Episode 4: In Conversation with Isha Bapat

Inclusion with Mansi

Celebrating October as Dyslexia Awareness Month. This week you will hear a different story, every alternate day from individuals with SLD.

Episode 4: In Conversation with Isha Bapat

Isha has been my student at The Orchid School and now is currently studying in NID Ahmedabad. Isha has always been a very creative person and has designed the logo for this podcast and I am so proud of her.

Isha discusses her struggles with academics, how having a supportive mother has helped her a lot and how her creativity was encouraged which helped her shine!

You are more than just your grades. Changing schools to a more accepting environment had a positive impact. Getting concessions is not an advantage but just leveling the playing field.

After the initial struggle with acceptance, understanding more about the diagnosis was helpful. Remediation helped improve spelling to a great extent. Intelligence doesn’t always reflect in your grades. It also reflects in drumming, art and conversational skills.

Tips for students: Treat this as your superpower. Tell yourself that I am not like everyone else and that is my strength. You are not like others and that is not a downside.

Tips for Parents/Teachers: Give us time. Accept our difficulties. Treat it as something natural, that happens and is not bad. Teach in a manner that suits us. Use songs and music to teach concepts.

Each school/college will look at Dyslexia differently. It is important to find the right match. Concessions continue in college, not just in school. You need to educate those who are not aware. Using speech to text and spell check makes things easier.