RewirED: Dyslexia and Reading Disabilities

This Icy Experience Makes Reading More Meaningful

In this episode of RewirED, the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Office of Dyslexia and Reading Disabilities explores how community partnerships can extend literacy beyond the classroom. Featuring a conversation with John Jones of the Springfield Thunderbirds, the episode highlights how initiatives like Dyslexia Awareness Night and the Stick to Reading program create meaningful, engaging opportunities for students and families. Together, they discuss how connecting reading to real-world experiences—through sports, community events, and shared celebration—can motivate students, build confidence, and reinforce the message that all learners belong. The episode underscores the importance of collaboration across schools, families, and community organizations in creating inclusive environments where students can see themselves as capable, confident readers. This conversation offers practical insight for educators, families, and community leaders working to make literacy more accessible, engaging, and connected to students’ lives.

Why Community, Identity, and Representation Matter in Literacy—and What Educators and Families Should Know

In this inspiring episode, Malik Champlain shares how a deeply personal experience as a father grew into Pages with Pops, a community-driven literacy initiative designed to engage fathers and father figures in their children’s reading journeys. Through powerful reflections on identity, belonging, and representation, Malik explores how literacy extends beyond skill-building to shape confidence, connection, and self-worth. His insights offer educators and families a compelling look at how aligning schools, families, and community partners can transform literacy into a joyful, relational experience—one that helps every child see themselves as a reader and a leader.

“This Is What Changed Everything”: A Student on Dyslexia, Access, and Assistive Technology

In this powerful episode, student advocate Eleanor Farquhar speaks openly about growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia, the emotional toll of struggling in school, and the moment assistive technology opened the door to learning. Her story offers families and educators an authentic look at why early, individualized access to tools can shape not only academic success, but self-worth and belonging.

What Educators and Families Should Know About the EL/ML Framework—and Why It Matters

Developed through years of collaboration with educators and families, the Connecticut State Department of Education's EL/ML Framework offers clear guidance for improving instruction and systems for multilingual learners, including those with dyslexia. In this episode, Maribel Olivero and Megan Alubicki, the CSDE leaders who developed the framework, explain its guiding principles, how districts will be supported in implementation, and what this work means for families and educators seeking more coherent, evidence-based literacy supports.

How Can Family Advocacy Transform Literacy Outcomes?

In this episode of RewirED, host Kristin Allen is joined by Goviana Morales, a bilingual consultant with the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC) and a leading voice for family engagement and equity in special education. Drawing from her lived experience as a parent of children with disabilities and her professional work supporting Spanish-speaking families statewide, Morales shares how language access, cultural responsiveness, and authentic partnership between schools and families can fundamentally change outcomes for students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. The conversation explores CPAC’s role as Connecticut’s Parent Training and Information Center, the layered supports it provides to families, and the critical importance of ensuring that families are informed, empowered, and meaningfully included in decision-making. Educators, family liaisons, and advocates will gain practical insight into bridging communication gaps, strengthening collaboration, and moving from awareness to action so that every family feels seen, heard, and supported—and every child has the opportunity to learn to read and thrive.