By Mary-Elizabeth Merrill
This October, as Dyslexia Awareness Month begins, I’ve been reflecting on my journey with dyslexia, both as a child who lived it and as a mother who has walked it again with her son.
Dyslexia isn’t something I read about in a book. It’s something I live with every day. It shaped how I saw myself, how I learned, and how long I believed something was wrong with me.
I grew up on the north end of Lake Washington, and that water became my quiet escape. On the hardest school days, when I felt like I didn’t belong, I’d walk down to the dock and sit for hours. I’d watch the sunlight dance on the water and listen to seaplanes taking off and landing in the distance. Their engines would echo across the water and fade into the wind as I wondered, Why can everyone else read so easily? What’s wrong with me? Am I really stupid?
At school, I tried to stay invisible. But every time the teacher called my name for “special reading,” I felt all eyes on me. Packing up my books and walking out of class was humiliating. I didn’t know how to explain what I was feeling, I just knew it hurt.
And still, I went through all of childhood and into adulthood without ever knowing why.
I didn’t receive my diagnosis of dyslexia until my adult years, long after I had already built my life around masking, pushing through, and pretending I was fine. That diagnosis didn’t make me broken; it helped me finally understand myself.
Years later, I saw that same pain in my son’s eyes. He was bright, creative, and curious, but reading didn’t come easy. I watched his confidence and self-esteem fade as he said, “Mom, I’m stupid.” Hearing those words broke my heart because I knew exactly how they felt.
After months of fighting for answers, we finally got his diagnosis. Dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. I cried when I saw it, not from sadness, but from relief. We finally had a name for what we were facing. He wasn’t lazy or broken. His brain just worked differently, like mine.
That moment changed everything. It became my purpose. To help other families feel seen, supported, and understood. It also gave me the courage to face one of my biggest fears: going back to school.
That purpose grew into Einstein Advocates, the nonprofit I founded to empower neurodivergent learners, families, and educators. I want every child to know what I wish I had known sitting on that dock all those years ago: There is nothing wrong with you. You are not stupid. You are brilliant, just in your own way.
What Is Dyslexia, Really?
Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects how the brain processes language, especially reading, spelling, and sometimes writing. It doesn’t mean someone isn’t intelligent. In fact, many of the world’s greatest innovators, artists, scientists, and leaders have been dyslexic. It simply means the brain learns and processes words in a different, often more visual and creative, way.
But too often, that difference is mistaken for a deficit.
Children with dyslexia often grow up hearing they’re not trying hard enough or that they’re lazy, when in reality, they may be working twice as hard just to keep up. Instead of being seen for their creativity and problem-solving skills, they’re often defined by what they struggle with on paper.
About 1 in 5 people worldwide have dyslexia, yet most go undiagnosed especially in schools without early screening tools or teachers trained to recognize the signs. Behind every statistic is a child trying their hardest, a parent searching for answers, and a teacher who may not yet know what to look for.
Dyslexia isn’t rare, it’s just often overlooked. And when it’s misunderstood, children can internalize a painful message: that they’re not good enough. But with the right support, early intervention, and understanding, those same students can become some of the most creative thinkers, empathetic leaders, and world changers of their generation.
What It Looked Like for My Son
When my son was in fifth grade, I noticed how reading made him shrink. He’d avoid reading aloud in class and at home. He’d spend hours on homework that should have taken minutes. He was bright, curious, and loved learning but the words on the page refused to make sense.
When I asked for help at school, I was told he just needed to focus more. Later, they said we’d need a private evaluation, one that cost over $1000. We paid it, desperate for answers.
The results came back: dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia.
When we brought the report back to the school, they dismissed it. They said they now needed to do their own testing and that dyslexia wasn’t a learning disability. That moment changed me. I wouldn’t let him go through what I did! I realized that if I didn’t fight for my child, no one else would.
I was left with the option of taking the school district to court for breaking two federal laws or investing in a private school. We eventually found a school that understood. With proper intervention, my son not only caught up, he soared. Gaining six grade levels in two years. He went from tears and frustration to a boy who reads with confidence, curiosity, and hope.
The Message I Want Every Parent and Teacher to Hear
Dyslexia Awareness Month isn’t just about red ribbons or blue logos. It’s about seeing the unseen, the child who is working twice as hard but getting half the recognition.
If you’re a parent and you sense something is wrong, trust your gut. You know your child better than anyone. Keep asking questions, keep pushing for answers, and never let anyone make you feel like your concerns don’t matter.
If you’re a teacher, look deeper. Learn to see the strengths behind the struggle. Some of the most gifted, creative, and compassionate thinkers in your classroom may not shine on paper, but they shine in ways that can change the world.
And if you’re dyslexic yourself, please know this: you are not broken. You are brave, creative, and capable of extraordinary things.
Research shows that up to 40% of entrepreneurs are dyslexic. A reminder that the same brain that struggles to decode text often excels at innovation, problem-solving, and big-picture thinking.
Dyslexia is not a flaw in learning. It’s a different way of processing the world, and one that humanity deeply needs.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
My journey, and my son’s, led me to create Einstein Advocates. The name comes from a simple belief: genius takes many forms and too often, brilliance is hidden beneath layers of misunderstanding.
One of my proudest projects has been co-developing an AI-powered dyslexia screening and support tool. An open-source, privacy-first innovation designed to help teachers identify early signs of dyslexia and provide classroom support, even in low-resource schools.
This project was born from my deepest wish: that no child should ever lose their confidence before getting help. Because early identification doesn’t just save reading skills, it saves self-worth.
Through Einstein Advocates, I now travel the world speaking about inclusive education and neurodiversity. I’ve shared our story at the Stanford Neurodiversity Summit, the Special Education Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C., and next month I’ll speak at the World Congress on Special Needs Education at Oxford, the Ireland International Conference on Education, and the 17th London International Conference on Education.
Beyond conferences, I lead professional development workshops in both big cities and small villages, helping teachers, families, and communities understand and support neurodivergent learners. Whether it’s in a large university or a one-room schoolhouse, my message is always the same: every child deserves to be seen, understood, and valued for who they are.
My love for this work also inspired me to create a children’s chapter book series called Neuro Squad, launching in Spring 2026. The series follows nine neurodivergent children, each with their own strengths, challenges, and perspectives.
Every time I take the stage, I carry my younger self with me, the little girl who once sat by Lake Washington, watching sunlight shimmer across the water and listening to the soft hum of seaplanes overhead. She would sit on the dock with her feet skimming the surface, wondering what was wrong with her. I also carry the mother who refuses to let history repeat itself, who now knows that little girl was never broken, she was simply waiting to be understood.
This October, I share her story in the hope that others will find that same sense of peace and strength. Because dyslexia isn’t a flaw, it’s just a different way of seeing the world, and sometimes, that difference is where the beauty begins.
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