Emily Kalah Gade Although her severe dyslexia makes words look like “broken lines and black squiggles,” Emily Kalah Gade says she “decided a long time ago that I would prove to the world that I could do anything anyone asked of me.”

A National Merit Scholarship Program finalist, Emily graduated seventh in a class of 331 from Denver’s East High School. In June 2000, she joined 15 other students on a three-week tour of Russia, Mongolia and China; and, two months later, headed to Canada’s Bay of Fundy to study marine biology. Additional educational tours have taken her to Bermuda and Venice. Outside of school, she enjoys mountain climbing, river rafting, scuba diving, music, photography and poetry.

As a student at the University of Colorado, Emily’s goals are to “travel as much as possible and fill my head until it overflows with knowledge.” She contemplates becoming a marine biologist, physician or member of the Peace Corps. She states that recorded books were the “single most important factor” in her success, “…giving me a measure of independence I’d never experienced before.” She still cringes when she recalls others laughing at her mistakes in class.

“I know the stigma around a special education student is nothing in comparison to the prejudice against sexual, racial or religious minorities,” she explains. “But it is real.”

Taegan McMahon When Taegan McMahon was a child, surgery to remove a large birthmark resulted in a scar that spanned her forehead. Children teased her about the scar, as well as her dyslexia, which caused her to fumble over words as she read. Instead of seeing herself as a victim, Taegan boldly used the situation to become an educator. She counseled patients undergoing the same surgery and lectured to classes about the challenges of dyslexia. “I choose to take an active role in helping the people around me — and that has made a difference in their lives and mine,” she says.

RFB&D has helped Taegan to balance a strong academic life with a busy social one. In high school, she was the co-founder and president of the fencing club, ranking as the 37th female in the state. She was involved with theater, dance and sailing, as well as agricultural science projects. She lectured in local schools about poison dart frogs. Additional activities included volunteering for Alliance for Living, an inner city AIDS clinic; working with a young boy with autism; rock climbing; mountain biking; backpacking; designing clothing and mountaineering. Realizing a “lifelong goal,” Taegan recently reached the summit of 19,344 foot-high Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.

Taegan also earned many academic awards and recognitions in high school, graduating 15th in her class of 230. She is now studying at Bates College, and hopes to become a rainforest conservationist. She says, “My advice to other students with learning disabilities is to stand tall because, if you are proud of yourself, then others will understand.”

Justin Sirico Stroup When Justin Sirico Stroup was in third grade, he says he was “completely frustrated and terribly angry.” He felt separated from his peers due to his dyslexia, which caused him to be sent to a resource room outside of class for hours each day. Encouraged to try RFB&D’s recorded books, Justin soon realized that they were of tremendous help in school, allowing him to finally be on the same level with his peers. “RFB&D transformed my life,” says Justin. “It is a necessity, a friend, and provides me with worlds in which to escape and learn.”

Justin graduated from Amity Regional High School with a 3.74 GPA and numerous academic awards. He served as the yearbook editor, a member of student council and choral groups, and became a second degree black belt in karate. A church youth leader, Justin is also certified in wilderness training and mountaineering. “Years of karate and wilderness training have helped me to reach an inner peace in the face of my learning disabilities,” he says.

Justin has also learned to be an advocate, providing testimony before the Connecticut State Legislature in support of additional funding for RFB&D and making presentations at our Connecticut Unit and the Connecticut Association for Children with Learning Disabilities. He now attends Lehigh University, where he is studying environmental science and geology.