After the diagnosis, in third grade, we also started teaching Wilson what it means to be dyslexic. It was important to me that he understood the good and bad of his learning difference. It also helped him realize he was not alone and everyone has something.   One of the first things we did was participate in the Reading and Attention for Individual Student Excellence (RAISE) research study at the Gabrieli Lab in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences Building at MIT. Wilson had to complete neuropsychological assessments of reading, math, memory, and language and play computer games with a researcher. I had to fill out questionnaires about his developmental history, personality, and family circumstances. In some ways, it was a lot like the first set of evaluations. However, Wilson got gift cards for participation this time, so he thought it was more fun. Wilson was also proud to help researchers learn more about how dyslexic kids read.  The program focused on learn...

The process of finding someone to perform a neuropsychological evaluation, go through the testing, get the reports, and then work with your child’s school is time consuming and overwhelming. I think we got the name of the place to get the evaluation from Wilson’s doctor. I remember him saying it could be too early to do the testing. He thought if something was developmental, we might not get a complete or accurate picture of what was going on… yet. Neuropsychological evaluations are also expensive. Many people don’t get them because of the cost. Ours was not covered by insurance. I have read that some are, but I am not sure how that happens. I guess it depends on your plan (?). When they asked the questions about Wilson’s birth during the intake, we got the impression that if he were dropped on his head, his issues would be physical and then covered under insurance. I think it’s a small commentary on mental health; physical issues are easier to understand. I remember the intake meeting...