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Best of Texas: Learning Differences & Disabilities

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Learn from peers about best practices and innovative ideas being put into action at literacy programs across our great state. Best of Texas brings together local experts to share their wisdom and experience – and maybe help us all avoid a few pitfalls along the way.

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

QUICK LINKS FOR THIS EVENT:

Click on any of the links below to go straight to that section, or simply scroll down the page.

BASIC DETAILS

This online session will be held on:

Thursday, October 9, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (CT).

The Zoom room will open to registered attendees at 9:50 AM.

Please arrive on time – the Zoom room will close to late arrivals 30 minutes after the session begins.

This online learning session is offered free of charge to Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

ABOUT THIS MONTH'S TOPIC

Students with learning differences and disabilities make up a large percentage of the adult learners we serve. Instructors in our learning centers need to know strategies for ensuring we are meeting their special needs in our classrooms.

This Best of Texas session features leaders in our field who can help us understand the best ways to approach this challenge with imagination and thoughtfulness. 

Primary Topic Area
professional development topic - learning differences & disabilities
Session will also cover:
professional development topic - access for everyone
professional development topic - instructional theory, methodology, research
Audience
training session audience - general audience
Level
training session level - beginner
Texas AEL PD Category

Assigned by TCALL

Texas AEL PD category - LIT
Texas AEL PD category - PAL
Texas AEL PD category - OTHER

Read more about the PD categories on the TCALL website.

See the full Texas AEL Guide.

Other info:

Pre-reading article – Dyslexia and Adult Literacy: The Equity Issue We Can’t Afford to Ignore

GUESTS THIS MONTH

Speights, Lara

Lara Speights
Vice President for Family Support and Adult Literacy
Neuhaus Education Center

Lara Speights, M.Ed., LDT, CALT, is a literacy advocate and researcher specializing in dyslexia therapy, with a focus on emerging bilinguals and adults (16+) with literacy below the 6th grade level.

As a parent of a child with special learning needs, she brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her advocacy for equitable access to evidence-based literacy instruction.

At Neuhaus Education Center, Lara oversees the Community Programs, which provide free services to the Greater Houston Area. Her role includes leading the Margaret H. Ley Adult Literacy program, which offers free virtual and in-person evening literacy classes for adult learners (16+) with dyslexia and related reading difficulties.

Additionally, she directs the Family Support Office, which not only delivers free community presentations on reading-related topics but also responds to numerous calls annually from family members seeking information and resources to support their children struggling with reading.

Finley, Sarah

Sarah Finley
Director of ALP
Neuhaus Education Center

Sarah Finley, M.S., LDT, CALT is a literacy educator and advocate for all learners. With twenty years of experience in education, Sarah is passionate about supporting teachers and students in developing solid foundations in literacy through evidence-based literacy instruction. She currently provides dyslexia therapy to individuals with dyslexia and other learning differences.

At Neuhaus Education Center, Sarah serves as an instructor of a young adult class and director of the Margaret H. Ley Adult Literacy program, which offers free virtual and in-person evening literacy classes for adult learners (16+) with dyslexia and related reading difficulties.

Host:

Aguilera-Jackie-2-v2-300px

Jacqueline Aguilera
Community Liaison & Program Host
Literacy Texas

Jacqueline “Jackie” Aguilera has logged 38 years of diverse experience across educational and non-profit sectors. With a focus on adult literacy, she has left an indelible mark on various initiatives and projects in the multi-layered field of adult literacy.

As an experienced adult education innovations designer, she earned a 2021 Ford Foundation Mujeres Legendarias Award for creative ed tech applications in adult education. Her service impact also extends beyond the classroom into the workforce. She empowers both employers and employees through worksite literacy training and independent consulting. She leads a local fellowship of adult education providers called the Houston Area Adult Literacy Collective (the incredible HAALC), serves on many committees, boards, and projects impacting adult learners and families, and most recently served as Project Manager for Houston’s Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy.

In summary, Jacqueline’s multifaceted career reflects a lifelong dedication to advancing literacy and education across diverse communities and platforms. Currently on a journey through breast cancer treatment, she is more than ever committed to advancing the lives of all those she serves, making her a messenger of inspiration, innovation, and evolution.

FREE ONLINE REGISTRATION

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

Online registration has now closed – but we have a few spots available for last-minute registrants! Call us on 972-926-3155 to make arrangements.

PD CERTIFICATES

Participants who complete the full session will receive 1 hour of PD credit.

Certificates of completion will be awarded after the event. Complete the survey after the training is finished to give your details and get your certificate.Surveys will be sent via email after the training, and certificates will be prepared and sent after the survey closes.

Please pay attention to the due dates – after each event is wrapped up, we will not be able to go back and re-issue your PD certificate. If you know you’ll need a certificate at a later date, please take care to request it in a timely manner!

SPECIAL THANKS

[presenter]

Neuhaus Education Center

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated 10/10/25

The Expert Edge: Plain Language

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The Expert Edge: Online training on core topics that all adult and family literacy professionals should know. Stay sharp with The Expert Edge!

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

This online session will be held on:

Thursday, November 7, from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM (CT).

Check-in for registered participants will open on Zoom at 1:20 PM.

Join us for “Plain Language for Clearer Communication & Better Understanding.”

This literacy training session will focus on the importance of using plain language with adult literacy students. Presenter Kathryn Bauchelle will take us through some reasons to make plain language a priority, and some practical ways to incorporate it into your programs.

This training session is offered free of charge to Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy. The session provides 1.5 hours of professional development.

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

ABOUT THIS TRAINING SESSION

Simplifying the way we communicate with one another can benefit everybody. Focusing on Plain Language means that the highest priority of a document, speech, or other piece of communication is being understood.

Most of us already start with that priority – but it’s very easy for other aspects to get in the way, without us even being conscious of them. Sometimes we give too much information. Sometimes we use big words in an effort to sound knowledgeable. Other times our layout, or word choices (like using too many idioms, for example), or other factors, can get in the way of clear understanding.

Plain Language can particularly benefit adult learners. When someone is learning English, or learning to read, having information made as clear as possible can make a huge difference. 

Speaking and writing plainly is an intentional approach that we adopt in order to help those around us. Plain Language is not an exact science – but there are some guiding principles that can help us. Come along to this session to learn about some of those principles, and have a chance to practice them with peers and in a learning environment.

Bauchelle, Kathryn

Presenter: Kathryn Bauchelle

Kathryn began her plain language journey in Houston, in around 2010. Directing a volunteer-based adult literacy program at that time, it became very clear to her that too many things – from new student orientation sessions, to flyers, to intake forms, to much more – were simply too complex for the students. Over the next few years, she and the programs team overhauled pretty much everything – always with clear communication as the main goal.

Kathryn’s background is in literacy, language acquisition, and education. She has worked in the Texas adult literacy field since moving to Houston in 2008.

PD Certificates

Someone who completes the full session will receive X hours of PD credit.

Certificates of completion will be awarded after the event. Complete the survey after the training is finished to give your details and get your certificate. Surveys will be sent via email in the days following the training.

Downloads

Download a flyer to display at your location or send to others who may be interested in attending [link whole sentence to PDF of flyer].

Downloadable PDF flyer for this training session is coming soon.

Special thanks to:

[presenter]

[name of any sponsors or other partners – as many as relevant, new line for each]

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated: 11/7/24

An intriguing balance of abilities

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October is Dyslexia Awareness Month

Dyslexia is a learning difference, one that specifically affects language processing. 

Dyslexia is many things, and among them, it’s an intriguing balance of abilities.

“The advantage of dyslexia is that my brain puts information in my head in a different way.”
Whoopi Goldberg
Actor

Some basic facts about dyslexia

Dyslexia is a specific learning difference that affects reading and spelling ability, along with literacy skills development. It’s a different way of dealing with language in the brain. The most common form of dyslexia interrupts a student’s ability to split words into their component sounds, which makes sounding out words and spelling extremely challenging.

People are born with dyslexia, and it runs in families. It’s estimated that between 15 and 20% of Americans have some form of dyslexia, but the majority of people who have it don’t know that they do.

There’s more to dyslexia than getting words mixed up or out of order – and some people with dyslexia never even display this symptom. Since dyslexia affects how the brain processes language, someone might:

  • Memorize words but be unable to sound them out
  • Substitute words in sentences for other words that make sense
  • Have difficulty with handwriting
  • Show confusion with directions (left and right, before and after, over and under – this is where the reversal of “b” and “d” might show up, a symptom of dyslexia many people know)
  • Find recall difficult, especially for names and words
“If anyone ever puts you down for having dyslexia, don’t believe them. Being dyslexic can actually be a big advantage, and it has certainly helped me.”
Richard Branson
CEO, Virgin

Some distinct advantages

While dyslexia – especially when undiagnosed – can definitely cause people a lot of frustration and problems, there are some distinct advantages to the condition. People with dyslexia often have:

  • Heightened levels of creativity
  • Higher levels of intelligence
  • Greater artistic and mechanical abilities
  • Outside-the-box thinking
  • Ability to see the big picture and connect ideas
“I didn’t succeed despite my dyslexia, but because of it. It wasn’t my deficit, but my advantage. Although there are neurological trade-offs that require that I work creatively [and] smarter in reading, writing and speaking, I would never wish to be any other way than my awesome self. I love being me, regardless of the early challenges I faced.”
Scott Sonnon
Professional Athlete

Preparing for success

Perhaps most importantly – dyslexia needs specific interventions. The earlier a person is diagnosed with dyslexia and given personal help, the better, but it’s never too late.

Effective instruction for people with dyslexia is:

  • Personal to their specific needs, including in pace
  • Delivered one-on-one or in very small groups
  • Repetitive, to allow lots of practice and error correction
  • Positive and encouraging 
“Dyslexia is not a pigeonhole to say you can’t do anything. It is an opportunity and a possibility to learn differently. You have magical brains, they just process differently. Don’t feel like you should be held back by it.”
Princess Beatrice
UK royal family

Sources and further reading

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