By PGM L. Arby Humphrey, President, Wisconsin Benevolent Activities Board
October is recognized as National Dyslexia Awareness Month in the United States, offering an opportunity to raise awareness and support for individuals with dyslexia. This common learning disability affects language processing for millions of people.
Dyslexia is a common learning difference that makes it difficult to read, write, and spell. It’s a neurological condition, meaning it affects how the brain processes language. It has nothing to do with a person’s intelligence or their desire to learn.
Children with dyslexia often feel frustrated and discouraged as classmates’ reading skills improve while they struggle. Frustration comes with the feeling of trying your hardest and still not succeeding. Dyslexic students can make frequent mistakes that others may see as carelessness or even laziness. They and their families often hear, “They’re such a bright child; if only they would try harder.”
No one knows just how hard a person is trying. It is painful to struggle with basic reading and writing skills and feel like you’re failing in the eyes of your teachers, classmates, and parents. These experiences can make a student feel inadequate and inferior, and those feelings can last into adulthood, sometimes causing even successful adults to doubt their own abilities.
Dyslexia is a treatable condition, and the Wisconsin Freemasons, together with the Children’s Dyslexia Centers, are dramatically changing the lives of children with dyslexia.
With locations in Masonic buildings in Milwaukee, Madison, Eau Claire, and Superior, the Children’s Dyslexia Centers are dedicated to empowering children who have dyslexia. They provide individualized, multisensory reading and writing instruction, individually tailored to each child’s unique needs. These highly specialized programs are delivered at no cost to families, ensuring every child has equal access to the support they deserve.
Since the inception of the Children’s Dyslexia Centers in Wisconsin, approximately 1,195 students have been served. These students have gained not only essential academic skills but also the confidence to succeed in school and beyond.
To maintain the highest quality of instruction, the Children’s Dyslexia Centers are deeply committed to the rigorous training and professional development of their tutors. The program is accredited, requiring trainees to hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. The initial course spans a minimum of nine months and includes over 100 hours of supervised practicum, comprehensive readings, and assignments. This intensive process leads to certification as a certified Dyslexia Practitioner. To date, 290 tutors have been trained and certified in Wisconsin.
The ability to provide these life-changing, tuition-free services is made possible through the profound generosity of the area’s individual Masons. In addition, numerous Masonic Lodges have donated and taken advantage of matching funds from the Wisconsin Masonic Foundation. The partnership is instrumental to the success of the Children’s Dyslexia Centers.
The unwavering support of the Children’s Dyslexia Centers by Wisconsin Masons is a true testament to our core tenets. Together, we continue to build an even brighter future for the children and families we serve.
