S3E18: Teacher Ignorance About Dyslexia Leads to Lifelong Struggles

Do you want to unlock the secret to building an unshakable self-esteem in your dyslexic child and transforming your family dynamics? Imagine the power of understanding dyslexia's impact on self-esteem and relationships and the strategies for supporting dyslexic individuals to create a thriving, empowered family. Get ready to dive into the solution and make it a reality in your family.

 

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:02 - Introduction and Update on 504 Plan 

00:00:42 - Dyslexia Discussion at the Event 

00:04:33 - Lack of Awareness About Dyslexia 

00:07:20 - Impact of Dyslexia Awareness 

00:11:06 - Dyslexia in Education 

00:13:33 - Educating about dyslexia and related learning disorders 

00:14:39 - Unique perspective of a dyslexic-run foundation 

00:15:43 - Dyslexia as a spectrum 

00:17:52 - Uphill battle in changing the education system 

00:19:18 - Embracing the role as a voice for the dyslexic community 

00:25:17 - The Pressure of Accommodations 

00:26:41 - Advocating for Accommodations 

00:28:10 - College Board Accommodations 

00:33:06 - Time Frame for Accommodations 

00:36:18 - Curiosity and Family 

00:36:32 - Overcoming Challenges with Dyslexia 

00:38:19 - Generational Impact of Dyslexia 

00:40:09 - Confidence and Coping Mechanisms 

00:44:51 - Evolving Family Dynamics 

00:47:07 - Constant Evolution 

00:47:16 - The Importance of Evolving 

00:47:39 - The Exhaustion of Growth 

00:47:57 - Acknowledging the Weight of Evolution 

00:48:05 - Embracing the Present 

00:48:27 - Promoting the SOPL Foundation

 

Transcript:

00:00:02
Welcome back to Word Blindness, Dyslexia exposed. I'm Juliet Hahn here with my co host Brent Sofol. How are you? Better question is how are you?

00:00:14
I'm all right. I mean are we going to talk about the 504? Is that why you're asking? Oh, what's the update on that? What's update on that one?

00:00:21
There's this last weekend on my side has been. Oh well your. Your side's a whole like you just. You and your family just did. Yeah, we can, we can touch on that because dyslexia did come up and it was actually very interesting.

00:00:42
Actually it will be very. And I know my dad would be okay talking about it and you're going to be fascinated. You're going to be like what you're actually this is great. But okay look at like this is great because it's not talking about me. No, no.

00:00:57
My, you know, again, Elizabeth and I, our week was. Was insane. But it was the. That you know, came up obviously yo the event, you know, at Thursday, John Tracy's, you know, we had, you know, there's like 25 people. Neighbors.

00:01:16
Neighbors and friends coming there to. To obviously my Elizabeth and I. But we were supposed to watch a hockey game and you know, we talked end up being all about the foundation all night long. So we were there for six, seven hours and you know how exhausting it is, you know, putting on there. And Elizabeth's, you know, a trooper, you know, not knowing anybody.

00:01:38
She's so amazing when she comes to that, you know, puts her. Puts a smiley face on and you know. Yeah. When it comes to those things, it's so hard for anybody to walk in, especially when you're not used to it. So she's a rock star that.

00:01:50
But out of those and John and Tracy, I don't know how long they've lived in the house they lived in. And it's a small community around, you know, around a lake. And I think there's 22 homes around there and there's like another 12 there. So you're. You're talking less than, you know, 50 homes in this area.

00:02:08
And they've been there for a little while and I think that night there was some six people that are either dyslexic or their kid is dyslexic. And you know, John right next door neighbor, guys, I believe, you know, a CEO of a company and his kid's dyslexic and now is. I think he's in. The kid's an investment banker. So I You know, early, early twenties.

00:02:42
Doing. Doing great. You know, they got him tested early. You know, he's like, thank goodness we had the means. But by the end of the night, I'm like, dude, you're dyslexic.

00:02:50
And Elizabeth called me over because she. It's. It's so funny when, you know, we. We first met, yo, it's, you know, and started dating and bringing her into these things. She was just kind of sit back, listen and, you know, sharing an office.

00:03:03
She's. She's picked up all she knows the questions to ask now. Oh, where did it come from? And she kind of perks up now, where did it go? Where'd it go?

00:03:11
And she calls him out knowing 100. He's dyslexic now. Because she always asks, you know, she's heard me ask a million questions now she knows how to ask. And by the end of the night, I said, you know, most of us dyslexics can't tire our. Our shoes.

00:03:28
His face went whoop. It hit the ground. And he. And he gives the old foot lift. Look at my shoe with slip ons, you know, and, you know the moral.

00:03:44
And that's what I think a lot of this thing will be. Today is John and Tracy. You know, obviously, John's helping out a lot, you know, you know, with the foundation. And, you know, he, you know, they've been neighbors for I don't know how many years, five, six, seven, eight years, but had no idea his kid was dyslexic. And they live next door, right?

00:04:08
It's just the kids doing a great job, you know, kids doing great. The dad's like, thank goodness that we had, you know, the means. Obviously we talk about that, the. The financial means here, you know, just about every day on this podcast. But he's now gray, you know, his son's 20, 20, mid-20s.

00:04:33
So, you know, he's. I'm guessing he's yo 55, maybe. Maybe a little bit older. Had zero clue about dyslexia. Again, I shouldn't say that.

00:04:44
Yo. Zero clue that it's hereditary. Zero clue. You know, I talked about lesson rights. And he told me, really?

00:04:53
He goes, when I played football in high school, he goes, he. I don't know what position he was. He was. Sometimes he was a blocker or something. He's like, all the time I get in shit because I go the wrong way.

00:05:06
So finally the coach put a L on his L on his left hand, right? You know, so this is going back to high school. So you know, we're talking, I don't know, 60s, 70s, whatever, you know, whatever. That's how far back he was. Didn't know his left and right.

00:05:20
And then when I said him, a lot of us don't know how to tie our shoes. He went, excuse me, Yo. Then he told me the football stories. I'm. I'm like, you're 100 dyslexic, right?

00:05:35
So I don't know if I made a friend or I made an enemy by, you know, by the end of the night. And then, you know, there's another gentleman. He just found out a couple years ago. I think he's 65. So he found out early 60s.

00:05:49
And it was the coolest thing.

00:05:53
Him and his wife. Relationship changed when she, you know, again, because it's. We talk about this just about every day. The. The other person who doesn't have it, doesn't understand it.

00:06:09
Once she had the. More of the understanding. And I think he used the compassion. Yo. So he's like, that's when our whole relationship changed because, you know, it wasn't, you know, things that we talk about here and things that we.

00:06:29
It's very different. We don't have it. So he goes, our. Our relationship changed when she had more understanding. And I don't know, they found out.

00:06:50
You know, I don't. Don't know how, you know, it's how many million times ago? And, hey, does this make sense? Does this mean, you know. And that's his.

00:06:56
You know, she's ADHD, but he's 65. And. So that was Thursday night.

00:07:09
Yeah, Thursday night. Yeah. Because that was Elizabeth's birthday, the 24th. Yeah. And I got a note from John stating he was like, I didn't know.

00:07:20
I thought I was going to go hockey. He's like. And it was. He. And I'm going to summarize what he said or how I interpret it.

00:07:27
So this is not exactly the word. Is that a word? I think so, yeah. No, totally. He's.

00:07:33
He said. I was blown away. Like, Brent is so good at that. That's what he needs to do. And I was like, right.

00:07:40
He's like, but the connections he made with people is. And I was like, right. He's an incredible connector. He goes. But he changed lives.

00:07:47
He's like, I watched it. He's. I. He was so like. He's like, I watched it happen, and it was really, really amazing.

00:07:55
He's like, he. It wasn't one or two people. He's like, he changed a bunch of people's lives that. That day. And that's all they wanted to talk about.

00:08:03
Oh, you know, first off, John was so pissed. He was like, you know, because he wanted to, you know, the video, you know, he wanted to put up on the tv. He's like, I did it today. Make sure it work. Sure enough, when he goes to play, play.

00:08:17
Couldn't do it, right. So the game started. I talked about one play, one goal, and never. I don't think I really even looked at the tv. Yeah, you know, Elizabeth, you know, so amazing.

00:08:33
You know, she sets people up, she asks these questions and she, you know, pushes them. Oh, you need to go talk to Brad and come out. You need to, you know, yeah, you guys are a good team. And, you know, but we didn't talk about hockey the whole night, not once. It was supposed to be.

00:08:49
Obviously, the event was how you see how, you know, obviously myself, you know, the hockey player, how do I see the game? You know, that's how it all said. And literally nobody. But that's. And again, we talk about this, and this is why I got chills when John said that.

00:09:05
I was like, oh, because I always say to you, yes, hockey. I mean, you always say it too, but hockey was what brought you to be able to have the platform to be able to then reach people. Because this is what you're meant to do. Hockey was just a. Like a leverage for your next stage of your life.

00:09:22
And this is what you're supposed to do. You're supposed to be changing the landscape of dyslexia. You're supposed to be connecting with people, and that's exactly what you're doing. But anytime hockey comes in, it's really interesting because God, universe, I'm going to go unicorn here. But it does.

00:09:37
It's been slamming you in the face of, like, okay, that is not the world I'm supposed to be in. And you're aware of it now, and it's like, it's cool when those things happen, you know, from behind the scenes and seeing it, because I just. I giggle. I'm like, great. I know this yesterday was even more mind blowing.

00:09:55
Yeah, tell us about that. You know, so we're at an event this Matt, you know, massive bar for a gentleman, young gentleman, you know, he's got als. So was there signing autographs and stuff and were. This place is crazy big on the, you know, Sisler Chicago, obviously, I don't really know south side. We didn't know we had to use GPS to get there.

00:10:20
Had no idea Elizabeth had been there. This Place is huge. We're sitting at the table with Jay John's son. But who got. Who got the Stanley cup putter?

00:10:31
Right, right. His wife. His mom came. All these people are sitting there. And this lady, you know, at the table, it starts off with, I'm looking at your shirt, and she says, you know anything about dyslexia?

00:10:48
I said, yeah, that's my foundation. She. And so she is now assistant principal at a middle school in, I think, Frankfort, Illinois, which is, you know, 40 miles outside of Chicago. And that's where Drew, you know, the military. That's.

00:11:06
That's the town he lives in. She goes, I can't believe this, because she goes, my teachers were just asking last week if we could find somebody trained in dyslexia because we're getting an influx of dyslexic students, and we have zero clue what to do with them. So speaking to the right person, I'm like, yeah, yeah, yo. But it was, you know, again, it was, you know, that Fire Buddies event this year. This.

00:11:37
You know, she was there. Never spoke to her. But just coming off the heels of. Because I saw. I wore my.

00:11:42
Again, wore my T shirt. You know, she was just. They just asked, literally just asked, would you be willing to come? So I texted her this morning, said, here. Here's the foundation website.

00:11:54
Let me know what your schedule is. And, you know, we can get on a call, you know, and talk more. But, you know, so obviously he was kind of going in the spiel of dyslexia. And she's like, yeah, no clue. Later on, two other women and their husbands came over for autographs.

00:12:08
So, you know, there's another Blackhawk, Andrew Shaw, he's sending autographs and at a table, and people like, why aren't you sitting at the table? I'm like, I don't follow rules, you know. So I was standing up and people coming autographs and taking pictures, and these two ladies started asking questions. One's got our master degree in Reading, and the other one, they're, you know, late 50s, early 60s. You know, it'd be my.

00:12:37
You know, by my. By my guess. And the other one works for cps, Chicago Public Schools, which teach. Union is a fucking crime. You know, that leader, Stacey Davis is a scumbag.

00:12:52
Oh, did that come out of my mouth? Yeah. Piece of shit.

00:12:58
So she. I can't remember what the other lady does. She, you know, she's like, I've got a dyslexic kid that I'm working with right now for sure. And I was talking about lefts from rights. I was talking about visuals.

00:13:10
I was talking about self esteem. And this lady, she's like, I got a master's degree and, you know, reading. No. She goes, I have zero clue about dyslexia. It didn't touch about dyslexia at all.

00:13:33
I'm like. She goes, no. So I. I end up. Obviously started talking, you know, you know, the way I start talking.

00:13:40
And the other lady's like, oh, my God, I got a kid right now. We can't figure out. They just, you know, said, don't worry about them. Just leave them. Let him go.

00:13:50
You know, And I talk about all these things. I'm like, you know, I. You know, you've heard me use the same reference. You know, Sam drove 10 miles. I.

00:13:58
I'm like, I don't care what Sam is. Show me where Sam is. I said, and I talked about self esteem and, you know, all these things that we struggle with. And the one lady's like, well, tell me about what. Tell me what you see.

00:14:14
Never heard of dysgraphia. Never heard of dyscalculia.

00:14:20
And these, you know, getting it. And it's not their fault. Right? Right. It's not their fault.

00:14:26
They've never been taught. So they started asking me questions about the foundation. What am I trying to do? You know? And then I got into, you know, I'm like, one of the only foundations in the world ran by dyslexic.

00:14:39
They're like, what do you mean? I'm like, everybody else is by non dyslex. I said, that's why the school system is broken. And I talked about how I have to print everything. And then, you know, so if the dyslexic who can't read off the screen or cell phone.

00:14:54
I said, just think of COVID For two years, their faces just, boom, dropped. And they're like, this is insane. Like, we don't know any of this. I'm like, yeah. I said, I'm talking to neuropsychs right now.

00:15:08
We're. We're closer to one in four. We're finding not one in five anymore. And then they were asking about levels, you know, so I always kind of related to, you know, dyslexia, like, you know, stage one cancer or stage four. You know, stage four.

00:15:23
Most, you know, severe dyslexic, won't read. They. They go, you know, what is it? They. They had.

00:15:29
Had no eye. And they're in the education system. And they. Education. She's got her master's Degree in reading.

00:15:37
Yeah. Again, it. It's not their fault. No, you go. You wanted.

00:15:43
You're interested. You go. And you expect that. You're taught. What?

00:15:46
Yeah. And, you know, and you expect, like, you're, you know, you're doing. Doing everything you're supposed to be doing, and you're, you know, you learn everything. You. You got your master's degree because you ob.

00:15:58
You're supposed to do, and they don't teach you. And this. Like, they're both. Their faces just the whole time. Then the one lady came back, Elizabeth, Sorry.

00:16:07
You know, monopolized. You know, she's like, no, I'm not. You're not here. You know, this is what he's here to do, to talk. But I just.

00:16:15
It was. It was crazy. Obviously, we had a lot of events. But if, you know, the whole purpose of my blabbing, probably for, you know, 16 and minutes and 25 seconds, I love it. I was in with people that, you know, first.

00:16:32
I've never talked to them. You know, John's been neighbors with the guy for a number of years. Had no idea that his kid is dyslexic. You know, at an event, you know, the principal is just asking, you know, she's like, I just had teachers come up and ask me, I need help in the. You know, is there anybody?

00:16:49
And, you know, the other lady who works for Chicago Public School, she's like, well, maybe we do seminars at the beginning of the year. And, like, do you come talk to schools? I'm like, yeah, most schools don't want me there.

00:17:04
Why wouldn't they want you there? I'm like, yeah, because, you know, then I expose them of what isn't there, what they're not doing. Right? And she's like, what's the ultimate goal? And started going through this.

00:17:14
But I'm like, I got to break down bureaucracy, you know, because they all think that they've got their master's degree. They're the scientists. They're the smartest. I said, they're the biggest fucking scumbags in the world. I said, that's why I got a breakdown.

00:17:27
And she goes, obviously, Chicago Public Schools, you know that teachers union is one of the most corrupt unions, obviously, in the world. They don't care about the kids. They care about their bank accounts. So I said, I'm fighting an uphill battle alone. I said, because all the other dyslexics or foundations.

00:17:52
No. Are advocating for their reading program, but they're not dyslexic. Just the amount of faces that I needed to pick up off the floor. You know, I should say faces, Jaws. You know, when I said the numbers that I said, and the teachers there, the older ladies are like, yeah, you know, autism, right?

00:18:15
They know the spectrums. They know what it is. I'm like, I said, that's 1 in 36 right now and not hereditary. We're between 1, you know, 1 in 4 to 1 in 5. I said, just think of all those classrooms and.

00:18:28
And the famous line. They all just think they're flipping their B's and D's, like, oh, it's just. Tell me about. What's that other one Disc. What's that?

00:18:38
I've never heard of that.

00:18:42
Because they don't know what to do with it. That's why they don't teach it. Because it's like, yeah, it's. It is. And.

00:18:50
But that just brings me back to what you're meant to do, right? Like the fact that you had the watch party for hockey and then all of the influx this week of like showing you more. This is what. And then seeing you light up, right? Like you're like, oh, this is.

00:19:04
Feels so good to be able to sit and talk and educate and share my experiences, but also share the experiences of others. Dyslexics that. That don't get a chance to talk about. Be the voice for the dyslexic community. I mean, that's what you're meant to do.

00:19:18
Yeah, I know. It's obviously, you know, Elizabeth's the rock star that's gotta sit there, you know, and, you know, deflected people and take pictures. And it's like, that's what I'm here for. Taking, you know, taking. No.

00:19:33
Can you take a picture of us? Can you take a picture? Can you send us. You know, she's got the Sharpies in her, you know, in her purse. And we left for a few minutes to Everybody's drinking, right?

00:19:42
We went next door to the. I think it's a dollar tree store and bought some chocolates. You know, those greasy. So rolling back in with like seven Reese's in a purse. And it's.

00:19:55
It's just, you know, it's. It was a lot. Those events are a lot for us. For me, you know, I put a lot of. I got to put a lot of effort going and.

00:20:07
Sounds bad. It's the energy. Like it's a. You know, obviously you get into purpose and passion if talking to people and there was a lot of addiction conversation, you know, at this event. And there's a Lot of ungrateful people that were there.

00:20:18
I was, you know, I was pretty insulted and hurt. But you know how many people that are in the hockey community that were there were just so. It was. That's not where you're supposed to be. Right?

00:20:32
100%. You know, I know that for, you know, I know that too. You know, not the fact that's, you know, hi, I'm puff your chest. Like, dude, you know, I'll bury you in your chest puffed out. So it was.

00:20:49
It was a lot, but it was just crazy that you have people with master's degrees. You know, we talk about this all the time. You know how many people look like we have. We have 10 heads that don't know what they're doing. I mean, heads of schools, of education don't know certain things.

00:21:07
And it's so broken. And that's like, I'm not going to get into the politics of like, you know, the department of education, but, like, yes. Does it seem scary? But has it been working? No.

00:21:17
So, like, is it like, is it going to get worse before it gets better? That's how everything works. It has to get really bad before it gets better. And it has been a shit show. It is not good.

00:21:26
It is. It's been bad. And how people think that it hasn't. Like, it's the people that don't understand the, the underlying things. I mean, so that.

00:21:38
I love that that came into your life this week. I mean, it always does. But the fact that it was so, like, thrown in your face this, this week is. Is kind of beautiful. I mean, it is.

00:21:48
And it. One of the things I do want the listeners here, because I know there's a lot of times where someone will say, well, I'm dyslexic, but I can tie my shoes. Right. Like, again, there's spectrums of things a lot of dyslexics can't. They struggle.

00:22:01
And it's interesting. But then it's the same with the left and right. Some dyslexics have the issue with the left and right. Some don't. Like you don't have the left and rights.

00:22:10
I have the left and rights, the shoes. Like Montgomery doesn't have the left and rights. He didn't have the shoes either, but he was like a psycho learning. And I have a lot of things and I think, you know, someone. Listen, if you're regular, I.

00:22:21
I say the, the outlandish slings, right? To get people's attention. Right. So when I say that, you're right. There's a, there's, there's a certain percentage of us that don't have a problem with it.

00:22:31
Right? It's I make them stop. Like those statements make people stop. What do you mean? But, but it is, but it's a true statement though.

00:22:40
And people don't think of that like, they don't think like a 50 year old woman doesn't know her left and right. Even though I wear my wedding ring, even if I have something that's like my aura rings on my right. But I have to stop and process and think. And it is like every time, every time someone says left and right, I have to stop and I have to get my brain cracked and I have to do the L. I used to have to go J you L and make the L in my name because I was like, I don't know what is this the L or is this the L?

00:23:03
Because like I flip. But that's because I flip. So you don't flip. And so that's again, it's the really interesting thing, the way the brain works. And that's why when the scientists are like, well we know what you need because you don't.

00:23:15
Because there's so many different things and there's so many different learning for dyslexic people that and any everyone people that are not dyslexic. But like as we talk about every time, if you have dyslexia, you, you know, there's a chance that you have adhd, dyscalculia or dyscalculia and dysgraphia. And if they're all combination, you're going to learn in a very different way than a typical, also dyslexic. So you need to know all of it to be able to string the pieces together. And is it a lot of work?

00:23:44
Fuck, it's a lot of work. Yes, it's a lot of work. Try living it. Exactly. I mean, but it's so interesting because we were just talking about that.

00:23:52
Would you have anything else to add? Because then, well it's, I said to these, you know, teachers, they knew, they knew none of this. Like, hold on, there's. There, there's a lot, there's a lot to everything. 100.

00:24:05
No one is. But yo, they're like, well what about testing? And they knew nothing about the neuropsychs. They knew nothing about how long it takes, the financial cost of it. I'm like, but even if we get somebody tested right now, you guys are the prime example.

00:24:18
You don't even know What? Step two? So what good is step one right now if we can't even do step two? They're like, wow, right? You're bringing a lot of good points.

00:24:29
And why am I Wowing somebody in 2025 about this? It's fucking insane. It's insane. Word blindness. 1800s, we knew about dyslexia.

00:24:41
I mean, and that's the thing. So this weekend we were talking about, like, the tying of the shoes and the lefts and rights with. With the family. And it's interesting because Bradley had a really hard time tying shoe. And it was like a big.

00:24:52
Like, he still gets insecure about it, you know, when we talked about it and he was able to tie. But it was like a. Not a great moment because they didn't know it was dyslexic at the time, him and his dad. I remember Montgomery being. And I think it was because Bradley was starting to do it.

00:25:05
And so he was like, I'm going to do it. And he locked himself, like, literally in the basement with one of those books. And we went over it, I mean, a million times. And then he made Truman do it. I mean, Truman still remembers when Montgomery was like, you will learn to tie your shoes.

00:25:17
Truman was like, oh, my God. Taught him how to tie his shoes. The CEO that I just had mentioned, the neighbor, he can now. But he's like, I worked hours. And that's what people don't understand.

00:25:28
The trauma, the pressure, the PTSD of doing that because nobody else had to. Why am I that kid? Thank you. That was. That needs to be the clip.

00:25:39
Adi. That needs to be the clip. Because that is exactly it. They don't see what goes on the 504 today. Everything went fine.

00:25:50
But that was what I said. I said, hang on. Sudden you. Before you jump in. I mean, jump off here.

00:25:56
You rolled your eyes pretty good. So it went okay, you know, it's okay. Good. There's a whole different program. Yeah, it's.

00:26:04
It's fine. I mean, it's fine. It is Regents God, you know, and it doesn't, you know, when it comes to 5 IP, it can't be just fine. It's got to be awesome. Because your kids, you know, and this is for listeners, right?

00:26:22
Don't just say, oh, you know, it's fine. Because it's not fine long term, is it? It could be fine, you know, and, you know, it's just fine right now. But fine isn't good enough for long term for your kid, because fine ends up being a train wreck. Right?

00:26:41
And I will preference. Why? It's fine.

00:26:46
It's the timing. So we his regents in his AP classes. So that's like the. One of the teachers that was on. I said I just want to clarify who had Montgomery in 10th grade.

00:26:57
So I just. I said. And that we were. They all had technical difficulties. So Hahn and I were just kind of sitting waiting for everyone.

00:27:03
Yeah. The school couldn't get it on. It was kind of funny. And then they were walking around like in and out and they're like, can they hear us? It was hilarious.

00:27:10
Hilarious. We were just sitting there. It's really funny. But so I was talking to the one teacher that had good. I was like, shouldn't everyone go where you are because you seem to have good WI Fi.

00:27:18
But it's fine. What. So were they at home? No. And you know, like our school district is all.

00:27:27
Everyone has computers, everyone has a Mac, so they couldn't get up already. But you know, convenient. You know. And here's the thing. I don't mean to be an.

00:27:34
But this is the. That goes on for them to delay processes and parents. Right. Yeah, right. Am I wrong?

00:27:42
No, you're not. I mean we finished it. So it was good. But it was interesting. It was.

00:27:45
It was kind of funny. We wanted to get it in place. Part. I took a long time after I got it to read it to edit. And then.

00:27:55
So there was lag on. On our side. I mean we did this in the beginning of the year and we're just doing it now. So there was lag on. It was really more on.

00:28:03
On me. And I will say that because I wanted to edit. I needed to sit and read everything to. So in New York. How is it.

00:28:10
So once you come to the school, they've got 90 days here in Illinois to respond. Yeah, no, they can. They've responded right away and to set up. To set this meeting up because I know here. Yeah.

00:28:21
Just about everybody that I've dealt with and I'll. They'll take it right to the 80th ninth day. Like they'll make sure they extend it because it's not about the kid, right? No, they did not do that. And I don't know if there's a.

00:28:32
If there's a law and we. I just was lucky. I don't know. It also could be the timing because it was like they. They're.

00:28:37
They're doing like reviews of people's now. So it was like, oh, we can just fit them in. You know, it could have been that as well. But the one Thing is, we wanted to get it in place for Truman's region exams. Now, I will say, like, right now, his grades are.

00:28:52
I mean, he does well. We talked about that. He's. He does. He's a solid a B student.

00:28:57
However, what I was telling this one teacher, because it's for his AP class, he's like, you know, he's such a delight. I love having him in ap. I think it's AP World History is one of his really strong. Truman is really good in history. Always has been.

00:29:09
Like, retains all of that information. And like, he's always been. Doesn't really have to study. It's a really good thing. History's dumb.

00:29:16
He loves it. I shouldn't say. He would be like, okay, when he was little, he loved it. But the. I said to the teacher, I know you might be like.

00:29:25
And maybe you're not, but I'm going to tell you anyways, like, interested. Truman is a good student, but, like, you guys don't understand what he's doing behind the scenes to become, like, to be the good student. Now, I'm not saying because I know Truman does not put a lot of extra. I shouldn't say that. He does a lot of work at school.

00:29:42
He knows how to get his work done. He's not one that's like. We're like, I know students that will say, up till 4. We've talked to people with dyslexia. They're up at 4 in the morning because they needed it.

00:29:52
That is not him. However, he does fairly well, but he does have to work. But he also knows now how to get around things. So my big thing was like, I don't want to put accommodations in place that are then going to screw up things that he's taught himself to then do well. So I was like, I want it to be.

00:30:08
That's why it took me a little while. I was like, I want to read it. I don't want certain things in that you would do for a kid that was in second and third grade. Like, Montgomery had, like, that will screw him up. He'll be like, wait, what?

00:30:18
I had, like, my system down. Like, you know, we're not doing that. So one of the things is, we wanted it for the regions test for him to be able to get extended time, even though he's like, I don't think I need that. But the different room, because in the regions, everyone is in. Listen to this.

00:30:32
They're in the auditorium or the cafeteria. So you have 60 or 70 or 80 in New York is The dumbest thing ever anyway. Dumbest thing ever. I get so angry with it. But you basically are doing it in a huge setting.

00:30:46
So you're not in a little classroom. You're with like maybe hundreds or whatever it is. That in itself is super distracting. Right. So Truman had asked, he's like, you know, can we get accommodations for the regions?

00:31:00
And I was like, yes. And then the SATs. Now here's the thing, and I know you're gonna have questions on this, but sats and regions, your combinations are determined by the College Board. It is a big organization. So like the College Board people in Georgia scam.

00:31:18
Yeah, totally. So the people in Georgia or any state, everyone has to go through the College Board to get their accommodations. They can turn people down if they don't like their thing. Now locally he can have his SACTs. He can have it.

00:31:34
And, and the school can be the one that determined. They can determine all of his other tests. What other state has regions? Just fucking New York. I mean Hahn took regions and everyone and they teach to the region.

00:31:46
So the entire, what you're learning is the whole year to be able to take this test at the end. Right? Like it's the, like it's Democratic state New York sucks. Dumb. It does suck.

00:31:57
It does. Sucks, sucks. Democrats running this education system sucks. It, but it's, it's really ridiculous. It really is.

00:32:06
And it's really broken and it's, it doesn't make sense. And it's like they're teaching for this test and they won't go off. So like you can't even ask a question about something because it's like, well that's not all in the region, so it doesn't matter. So like you're not learning, you're learning to take this test. So he wanted to be able to have accommodations.

00:32:24
Now it's, you had to put them in in January. So I was like, okay, well wait a second. January, February, March. Yeah, it's close. Yeah.

00:32:32
So they're like, it's, it's, it's out of our hands. And I was like. And Hahn just looked at my face. I haven't. I'm going to talk to Truman because if he's like I, I, I'm, I, I'm thinking if I have to fight someone, but I, I don't know.

00:32:45
Yo, again, always remembered everybody, you know, to, to going to put to your point is that everybody wants this done immediately. If you get your neuro psych, you're going in for a 504 IP this is for the year. This is for like a year later. Right, right. So this is very good for you.

00:33:06
Next year. Next year for Truman, for next regents. Not this year, you won't. So it's. Yeah.

00:33:11
Everybody wants this done right away. Absolutely. Couldn't agree more. We, you know, we want to get in and like sick. You want to get in the doctor now.

00:33:18
Right. 100. But it doesn't work that way. You are basically trying to get this thing settled, taken care of for one year later. Right.

00:33:28
And senior year, he doesn't really have the same regions. Like this is the hard year. But. But again, it's also. I think we're fine.

00:33:34
I also want it for college. Right? That's the long picture. Right? That's the big picture.

00:33:39
Yeah, exactly. So when I say it went fine, they. They're like, we'll do everything. I did add a couple things that. Because we are all.

00:33:47
But here's the thing. Regions this year is all their AP regions are all done on the computer. So there's no writing. Other years it's all written and they won't even let you. So I'm like, okay, so maybe I don't need to fight too much because he's not typing.

00:34:00
I mean, he's not. And you're not going to get it this year. You know. You know, you're not going. There's no sense of fighting.

00:34:05
You know, you're not going to get it this year. It's not going to make a difference because, you know, what do we. You know, we're may now. Right? You're starting writing those things in a month.

00:34:13
You're not getting it. So, yeah, don't go and fight. You know, you can go put your burly face on and go fight the bear. You know, after drinking a bottle of wine like, you tough girl. Right.

00:34:25
I know where that was going. But don't worry about. But you know. Yeah. Do we want.

00:34:31
Do we all want quicker 100%? Is it 150 million percent? Yeah, but it's. That's what we always talk is just to have the understanding of where this is and how slow this process is. Um, and nothing goes quickly.

00:34:48
You know, it's. I always say it. You know, if it happens quicker than a year, no fist pump. Right, right, right. So when I say it went fine, it was fine.

00:34:59
Like it. It is. It is what it is. I will talk to him a little bit more. Cause I did say, okay, if you can't give him the extended time, but can everything else, like all the preparation going up to the test.

00:35:10
So, like, if he needs some of the extra. Like. And so we have the notes. Like, she's like, does he need it before class? I was like, I'm gonna.

00:35:17
You know what? That's actually a great question. He might want it before, but he might want it after. So, like, we're gonna. There's like silly things that I'm like, I always take it before.

00:35:25
That's what I said. Right. Because he's gonna want to look at it as the teacher so he doesn't have to write, you know, and then if we, If. If he wants to write down something the way we write it down. Right.

00:35:36
He can add. He can add to you add to that rather than the reverse. Yeah. And that's what they're like. Well, all teachers usually put the notes on the computer, but.

00:35:45
And so when he gets home, I'm going to be like, he wants it before. And you. And just brought. When you just said that. Because I said to them, I'm pretty sure it's going to be before, but.

00:35:55
And then, you know, again, you know, Lila, like, all this is not how we do in college. And I don't give a how you do it. You do it to me. Right, Exactly. I'm on the fourth, you know, I'm.

00:36:05
I'm on the fourth floor in the basement right now. You're going to get me to the lobby floor. No. Oh, that's not how I do it. I don't give a fuck how you do it.

00:36:12
You don't live my life. You're gonna get me up here. Exactly. Yep. So.

00:36:18
So it was fine. It was fine. But a couple things this weekend that were interesting that I think you're gonna be really fascinated about. First of all, curiosity came up like a thousand times because my whole family is a bunch of Curious George's. And so I was giggling at that.

00:36:32
And my dad 100%. My dad's always like. My dad was a person. Like, no, no questions. Stupid.

00:36:37
Ask questions. My older sister, who is also dyslexic, she was remembering when she was in science because we were all talking about what I'm doing now. And they're like, this is so great. I was like, I know. Remember, I wasn't allowed to take chemistry because I was the dumb girl.

00:36:54
And she said she'll never forget. When she was asking, she's like, I was always so curious about it, but I couldn't. I didn't learn it the same way. And the teacher, she asked a question on cells. They were learning something.

00:37:04
She Raised her hand, and the teacher did not know the answer. So the teacher basically told her it was a stupid question. And she said, she's like, I shrunk. She goes, I never raised my hand again. She goes, and then I hate it.

00:37:16
I said that yesterday. Every teacher. There's no bad question until you're dyslexic. Right? Billion percent.

00:37:25
Exactly. Because then it's like, what? So I. And my. I think my brother didn't know my story about my teacher calling me.

00:37:36
He's like, wait, why don't I know this? And I was like, I've told a million times. You clearly weren't paying attention. But my older sister also was like, I don't know that I have ever heard you say. And I was like, I.

00:37:45
You know, I talk about on the podcast in that group, and you guys, I know, are not listening to podcasts every time, but yeah. And they knew the teacher. And my sister Elizabeth goes, I would have shrunk. And I said, I know, but that was the difference of. I got up, called her a bitch, and ran out, even though I knew that was wrong, but I, like, stood up for myself.

00:38:02
So then we started talking more about. So we might. They were. We were asking my dad questions. So we were like.

00:38:08
Everyone was asking. I mean, we were. It was. We did a living eulogy for anyone that's like, so it was my dad's 80th. And so it was very, very emotional, but really beautiful.

00:38:19
But we were. We asked so many different questions, but what. Some of them were about my dad and his dyslexia, you know, and he wasn't diagnosed until later. Later. Because it.

00:38:29
He didn't know. Right. It was until we. We all really. And our kids got diagnosed.

00:38:35
You know, 60% of us never find out. You know, we find out through our kids. Right. That way, you know, especially now with, you know, the old. That generation and.

00:38:43
And our generation. 60% of us find out that way. Exactly. And so. And his brother went to Yale, right?

00:38:51
So very, very smart. And his brother also went to boarding school. Like, so he went to the Hill School in New Jersey. Very, very smart. So we were saying to my dad, like, didn't you ever.

00:39:04
Did you ever feel dumb? He's like, I never felt dumb because I always knew. I knew more. So this is like. I was, like, fascinated.

00:39:09
I was like, no. So I felt dumb. I was like, this is so interesting. He's like, no, they always would say, like, oh, you're Donald's brother. Oh, you have to figure it out.

00:39:17
What's going on, right? So, like. But he. His mom was his cheerleader. He also did work with my.

00:39:25
With his dad. So his dad now, which I didn't realize was the one that was adhd. So. Because we were like, did uncle. You know, I mean, did.

00:39:33
Did Pop up ever, like, yell at you? And we remember when he was dying, he told my dad to shut up. And we were all standing there, and we were all like, oh, my God. Like, that's uncomfortable. We're like, just shut up, Mark.

00:39:44
And it was like, oh. Like. And my dad, like, laughed and whatever, and it was, like, uncomfortable. So we were asking more about their relationship. Like, did, you know, Did Pop up ever make you feel.

00:39:54
And he's like, no. He's like, it's really interesting. No one ever really made me feel dumb. He's like, it was kind of like, I knew I struggled, but I, like, you know, I failed this, I failed that. But it was kind of like, all right, well, I'm good at these other things.

00:40:09
And so I just kind of went along and. And we were like, kind of this innate confidence. And I was like, you know, so I know your mom gave you. But he. What are you shaking your head no for?

00:40:20
Go ahead. So, you know, he was like, it's really interesting. He's like, I never felt less than. He's like, there's times where I remember struggling and maybe being frustrated. He's like, but I really.

00:40:32
Even in, like, you know, working with different realtors, because he was always the one that had, like, the new tech. He was Mr. Gadget. My dad's Mr. Gadget.

00:40:38
He has every new thing. Like, it's. That's his thing. But he said a lot of times when he was running, like when he was running his real estate agent or when then he was working and he was managing. Managing was really tough for him because no one could keep up.

00:40:53
Everyone would be like, wait, we just learned this thing? And he's like, yep, there's something new and better. But his dad, because him and his dad worked together, they had a real estate company, and his dad had the insurance side of the company. But one of the things that ended up not working out is my dad wasn't doing any of the paperwork. But my grandfather never knew, right?

00:41:09
He never knew because he was like, wow, you're a whiz at selling. My dad could sell anything, so he would sell, but then there was no paperwork going. And so it ended up, like, you know, not being the best thing, obviously, paperwork, but, you know, it's. You Started the first thing. My mom was my cheerleader.

00:41:27
That's everything, right? That's you and your ornate confidence that made that ornate confidence. Because that's exactly how you started it. That's how he started it. If he doesn't have that, you don't get that ornate confidence in my mind.

00:41:42
Right, right. And because Mike. So my grandmother was named Vivian, and so his. My. My stepmom was like, thank God for Vi.

00:41:50
And she was. She was like my dad. I mean, both of my dad's, My uncle and my aunt both got their law degrees because my grandfather was like, that's what you're going to do. You're going to get your law degrees. And they were like, well, did they ever.

00:42:04
He's like, no. No one ever said, I have to get my law degree. Like, it was just like, well, Mark's Mark, Mark's Mark. That's what it was always said, well, Mark's Mark. Mark's doing his thing.

00:42:11
Mark's Mark's doing things. So it was never looked down. But so we were like. Elizabeth's like, I remember feeling really dumb in school and feeling dumb. I mean, she had to work through a lot of stuff when she went back to school to get her degree in her.

00:42:23
I think it was in her 40s. She went back and got her degree because now what she does is she runs like, she is really big in the adult. The adult, like, memory care world. So she had to go back, and I think she even had to get her masters. And I was like, oh, my God.

00:42:38
She went. And she was taking that biology. And she goes. I went, oh, my God, I'm going to learn about the cells. She went to YouTube and learned about the question she had.

00:42:47
And she was like, oh, my God, science makes sense now. And I was like, how pissed were you, though, that you're like. And she goes, I mean, I wasn't. But I was like, it's like, this is so crazy that it took me to learn myself because the teacher didn't know the answer. And I was like, there were so many times that I got shot down and was like, I'm not raising my hand anymore, but I don't understand what the fuck's going on.

00:43:06
I don't know if the, you know, I don't know if the teacher didn't know the answer or didn't understand the question. Good. Right. Because there's so many times that I say something. Elizabeth, I don't understand what you're asking me.

00:43:19
What are you. Right. So I don't you know, again, you know, it's the way she. Again, how we're so different. Our brains are so different.

00:43:27
I don't think it didn't. That the teacher didn't know that answer because you're. You're talking about a specific. What they were learning at that point in time. Probably how she asked that question didn't make sense to the teacher.

00:43:40
Could have been. And then teacher flip it back on her. Right. Because why. No, you made me look stupid.

00:43:48
Right. Thank you. Right. Exactly. And that.

00:43:51
So it was really interesting hearing my dad, though, be like, no, I really never felt dumb. But my dad also is the guy that always knows everything. Like, he has all the tidbits he knows. Like, he's like you, where he. Like, you can ask him anything, and he'll either research it or figure it out.

00:44:06
So he would always give you these tidbits and know, like, I know this and that. So it was more of a wealth of knowledge. But your computer is going to die. So I'm like, you know, we got, you know, two minutes. Two minutes.

00:44:15
Okay, perfect. But I thought it was really. There was a couple different times where, like, when we were talking about the dyslexia and how interesting it is and ADHD and how different our brains work, and then his wife, who is not at all like, so she was like, it's so interesting. I love being around you guys because of the patterns, how you talk and the energy how you talk, and. And we're all.

00:44:41
I'm. I actually. Which. My siblings were like, you've gotten really, really good at listening and then directing the conversations. And I was like, thank you for noticing.

00:44:51
I have. Let me pat myself on the back. I did. I was really proud because we all are big personalities and everyone interrupts each other. I mean, growing up, it was like, everyone.

00:45:00
And then my older sister would retreat because she'd be like, I don't feel like trying to butt in. My brother would sometimes take a backseat. And then the rest of us would be like, talking over each other. And now it's not because it's like you can be seen and heard, but it's also. We were talking about the interrupting with attention deficit brains.

00:45:16
So. Because my brother was also saying, like, his kids now, like, how did you. I said, I am very conscious of interrupting because of. When growing up in our house, sometimes my mom's a little bit of an interrupter, but, like, it's a very it. Sometimes you don't know.

00:45:32
And I remember talking to my dad about this when I. I don't know if I was in college or when, but it's like, have something next to you and jot down the word so you don't forget it, but then continue listening right until the understanding now to be able to recognize that. And I think that's. That's the biggest thing, is that, you know, you may. Maybe in college you noticed that, but you've got so much more understanding about dyslexia, adhd, and yourself.

00:45:56
Makes it easier to not interrupt. Yeah, right. No, it's. It's. It's.

00:46:03
It's very cool. So that was a wonder. I mean, very emotional weekend. Can I ask who decided to go with the eulogy? Yeah.

00:46:11
So we were. We kept kind of back and forth. So my Cindy, who's my dad's wife, was like, your dad doesn't really want an 80th birthday. But I thought it would be really great that we, like, wrote, like, a nice letter. You know, everyone does eulogies when the person's dead, but it'd be really nice for him to hear.

00:46:26
And then my older sister was like, why don't we all get together? And then. And. And her. So it was kind of both of theirs, but.

00:46:33
But it was we. Because people were asking, was it your dad's? And I'm like, elizabeth and I like, where did this come from? This is not left field, right field, center field, all fields. But it was.

00:46:46
I mean, it was. It was all of us, like, telling my dad what he meant, like, in all of our memories. And, you know, my parents are divorced, and so it was also, like. It was a very. We learned.

00:46:56
I learned some stuff that I was like, oh, I can't believe I'm learning this at 50. Okay, so it was good. You never stop learning. I never stopped learning. Never.

00:47:07
And evolving. Right? And we're all evolving, and we're supposed to evolve because we're doing. I hope you're evolving, you know, Meaning, you know, as a world, if you don't evolve as a. As a.

00:47:16
As a person, as an individual, as a woman, as a man, you know, as a husband, as a wife, as a cousin, as if you don't continue to evolve, evolve, you don't. You don't continue to live, and you don't begin to be a good person. 100% true. Is it easy? Hell, no.

00:47:34
It's so tiring. I'm like. I was. I literally. I'm like, I'm so exhausted from evolving.

00:47:39
Can I just. Can I just be here for a little bit? I've learned so much. I can I just stay here. I don't need to.

00:47:44
I don't need to evolve anymore. Just give me like, I can evolve in like a month. Give me like a time to fuck. Breathe. Oh, my gosh.

00:47:51
All right. I think that's it, right? It was good. That was kind of a good download. It was a good.

00:47:57
It's. It's been heavy, but good. I mean, like, we're, we're. It's getting closer and closer to what is. Is happening in so many different things and so many different avenues.

00:48:05
And especially with the Foundation. I mean, so many beautiful things are coming out. Yeah, no problem. It was. Can't change the past or the future, only the now.

00:48:17
Look at you, philosopher. Thank you again for, for joining. Dyslexia. Dyslexia, Word blindness. Dyslexia exposed.

00:48:27
You guys, I say it every time. Like rate, review and share. Share. And go to the SOPL Foundation. There's going to be some really awesome things with some events that are coming up.

00:48:35
You guys want to know how to get involved. Sopolfoundation.org Thank.