embarked on a path of good works that blended her desire to make a difference and her considerable editorial skills.DyslexiaLand is a collection of hard-won wisdom gained over the course of ten years of advocacy for children with dyslexia, beginning with her own son. While serving as a consultant to the Santa Barbara Unified School District, Cheri established a Parent Resource Center, monthly “Dyslexia Dialogues” and the annual “Distinguished Dyslexic Speaker Series.” She collaborated with the Santa Barbara Public Library and produced several dyslexia-oriented events there as well. She was named a “Local Hero” by the Santa Barbara Independent for her fearless efforts on behalf of students with dyslexia, and awarded a Resolution from the California State Assembly for her dyslexia work. She currently serves as the Director of The Dyslexia Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness, providing resources, and encouraging action about dyslexia.Cheri continues to work with parents leading parent empowerment seminars to help them advocate for their dyslexic children, writes articles, and shares the trials and tribulations of DyslexiaLand as a public speaker. Her dyslexia-related assemblage art has been featured in several galleries.Learn more at www.DyslexiaLand.com or www.DyslexiaProject.com.We're Sonja and Nick — parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community — this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at parentingdyslexiajourney@gmail.com. Also check out our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingDyslexiaJourney

May 13, 2023 • 22min
5 Ways Your Dyslexic Student Can Use ChatGPT Right Now!
Send us Fan MailIn this video, we provide five specific ways your dyslexic student can benefit from using ChatGPT, plus a few things to watch out for.You can find ChatGPT at https://chat.openai.com/We're Sonja and Nick — parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community — this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at parentingdyslexiajourney@gmail.com. Also check out our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingDyslexiaJourney

May 6, 2023 • 21min
One Parent’s Journey To Dyslexia Advocacy Ft. Cheri Rae
Send us Fan MailIn part one of our three-part interview with author and literacy advocate Cheri Rae we explore her own journey with dyslexia starting as the parent of a dyslexic elementary school kid, her advocacy work, and her book, DyslexiaLand.Here is a biography of Cheri:Two words best describe the direction of Cheri Rae’s writing career: worthy causes. After graduating from California State University Northridge with a degree in Political Science, Cheri embarked on a path of good works that blended her desire to make a difference and her considerable editorial skills.DyslexiaLand is a collection of hard-won wisdom gained over the course of ten years of advocacy for children with dyslexia, beginning with her own son. While serving as a consultant to the Santa Barbara Unified School District, Cheri established a Parent Resource Center, monthly “Dyslexia Dialogues” and the annual “Distinguished Dyslexic Speaker Series.” She collaborated with the Santa Barbara Public Library and produced several dyslexia-oriented events there as well. She was named a “Local Hero” by the Santa Barbara Independent for her fearless efforts on behalf of students with dyslexia, and awarded a Resolution from theCalifornia State Assembly for her dyslexia work. She currently serves as the Director of The Dyslexia Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness, providing resources, and encouraging action about dyslexia.Cheri continues to work with parents leading parent empowerment seminars to help them advocate for their dyslexic children, writes articles, and shares the trials and tribulations of DyslexiaLand as a public speaker. Her dyslexia-related assemblage art has been featured in several galleries.Learn more at www.DyslexiaLand.com or www.DyslexiaProject.com.We're Sonja and Nick — parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community — this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at parentingdyslexiajourney@gmail.com. Also check out our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingDyslexiaJourney

May 1, 2023 • 8min
Top 3 Must-Read Books For Your Dyslexia Journey
Send us Fan MailHere are the three books we recommend in this episode:The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock L. Eide and Fernette F. Eidehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9897792-the-dyslexic-advantageHigh School Dropout to Harvard: My Life with Dyslexia by John Rodrigueshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36304381-high-school-dropout-to-harvardDyslexiaLand: A Field Guide for Parents of Children with Dyslexia by Cheri Raehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41551313-dyslexialandWe're Sonja and Nick — parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community — this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at parentingdyslexiajourney@gmail.com. Also check out our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingDyslexiaJourney

Apr 22, 2023 • 14min
Think Your Child Has Dyslexia? All About Getting Tested
Send us Fan MailIn this episode we dig into dyslexia assessments, starting with the four components that the assessments look at, as well as considerations and caveats.We're Sonja and Nick — parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community — this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at parentingdyslexiajourney@gmail.com. Also check out our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingDyslexiaJourney

Apr 15, 2023 • 9min
Is Dyslexia Genetic?
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we dig into the research around the heritability of dyslexia.Here are our sources for this discussion:This is the 2021 study in Sweden that showed a heritability of 52%: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/dys.1681This 2012 study identified 6 candidate genes: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140673612601986A study from 2020. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-020-00898-xAn explanation of what we mean by heritability: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/inheritance/heritability/ An overview of dyslexia and heritability: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/is-dyslexia-geneticA 2007 literature review of the genetics of dyslexia: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2597981/And older (1987) study: https://www.nature.com/articles/329537a0 We're Sonja and Nick — parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community — this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at parentingdyslexiajourney@gmail.com. Also check out our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingDyslexiaJourney

Apr 8, 2023 • 12min
Why You Should Cook With Your Dyslexic Kid + 3 Tips
Send us Fan MailToday we discuss several benefits of cooking with your dyslexic kid and provide three tips for making it a fun and successful experience!We're Sonja and Nick — parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community — this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at parentingdyslexiajourney@gmail.com. Also check out our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingDyslexiaJourney

Apr 1, 2023 • 13min
4 More Ways Dyslexia Affects Everyday Life!
Send us Fan MailIn this sequel to our popular discussion of ways that dyslexia affects everyday life, we discuss four more ways that dyslexia affects everyday life outside of a school setting.We're Sonja and Nick — parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community — this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at parentingdyslexiajourney@gmail.com. Also check out our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingDyslexiaJourney

Mar 25, 2023 • 25min
Is Your Dyslexic Kid At Risk for Depression and Anxiety? Therapist Interview ft. Donna McCutchen
Send us Fan MailIn part 2 of our interview with psychotherapist Donna McCutchen, we dig into the mental / behavioral health challenges that can be associated with dyslexia, how best to support the mental health of our dyslexic kids, what warning signs to look out for, and when to seek professional mental health support.Donna McCutchen is a licensed clinical social worker, experienced psychotherapist, and pediatric mental health specialist with numerous clinical specialities and areas of expertise including dual diagnosis and psychological assessment, among many others. Donna is currently the VP of Program Development at Bend Health (https://www.bendhealth.com/), where she creates and write the evidence-based content and programs.Dyslexia Journey has conversations and explorations to help you support the dyslexic child in your life. Content includes approaches, tips, and interviews with a range of guests from psychologists to educators to people with dyslexia. Increase your understanding and connection with your child as you help them embrace their uniqueness and thrive on this challenging journey!We're Sonja and Nick — parents of a dyslexic kid and your guides on this journey. We created Dyslexia Journey because we know how isolating it can feel when your child struggles with reading and school isn't helping. Every episode brings practical strategies, expert interviews with psychologists, educators, and reading specialists, plus real stories from dyslexic adults who've thrived. Whether you're a parent navigating diagnosis, IEPs, and accommodations, or a dyslexic adult looking for community — this show is for you. Got a question or a guest idea? Reach out at parentingdyslexiajourney@gmail.com. Also check out our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingDyslexiaJourney


