Krista's Big Day

For Anna
Originally uploaded by Krista 1366.

Yesterday I was on my way to buy foccacia for an apperitivo at our house with Silvia and Ian Lewis and I bumped into Maria Carmela Valente, Anna's logopedista (speech therapist). She was on her way home from the printers with this flyer. Quick translation for my non Italian speaking audience, it is an invitation for the Italian Dyslexia Association Conference being held in Chiavari on October 8th. The reason it is such a big deal for me? My name is inside! I have been invited to be on a panel with the president of the Genoa chapter of AID. The both of us are parents of children with dyslexia and we have been asked to give a small speech answer questions about this journey we have been on with our children. The title of the the discussion, "Dislessia: un ponte tra L'Italia e America, "Dyslexia: - a Bridge between Italy and America.

At this conference, there will be all sorts of education professionals, psychiatrists, including another American, Pam Kvileval, who has a special education center in Rome, and of course parents. Pamela has written many books and developed a reading method that has been very successful here in Italy, and I might add it has been used with great success with Anna. She and Carmela will conduct separate panels as well. Also Dott. Federica Rossi, who originally helped us getting Anna on the right road to reading with be there too, in addition to many other prominent people in the special education field.

Anna, when she saw the flyer (and I also have the poster that will be plastered all over Liguria), gave me a look and smiled as if she was saying, "Oh no, here goes my mom again". And she is probably right. I think I have become a bit passionate about the topic. But how could I not be. I do it for the light of my life, my daughter, Anna, and if I can help anyone else.....all the better. No one should suffer just because they need to learn to read in a different way.

If you are interested in learning what dyslexia is all about. Click here if you read Italian, click here if you read English.

All in all the day should be quite interesting and hopefully my Italian will be in top form. I will be sure to take lots of pictures and blog all about it.

Wish me luck!