About four years ago, Gracie and Ashlee joined us to share their experiences growing up with dyslexia. At the time, they were both in high school. Now, they’re college students navigating new academic expectations, greater independence, and the responsibility of deciding when and how to ask for support.
In this episode, we bring their separate conversations together to explore dyslexia in college from two individual perspectives. Gracie and Ashlee discuss accommodations, self-advocacy, college writing, athletics, friendships, and the people and tools that help them succeed. They also reflect on what they would tell the younger versions of themselves today.
Their experiences remind us that there is no single way to navigate college with dyslexia. Support needs can vary by student, class, and situation. Dyslexia is part of their learning experience, but it does not define their abilities, accomplishments, or future.
What You’ll Learn
- How college accommodations differ from high school support
- Why students may need to take the lead in accessing accommodations
- How Gracie and Ashlee communicate their needs to professors
- Where dyslexia can appear beyond traditional reading assignments
- How classmates, teammates, and friends can become part of a student’s support system
- What professors and other college professionals should understand about dyslexia
- Why privacy matters when providing accommodations
- What Gracie and Ashlee would tell their younger selves today
About Gracie and Ashlee
Gracie is a sophomore at James Madison University studying communication sciences and disorders with the goal of becoming a speech-language pathologist. She previously interned with The Reading and Language Learning Center and uses her experiences with dyslexia to better understand her own learning and future profession.
Ashlee is a junior at Fairleigh Dickinson University majoring in graphic design. She is also a college lacrosse player and goalie. Her experiences show how dyslexia can appear in academics, creative work, athletics, and everyday communication.
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