Issue 31: The Dystinct Journey of Aria

There is plenty to keep Aria busy. Between AFL, BMX racing, camping and fishing, she loves spending time outdoors and tackling new challenges. She also has a naturally curious mind and enjoys solving problems. For a long time, though, school was one challenge that felt much harder to overcome.

During COVID and extended periods of home schooling, her family noticed that although she appeared to be reading books, she was often remembering the words rather than decoding them. Once she returned to school, anything that felt difficult could quickly become overwhelming. She would shut down, become frustrated and speak negatively about herself. Anxiety made attending school increasingly difficult, and there were times when she refused to go altogether.

Her mum, Kath, says DyslexAbility has helped transform Aria's confidence as well as her reading and spelling. "They have broken down her walls and filled her with confidence," Kath says. Aria now walks into the centre independently, after once needing her mum to wait at the door with it left open. Her reading has improved from 20 to 124 words per minute with 98% accuracy, and she no longer tells herself she is "dumb." She rides to school by herself, enjoys spending time with friends, and is embracing opportunities that once felt out of reach.

Meet Aria

What do you enjoy doing when you're not at school?
Play Footy, games & sports.

What do you love most about football, BMX riding, camping and fishing?
Always doing something.

What are you most proud of?
My learning.

How did you feel when you first started at DyslexAbility?
Nervous.

How do you feel when you go to DyslexAbility now?
Excited.

What's something you can do now that felt really difficult a few years ago?
Reading.

What do you enjoy most about reading now?
Learning new words.

What is something people might not know about you?
When you first meet me, I'm shy. Then I'm crazy.

What do you wish teachers understood about students who learn differently?
That everyone learns differently.

What advice would you give another child who is finding school difficult?
Try your best.

What are your dreams for the future?
To have a good life & be good at a job.

What do you love most about yourself?
That I'm myself and don't try to be someone else.

Meet Kath

What were some of the earliest signs that Aria was finding learning more difficult than her peers?
That she would shut down & not try.

How did Aria's struggles affect her confidence and feelings about school?
She hated school, wouldn't sleep, always said she had a tummy ache, and struggled to go into class.

What are some of Aria's strengths or qualities that people might not immediately see?
She is funny, quick-witted, very logical & kind.

You mentioned that if something was hard, Aria would shut down and become frustrated. What did that look like for your family day-to-day?
A lot of frustration from all of us, as it was hard to see why she couldn't just move on & try again. There was a lot of adjusting and learning for all of us.