DESOTO COUNTY, Miss. — A staggering one-fifth of children struggle in school from dyslexia, and by law, the state of Mississippi requires schools to test students in kindergarten and first grade for the learning disability. But until now, there were very few resources to help dyslexic children.
This year, Desoto County Schools launched a new program to help children with dyslexia.
The 100 students involved go to therapy sessions four times a week to learn different techniques to be successful in school and life. They spend about 45 minutes a session with their small group and a specially trained teacher before going back to homerooms.
Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Weeks said parents of dyslexic children reached out to the district to get more resources for their students.
“It’s frustrating to everyone, but especially to the students and the parent that sees their student struggling. We felt it was important,” said Weeks.
DCS found $300,000 in its budget to help and built the program.
“These children are highly intelligent. They are twice exceptional; they just struggle with the language,” said teacher Melissa Burnside.
Burnside believed so far the therapy sessions are working. She can tell in her student`s smiles.
“Just last week I got a phone call from a parent, she had tears, and she said ‘Mrs. Burnside, I want you to know my child has never wanted to read. She is begging me to take her to the bookstore’,” said Burnside.
Right now, the program is only at Walls and Center Hill Elementary schools. DCS hopes to expand it in the future.
In a couple weeks, the district will offer special training to all teachers about educating children with dyslexia.
