Originally published on 1/19/22
Students at Glenn York Elementary were invited to take part in the latest exhibit at The Health Museum in Houston titled “The Beautiful Minds Exhibit - Dyslexia and the Creative Advantage.” The exhibit features many hands-on games, visual representations of dyslexia, and a timeline of the overall history. With interactive exhibits and tons of information to learn, the students thoroughly enjoyed the experience. “I didn’t know I am a right-brained thinker, but I now know why I am so creative, because I have dysgraphia,” fourth grade student, David, shared.
Throughout the museum there were many exhibits that caused the students to dive into the experience. One specific display being a pile of chairs stacked to the ceiling stuck out to the students. “I asked the class how they thought this exhibit represented dyslexia,” York Elementary Dyslexia Therapist Amanda Cottle, shared. “They made several great connections including how the sounds get jumbled when trying to read or how it can be difficult to keep their writing organized.”
The overall experience was filled with joy as students were able to see and interact with an exhibit that displays a special part of them. Sean, a fourth grader who attended the trip, shared, “Anyone can have dyslexia, even older people. But, it is not a weakness, it is your strength.”
“It was beautiful to see the students embracing and loving themselves and owning their differences in their brain pattern because their differences are beautiful,” York Elementary SPED teacher Tayarisha Blevins, shared.
Cottle hopes every student gained confidence from this experience, sharing, “I hope students realize they are not alone with their struggles and anything is possible, if they are willing to work for it.”