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Miami student is the face of overcoming dyslexia

Jessica Byington is using her experiences to help develop a program that turns text into audio.

$Miami University student Jessica Byington, 17, is working with inventor Ray Kurzweil to design software for struggling readers. Jessica struggled with dyslexia at a young age, but has excelled in her studies with a 4.0 GPA, and in 2009 was crowned Miss Teen International. She \uFEFFreceived the Remy Johnston Student of the Year Award in November. Staff photo by Nick Daggy$

Staff photo by Nick Daggy Miami University student Jessica Byington, 17, is working with inventor Ray Kurzweil to design software for struggling readers. Jessica struggled with dyslexia at a young age, but has excelled in her studies with a 4.0 GPA, and in 2009 was crowned Miss Teen International. She \uFEFFreceived the Remy Johnston Student of the Year Award in November. Staff photo by Nick Daggy

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By Meagan Engle, Staff Writer 10:18 AM Thursday, January 7, 2010

OXFORD — Jessica Byington remembers crying as a young girl when it was time to read.

The words on the pages, just meaningless symbols to her, were impossible to read. And the harder she tried, the harder it was.

Byington was diagnosed in first-grade with dyslexia, a language-based learning disability.

Today, Byington is a confident 17-year-old and the face of the International Dyslexia Association.

“So many people just don’t understand it,” Byington said, emphasizing that dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence.

“It’s something that always impacts you,” she said.

The Miami University student recently was honored with the national 2009 Remy Johnson Student of the Year Award from the IDA.

The award is given every year to a student who is a good role model and who refused to be hindered by dyslexia.

Byington was nominated for the award by her childhood tutor, who used a multi-sensory approach to reading by tracing letters in sand and using pictures and photos.

By fourth-grade, Byington was reading at a 12th-grade level.

“It was a lot of tutoring and it was a lot of hard work, but it was possible,” the 2009 Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy graduate said.

“Reading is always difficult,” she said. “You’re always so focused on what’s in front of you, the word, that you miss the meaning of the complete sentence.”

As spokeswoman for the International Dyslexia Association, Byington is active in pushing for new laws to require early screening of students and special training for teachers. She meets with students and is working on her own children’s book.

Byington currently is in Boston, studying and working for a company developing a program that converts text into audio, which Byington first saw a blind student using when she was a school for a self-esteem workshop.

“The first time that I saw it, I immediately thought this would be useful for the dyslexic community,” she said.

She contacted the inventor with her suggestions and he offered her an internship for the summer and then a full-time job.

Now, she feels fortunate to have key input to help others who are struggling and spread technology, which has helped her so much.

“For so many years, I didn’t have that. I relied on tutors and Mom reading aloud,” she said. “It gave me independence and I want to get it out there.”

Byington even has the program on her cell phone, easily and discreetly using it when needed.

Byington’s mother Dawn Dixon said watching her daughter work through dyslexia and inspire young people has made her so proud.

“To see her go from being so young and struggling to not only accomplishing so much, but to see her really out and helping others,” she said.

“We’re just extremely proud of her and it was worth every bump in the road,” she said. “Because not only has it changed her life, but it’s changed other people’s lives, as well.”

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