Letter From Mother of Dyslexic Child to Governor Hochul
By Azalia Volpe, Mom Advocate
Today I was told that Governor Hochul vetoed The Dyslexia Task Force.
This is extremely personal to me and has left me scratching my head as to why; why would something so simple be denied to our children?
My Story
I am a proud mother of two neurodiverse children. My daughter is a wonderful, beautiful 5th grader who has been diagnosed with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, ADHD, and ASD. It has been a hard-pressed battle to get my daughter the education that she so richly deserves; so, hard, in fact, that I held her back so she could attend Bridge Preparatory Charter School the only school for children with language-based disabilities in Staten Island.
Promising Legislation
So why would Governor Hochul not sign a bill to enable the Dyslexia Task Force? Is it because she fears educated citizens? Or parents who will then demand that their children be provided a free and appropriate education? Does she not want to have more readers in New York State?
Obviously, these are all rhetorical questions, but here is what I do know: 40% of currently incarcerated New Yorkers do NOT have a high school education. I do know that a person’s success in life is directly correlated with their ability to read and think critically.
While this may not mean anything to Governor Hochul, I will tell you what reading has done for me: As a Puerto Rican Woman it has allowed me to obtain a Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University, a Master’s of Arts from Montclair State University and Juris Doctor from City University of New York School of Law.
Path Out of Poverty
My accomplishments are incredible considering the fact that my father had a 3rd grade education. But my father knew that an education was the only way out of poverty. And this is why I’m perplexed that Governor Hochul would not sign a bill that would allow a Dyslexia Task Force to screen for dyslexia or other language based disabilities.
Why does she not want to assist the lifting of children out of poverty? Why not enable children to read and assist them out of the path of poverty? As I sit here writing I recognize that my daughter’s chances at success have been given a head start because she can read.
The simple act of reading is a critical step on the path to achieving any of our fullest potential.
While I am uncertain if there is a correlation between the ability to read and incarceration; the facts seem undeniable. And so my heart breaks for all of those little girls and boys whose lives may have been saved by this task force.
So I’m left asking: why? Governor Hochul, why not break cycle of poverty and illiteracy?