Looking Back
An Adult with Dyslexia Traces His Path to Success
by Nancy Redding, M.Ed.

Parents raising a child with dyslexia have many unanswered questions about the future: What will my child's adult life be like? What qualities help in a successful transition to adulthood? What can I do now? At our October 2009 event in San Francisco, a group of parents were able to get insights into these and other questions when Ryan Luther, an adult with dyslexia, helped facilitate a parent discussion about raising a child with this learning disability. He has a compelling history; here are some of the highlights.

Ryan was initially evaluated in first grade, when his teacher noticed that he was not learning to read. After years of trying various tutors and methods, he found just the right match in fifth grade. Marsha Fabian used a multisensory, structured approach based on Slingerland. As Ryan says, "That was the beginning of getting real help." He continued to work with her throughout high school.

Ryan left public school after second grade, opting for a small private school that catered to students with learning disabilities. He remained there through eighth grade, and although he missed out on some experiences that go with a larger student body, he knows he made huge academic strides in this smaller setting. He went on to public high school where he enrolled in several remedial classes, utilized help from the resource center, and continued to work with his outside tutor. As Ryan says, "It was in high school where I really began to own my learning disability and started figuring out how to navigate life with it, because it was not going to ever go away." Ryan was a good basketball player and attributes much of his high school social success to that skill. Although his school counselor advised him to attend a community college, Ryan really wanted to have the full college experience. He was successful at Seattle Pacific University because he utilized his resources at every opportunity, taking advantage of tutoring, untimed tests, and early registration. Ryan remembers meeting with his professors at the beginning of the semester so they would get a better idea of who he was, and he believes that served him well.

Ryan is now married with two young children. Since college, he has worked as a sales representative in the software industry. He believes he got the job because he was honest in his interview, disclosing his dyslexia right away. He uses strategies in the workplace to compensate for his learning issues, such as writing several drafts of e-mails and having co-workers proofread them. Ryan comments, "I feel the work ethic that this thing called 'dyslexia' has instilled in me has made me a better employee."

Ryan is a very successful adult, who happens to have dyslexia. He says his mom was his biggest advocate and sounding board, and gave him tremendous emotional support throughout his schooling. His dad, with a doctorate in physics, had a more difficult time understanding Ryan's dyslexia, but was a constant inspiration to him. When asked about the keys to his success, Ryan points to his determination, his self-advocacy, and his willingness to use all his resources in any situation.

About the author: Nancy Redding, M.Ed., received her B.A. in education from the University of Texas and her M.Ed. in special education from the University of Utah. She has worked with learning disabled students for over 30 years and is currently President of the NCBIDA.