Every classroom in the city includes two or three students with a learning disability.
A pair of Sudburians have teamed up on a book to provide practical tools and strategies to help parents, educators and children manage the challenge of those who learn differently.
The self-published book’s English version is called “Different Ways to Learn, Endless Ways to Succeed” and the French version “Apprendre autrement, réussir pleinement.”
It was written by Alex-Andrée Madore, a clinical and school psychologist at Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon, and Michèle Minor-Corriveau, a speech-language pathologist and professor in Laurentian University’s School of Speech-Language Pathology.
The women first connected during the pandemic, when Madore was navigating at-home learning with her kids, and came across a literacy seminar by Minor-Corriveau, whose husband happened to be one of her coworkers.
The book was written for “students who face learning challenges, as well as for the adults who walk alongside them every day,” said Madore, adding that they’ve already received interest from local school boards.
Featuring illustrations by Josée Lavoie-Mutonkole, the book’s foreword was written by children’s author and illustrator Elise Gravel, who lives with ADHD.
“We found out that she doesn't typically do this kind of thing,” said Minor-Corriveau. Madore was able to make contact with the author after telling her a story about her daughter’s love for one of Gravel’s books, “Pink, Blue and You!”
The authors say their goal is to help people better understand learning disabilities such as dyslexia and dyscalculia, and debunk myths, a common one being that those with learning disabilities aren’t smart or are lazy, said Madore.
“It offers concrete, practical tools to help students build self-confidence, understand their rights and develop self-advocacy skills, because with the right strategies and support, students can truly unlock new levels of success,” she said.
“It shows how parents, educators and students can work together in a collaborative and respectful way, all united by the same objective of helping every learner feel valued, supported and able to thrive.”
Although written accessibly, the information in the book is “supported by years and years of research and evidence,” added Minor-Corriveau.
There are chapters in the book aimed at children, although young kids would probably need parents to read it with them.
Often when children get a diagnosis of a learning disability, families have a lot of questions. “The book allows them to take in that information in more manageable bites,” said Madore.
The book was originally written in French and then translated into English. “It's a bilingual community,” Madore said. “We both work in French, and we're both bilingual, and so are many families. And so we want to reach as many people as possible.”
Funding for the illustrations was made possible through a partnership between Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon, Consortium National de Formation en Santé – Volet Laurentienne and the Sudbury Charities Foundation.
A launch for the book takes place Jan. 22 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the South End branch of the Greater Sudbury Public Library, where copies will be available at a special launch price. The books can also be purchased through Amazon.
“We can't wait just to finally celebrate formally and with family and friends, and to get the word out to the wider public, especially in the English circles like the English school boards, so that they know that this resource is available,” said Madore.
Heidi Ulrichsen is Sudbury.com’s assistant editor. She also covers education and the arts scene.