“Mom, there are kids just like me.”
Those were the words my son said after his first day at a school that truly supported his dyslexia — and I’ll never forget them.
For the first time, he didn’t feel alone. And as a parent, neither did I.
Like so many families, I had been trying to understand why my child was struggling — navigating IEPs, asking questions and hoping the support in place was enough. It can feel overwhelming when you don’t know what is truly working.
Around that same time, I met another mom whose son was walking a similar path. Our boys connected — and so did we. That connection helped us through the uncertainty, the questions and the moments when we didn’t know what direction to take.
In our Atlantic County community, many families are navigating this quietly.
Dyslexia affects approximately one in five children. It impacts how the brain processes language, affecting reading, spelling and writing — even though these children are often working twice as hard to keep up.
What this journey taught us is that early identification matters — but what matters just as much is what comes next:
The right instruction. The right training. The right support.
When instruction focuses on building foundational skills, is delivered with proper training and uses meaningful data to guide progress, it can make a lasting difference — not just academically, but in a child’s confidence and ability to become an independent learner.
We saw firsthand how powerful that can be. And once you see what’s possible, it changes how you understand what children truly need.
Like many parents, we’ve invested time, energy and resources trying to help our children succeed. We are not special education experts — we are parents trying to do what’s best for our children.
And we know we are not alone.
There are so many children like ours — some identified early, many not — and too many families trying to figure this out on their own.
At the heart of it, we all want the same thing: Children who feel capable. Children who feel understood. Children who become confident, independent learners.
Together, we chose to mark this journey with a small, meaningful tattoo — a symbol of growth, resilience and how far our children have come.
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month — a reminder that many families are navigating this quietly.
Parent voices matter. When families share their experiences and stay engaged, it not only supports their own child — it helps bring awareness and can lead to meaningful change over time.
If you are walking a similar path, we encourage you to connect, share your story and be part of a community that understands. Because when we come together, we don’t only support our own children, we help create a path forward for others.
You are not alone — and there is a path forward.
Ashly Mulligan Atlantic County, NJ
#HenryAndChaseForDyslexia
