Every Child Deserves the Chance to Thrive with the Right Support.
Why I’m So Passionate About Supporting Kids with Dyslexia
And why I’ll never stop fighting for them.
I’ve been a speech pathologist for almost 30 years now, working with children who struggle with reading, writing, and spelling. Beautiful, bright, creative kids who, despite how hard they try, just can’t seem to keep up with their peers.
For much of my career, like so many other professionals here in Australia, I hadn’t heard much about dyslexia. It wasn’t something we were taught about. It wasn’t something schools openly talked about. And for a long time, it wasn’t something parents were ever told could be at the root of their child’s struggle.
When I started learning more about dyslexia, what it really is, why it makes reading and spelling so hard, and what these kids actually need to succeed, it hit me hard.
All those children I’d worked with over the years… so many of them likely had dyslexia. And back then, I didn’t know what they truly needed.
That realisation broke my heart. And it also lit a fire in my belly. Because if I didn’t know, and this was my field, how could we expect parents and teachers to know?
I couldn’t stay quiet about that. And I haven’t.
The Injustice That Fuels Me
The injustice of it still gets me.
Dyslexia affects up to 10–15% of the population. That’s about one in every seven kids in a typical classroom.
But far too many of these children go undiagnosed. Unsupported. Misunderstood. Instead of getting the right help, they are left to feel like failures.
They sit in classrooms, day after day, watching their friends learn with ease while they fall further behind — and they start to believe it’s because they’re dumb.
But they’re not.
And that belief? That quiet, creeping belief that “I’m not smart”?
It’s the thing that breaks my heart the most. And it’s the thing that makes me keep going.
Because this isn’t just about reading.
This is about a child’s belief in themselves.
I’m Not Here to Watch Kids Be Left Behind
I’ve worked with too many children who were diagnosed far too late; children who spent years feeling the weight of failure before anyone named what was really going on.
I’ve watched that frustration turn into anger, that anger turn into shutdown, and that shutdown turn into giving up.
Not because these kids weren’t capable, but because they were never taught in the way their brain needed.
And I’ve seen the toll this takes on parents, too; the constant fighting, the exhaustion of trying to be the advocate, the educator, the therapist, the researcher… all while just trying to be mum or dad.
This is why I show up, and why I will keep showing up.
I’m compassionate but fierce, practical but visionary. I don’t just work in this space, this is my mission.
I speak up, show up, and lift others up, because every child deserves the chance to learn to read, and to believe in themselves while doing it.
If You’re Wondering Where to Start, You’re Not Alone
If you’re reading this and feeling that familiar knot of frustration and worry in your chest, I want you to know: you’re not alone.
If you’ve been told to “wait and see”…
If you’ve walked out of meetings at school feeling unheard…
If your gut is telling you that something is being missed, you’re probably right.
And I’d love to help you feel clearer and more confident about what’s going on, and what your child actually needs.
That’s why I’m running a free masterclass:
“Understanding Dyslexia: What Every Parent Needs to Know”
In this session, I’ll walk you through:
What dyslexia really is (and what it isn’t)
Why so many kids go undiagnosed
The key signs to look for — even the ones schools often miss
Why early action matters, and what effective support actually looks like
I created this masterclass because I believe that knowledge is power. And no parent should have to feel lost or alone on this journey.
If that sounds like something you need right now, I’d love you to join me. Register here.
Together, let’s change the story ; for your child, and for every child still waiting to be understood.
With heart,
Elise Cassidy
Speech Pathologist & Advocate for Kids with Dyslexia
