Dyslexia Conference with Deon Butler

Carlow University’s College of Education and Social Work Presents a Special Fall Conference on Dyslexia.

Wednesday, October 30th from 9:00am-3:30pm

Keynote Speaker #1 Deon Butler: From Field to Fluency: An NFL Athlete’s Story of Overcoming DyslexiaDyslexiaDeon Butler, former NFL player for the Detroit Lions, will share his personal journey with dyslexia from struggling to read, leaving the NFL, and finding his voice as an advocate. Deon is the author of The Gift & Curse: One Man’s Journey with Dyslexia. All participants will receive a copy of his book.

Keynote Speaker #2Dr. Amanda McCaleb: Rewriting the Narrative: Reframing Dyslexia Support Through a Mindset of Collective Responsibility

Too often, the burden of dyslexia is placed solely on the shoulders of the student. But what if it’s our systems that are truly at risk?

In this keynote, Dr. Amanda McCaleb invites educators to rethink what it really means to support students with dyslexia and those at risk for it. Blending the latest research with lived experience from classrooms, coaching, and leadership, she challenges us to look beyond programs and labels—and examine how systems, not students, often determine outcomes. Dr. McCaleb shares what it takes to create schools where equitable access to literacy isn't just a hope—it’s the standard.

You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of how every educator can be a literacy advocate—and how lasting change begins when we confront the uncomfortable truth: we’ve seen the gaps, we’ve seen the students falling through them, and the systems aren’t changing fast enough.

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Special Panel Discussion – Supporting Students with Dyslexia in School: Moderated by Dr. Pam Kastner

Additional Breakout Sessions:

Spelling Analysis/Structured Literacy for ESL/Maximizing the Literacy Block: Five Guiding Principles from Research/Assessment and Testing for Dyslexia/MTSS/Literacy in Secondary/Sound Walls and Multi-Sensory Strategies/Effective Practices with Tiered Groups/Developmental Language Disorders/Collaborative Classroom: Writing Instruction/ Assistive Technology

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Special Pre-Conference Workshop

Val Piccini Instructor

Pre-Conference: Wednesday October 29th

12:30pm- 4 p.m. Pre-Conference Workshop Session

Unpacking Evidence-Aligned Writing Instruction: How to Integrate Writing to Support Reading Comprehension Across All Disciplines

Writing is a powerful tool for deepening student understanding. In this immersive workshop, we will unpack evidence-aligned writing practices that strengthen learning across all subject areas and grade levels. Participants will explore the essential components of skilled written expression, from foundational to compositional skills, and discover practical strategies for integrating writing into daily instruction. These strategies will not only improve students’ writing but also enhance their reading comprehension and content learning. You’ll leave with actionable steps to position writing as a catalyst for student thinking, learning, and meaningful engagement in your classroom.

Host or Publisher Carlow University Education Department