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Tiffany Sunday

Best-Selling Author | Poet | TEDx Presenter

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Dyslexia

Why A Book Must Be On Everyone’s Holiday Gift List

December 6, 2017 By Tiffany Sunday

In case you are wondering, this is not a blog post listing the top ten business books to read for the holidays.  Nope, this post is different. It’s about the importance of stories and reading.

As an author, I am always asking people what books they like to read.  With two new books slated for publication in 2018, I need to know my market.

I can peg a person’s response to their facial expression.  It’s that frustrated look, “Why would I read a book now, I’m out of school.”  Or “Oh, she’s going to recommend another boring business book. Ugh.” Insert eye rolling emoji.

The majority of the responses all include, “I don’t have time to read because…” We spend hundreds of hours each week reading blog posts, text messages, FB posts etc.  Ironically, we read blog posts about which books successful people are reading.

The book list is unimportant.

What matters most is that these leaders schedule time to read.

The thought leaders, we admire, read a wide range of books including novels, history, biographies and business leadership.  All books contain stories even non-fiction which highlights case studies. We remember stories, we relate to stories, and use stories to help us navigate our jobs, personal relationships, challenges, and events in our lives.

Without these stories, we have a limited mental library to retrieve examples for guidance. Since the beginning of mankind, we’ve used stories to build communities, pass down information, and form bonds needed for survival.

Today is no different.  We need stories; we need this foundation.  Purchasing a book for yourself and everyone on your holiday list is important.

Reading is the gateway to society. If a child does not read by the age of seven, they are at risk of missing the gateway.  Once the opportunity passes, it is extremely difficult to gain access.

The ability read (insert assistive technology if needed to help with reading) is the second most important skill humans’ must possess.  The ability to communicate is first.

As you build your holiday shopping list, take the time to visit your local bookstore or Amazon.  Think about the stories you crave to read.  What problem are you mentally seeking to solve? Go to the library; walk through the quiet aisles glancing at the titles. What book catches your eye?

Better yet, go to the children’s section look at the stories.  Last month, I discovered while walking through Barnes and Noble – What Do You Do With An Idea by Kobi Yamada.  I absolutely love the book and believe everyone should read it.

Books, regardless how you read them are important, they provide us with a rich depth of stories that we use daily to solve problems.  Even non-fiction has a place because we gain knowledge and a different perspective.

Included in this post are images of the current books I am reading.  I will be stopping by Half Price Books and Barnes & Noble to purchase gifts.

Remember – reading by the fireplace is a great way to unplug and enjoy the holidays!

Filed Under: Dyslexia, Poetry

Why October Dyslexia Awareness Month is Important

October 11, 2017 By Tiffany Sunday

Codpost Credit
Dyslexia is invisible. 

We cannot see how the unique wiring impacts each individual nor can we see the brilliance that lies beneath the surface of misspelled words, word retrieval misfires, and slow reading times.

The invisibility creates a false sense of reality. On the surface, a student’s learning abilities may appear to be sufficient, when in fact the student is struggling in every class.  The student becomes increasing disengaged as they do not understand the material given to them nor can they complete their class assignments.

Being behind your peers, unable to read, write or spell, I believe is one of the most stressful feelings you can have as a student.  We receive questions and inquires on why our work is not completed.  We don’t know why; therefore, we are unable to provide an answer which only creates more frustration.

I remember, as if it was yesterday, being in second grade overwhelmed and frustrated.  I was two grade levels behind my peers and could barely spell the simplest of words. My handwriting was all over the page which compounded the problem.  Even to this day, I can recall the emotions I felt and how I knew at a gut level, something was wrong.

In third grade, my teacher was a graduate student obtaining her dyslexia/reading specialist certificate.  She recommended that I be tested for dyslexia. Finally, a name was given to my frustrations.  I was relieved to know it was not my fault.

Teachers and educators can profoundly change their students’ lives in many ways.  Every time, I write and speak on the topic of dyslexia, I mention to two teachers who forever changed my life – Mrs. King and Dr. Wakefield.  They understood the importance of testing students for dyslexia.

They Understood that Awareness is Everything for a Dyslexic Student. 

For millions of students and adults who are still undiagnosed, awareness is the difference between receiving help or not.  The difference between gaining the essential intervention that can help them achieve their full potential or a lifetime of frustration without ever knowing why.

Only when we have awareness can we solve a problem or assist a student who needs intervention and accommodations.  Without awareness and testing, students will continue to encounter learning challenges.

Dyslexia is unique in that it is invisible, brilliant, and frustrating all at the same time.  Digital tools designed for individuals with dyslexia help reduce many of the language processing frustrations we encounter every day.  I think about how much spell check has changed my life and provided an independence from constantly asking peers how to spell words.

Today, we have handheld devices that can read to us, check the dictionary meaning and scan notes.  We have access to multiple software programs that perform a range of tasks from checking for dyslexia mistakes to the audio dictation of reports, emails, and digital messages.  Each day new software and technologies are launched designed to help us.

We must have awareness first, testing second for progress to occur.

Only then, can these amazing technologies be used to their full potential and reduce the learning challenges encountered by dyslexics.  October is Dyslexia Awareness Month in the United States. Each and every day I work to increase the awareness, ensure all students are tested and receive the accommodations they need to reach their full potential.

This blog post also appeared on Scanning Pens.com website.

Filed Under: Dyslexia Tagged With: dyslexia, dyslexic

Tiffany Sunday is Speaking at the Dallas Women’s Forum, Tuesday October 3rd

September 18, 2017 By Tiffany Sunday

How Dyslexics Will Rule The Future

A presentation of the Dallas Women’s Forum – Community Connect Series

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

The Alexander Mansion
4607 Ross Avenue Dallas, Texas
Free Parking in Back

Light Refreshments
Cost: Free

Presentation

Tiffany Sunday, speaker, provides information to educators, students, and parents about the strengths of dyslexia plus strategies for helping students manage the daily challenges of dyslexia.

TIFFANY SUNDAY, SPEAKER

During her presentation, attendees will learn how dyslexic students can use their strengths in the classroom, strategies for managing the unspoken side of dyslexia, and how to assemble a powerful dyslexia management toolkit.

Tiffany Sunday is Director of Business Development, Southwest U.S. for Scanning Pens Inc., a leading global distributor of electronic pen scanners. She is the author of Dyslexia’s Competitive Edge and You Posted What!? Her 2015 TEDx Talk Dyslexia 2.0: The Gift of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Mind inspires dyslexics to use their talents as an advantage.

She is completing two new books to be published the spring of 2018 – How Dyslexics Will Rule the Future and her anticipated first fiction novel, Never Again, She Said. Her articles have appeared in The Dyslexia Connection, Launch DFW, Noodle Education, Dallas Business Journal, and more. Tiffany has appeared on local television and radio shows and in news publications across the country.

The Alexander Mansion is home to the Dallas Woman’s Forum an organization that since 1906 has provided women with opportunities — Opportunities to meet, mentor, grow and to serve their community.  Early Forum members were instrumental in getting the “Pure Food and Water Act” in Dallas as well as working with the Wadley Blood Center and many other acts of service and innovation. Built in 1903-4, the Alexander is a beautiful example of the turn-of-the-century work of renowned architect C.D. Hill. The stained glass and interior woodwork evoke a gracious charm and warmth, a feeling of “coming home” to those who visit.

The Dallas Woman’s Forum Community Connect Series spotlights local area “persons of wisdom” to share their information with the community, presented by the DWF Community Outreach Committee.  Please contact Janis Jelnick, [email protected] for more information and with your suggestions for future presentations.  All Community Connect presentations are free to the public. http://dallaswomansforum.org

Filed Under: Book Updates, Dyslexia

Tiffany Sunday – Featured Guest on The Dyslexia Quest Podcast

August 28, 2017 By Tiffany Sunday

On Thursday, August 10, I was a guest on Elisheva Schwartz’s Podcast – The Dyslexia Quest.  Her show is ranked in the top 30 iTunes podcast shows.  We talked about a range of topics from my experiences as a student in school to how technology is creating more career opportunities for dyslexics.

Quote from Elisheva –

Guest Tiffany Sunday quests with us on the fascinating topic “Dyslexia 2:0 The Gift of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Mind”. We uncover dyslexic strengths and wonder why having these strengths can sometimes cause overwhelming pressure instead of motivation.

Tiffany is an author, innovator, entrepreneur and mom of a dyslexic child. She writes and speaks on multiple topics from the digital revolution, to the future of work to personal development and the relationship between dyslexia and entrepreneurship.

Tiffany reminds us that every one of us has a passion…. even our kids. It’s what “makes our tail wag”. We talk about dreaming big and innovation. Tiffany shares from her own unique experiences – you won’t want to miss it so stay tuned till the end!

LISTEN HERE | iTunes | Stitcher Radio 

 

Filed Under: Book Updates, Dyslexia

Finding What Works. Talking Dyslexia With Rebecca Laffer-Smith

June 11, 2017 By Tiffany Sunday

In April, I chatted with Rebecca. She is the founder of Aulexic, a children’s publishing imprint in Western Australia.

We discussed a range of topics from education to how dyslexia can be a competitive edge for individuals.

Here is a link to our chat.

#020 Finding What Works. Talking Dyslexia With Tiffany Sunday

Filed Under: Dyslexia

How Dyslexia, Thingy, and Being Brave Are Connected

October 3, 2016 By Tiffany Sunday

Codpast Image

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month.  This post is dedicated to fellow dyslexics around the world.

Name must your fear be before banish it you can.
Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back

I overcame my fear of failure, in elementary school, after thousands of failed starts in reading, writing, and spelling. Since then, I have developed a confidence in my abilities to overcome challenges and solve complex problems.

Even with my dyslexic brain’s savvy abilities, I encounter language processing misfires every day. There are some days when I feel it is impossible to spell a correct word.

These misfires include using the word “thingy” for everything, talking backwards, and collapsing sentences to increase processing speeds. When this occurs, small talk goes out the window. My brain focuses all of its energy on what it deems critical communication.  What surprises most people is that I have a fear of writing in public. Either on social media or physically in front of another person.  As a writer, this fear can present problems when your business is based on creating content.

When I was in high school, I wished, someone would have helped focus my energy on developing strategies to manage these road bumps instead of increasing my fear of making a mistake.

Since writing Dyslexia’s Competitive Edge, I’ve learned a lot about myself.  I’ve discovered how dyslexia encourages us to be brave.  Our bravery occurs when we write on a whiteboard, answer questions in class, or participate in an extracurricular activity that requires us to read out loud.

Dyslexia teaches us to be brave as we think of ways to respond to tacky comments.

Like I said before, if I had a dollar for every time a person corrected my language errors or dyslexia’s misfires, I would have an island next to Richard Branson.

It’s hard to explain to others why our dyslexic brain will never figure out how to correctly say or spell a word.  Often they think we’re not trying hard enough.  We need to support dyslexic teens and remind them often to focus on developing strategies and ignore naysayers.

My dyslexia brain is evolving to become a mentor, encouraging me to move past this fear.  I’m instructed to write online, develop a small talk strategy, and write in front of people.  Each brave action makes it easier for the next action.

Even though small talk can be mentally draining, I am developing workarounds to manage the stress of retrieving the correct word.  Small talk is different than speaking at a conference or like my TEDx Talk.  As a professional speaker, I spent hours memorizing the presentation.

No Fear 

I decided to embrace my fear and became a board member of my son’s high school band organization.  Each week, I volunteer at football games and competitions.  I am most vulnerable when helping at these events.

I write down numbers, names, pronounce student names, and manage on-demand communication with moving variables.  Imagine participating in the Olympic Game of language processing.

The real test was this past weekend.  I was a band chaperone for an all day competition. My dyslexic brain rose to the demands and quickly created adoptions and shorts cuts to efficiently process information.  However, by late afternoon I experienced word retrieval problems, talked backwards, and collapsed sentences down to two or three words.

Instead of feeling embarrassed or frustrated, I kept going and if someone asked I said, “I’m dyslexic and am experiencing language misfires.”  I work each day to stop criticizing myself for these errors.  I know it’s impossible to stop the word “thingy” from happening.  I have learned it’s a message from my brain telling me it’s either overloaded or tired.

My message to dyslexic teens and young adults – Do not let your fear prevent you from doing what you love.

Be brave and work to develop strategies, tell people your dyslexic, and then share with them how they can help you process information.

I believe we only gain the results we seek.  When we are willing to face our fears, take action only then can we eliminate the fear.

To register for my newsletters click here to complete the form.  Or use the signup form at the bottom of the page.

Filed Under: Dyslexia

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