Alicia worked hard early in life to hide her dyslexia. Although she quickly took to computers that could disguise her challenges, her secret was discovered in high school after submitting her first essay exam. Fortunately, a caring teacher arranged for her to be tested, and she was allowed to write future exams on a computer, an accommodation that was not common then. Uncertain how she would manage post-secondary without this accommodation, Alicia enrolled at the University of King’s College in Halifax, where first-year students take oral debate-style exams. With written exams on the horizon for the second year, Alicia left university to pursue her passion for cooking. After training at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, Alicia spent seven years as a chef aboard luxury yachts. In 2004, after settling down with her husband in a small town near Georgian Bay, she returned to school to study web development and computer science. After her first child was identified as dyslexic, Alicia became passionate about supporting him and changing public perception. She knew doing this would require her to do something she had hidden from her entire life. She actively started speaking openly about her own challenges to stand with her son and others facing similar experiences.

Alicia is a collaborative, strategic and passionate advocate for dyslexia, most recently serving as the International Dyslexia Association – Ontario Branch’s President. In this role, Alicia led IDA Ontario in a great period of growth. With the support of our board members and volunteers, Alicia helped to create the Literacy Alliance, worked closely with the Ministry of Education, provided guidance to the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read Inquiry, released ‘Lifting the Curtain on EQAO Scores’, and organized a multitude of webinars and workshops, including the Literacy Leaders Series, among many others.

Dyslexia Canada was formed in 2016 to ensure that there was a national voice and forum to advocate for all Canadian children with dyslexia. By partnering with professional organizations, experts and advocates, Dyslexia Canada strives to drive systemic change by engaging and educating the public and establishing legislation specific to recognizing and remediating dyslexia.

www.dyslexiacanada.org