Cheri Rae: Director of The Dyslexia Project

For more than a decade, Cheri Rae has focused on dyslexia, personally and professionally. As so many dyslexia advocates, she has a smart son with dyslexia who was identified with the confusing label of “Specific Learning Disability.” After years of frustration, confusion and lack of progress, she finally understood that his difficulties in school–and success outside of it–were due to dyslexia.

An award-winning newspaper columnist and magazine editor, Cheri Rae began intensive research about dyslexia, and worked with others to understand their stories, and the challenges faced by those with dyslexia. After an article she wrote about dyslexia for the Santa Barbara Independent, “When Reading Hurts,” was shared widely in the community and far beyond, parents began contacting her and requesting her help. Cheri took action and founded The Dyslexia Project to advocate for individuals with dyslexia. Her work includes presentations about dyslexia to schoolchildren, meeting one-on-one with parents, speaking to parent groups and utilizing her gift as a journalist to write articles and editorials to spread the word about the need to improve educational opportunities for students with dyslexia.

She works with the philanthropic community to raise awareness, and help move into action. Her work was initially funded by The Kirby Jones Foundation, with the Santa Barbara Education Foundation serving as a fiscal sponsor. During that time, Cheri served as a dyslexia consultant for the Santa Barbara Unified School District, and managed to serve as a liaison between the district and parents who needed guidance.

Cheri has helped organize monthly “Dyslexia Dialogues” outreach for the community in the district office as well as community libraries; provided teacher trainings, and spearheaded the development and creation of the district’s Parent Resource Center, where parents could receive information to help them understand dyslexia and be inspired to advocate for their children. She also organized and promoted the annual “Distinguished Dyslexics” series, bringing noted individuals with dyslexia to make presentations to the Santa Barbara community.

Cheri is the author of DyslexiaLand: A Field Guide for Parents of Children with Dyslexia, a comprehensive resource for navigating the unknown territory parents encounter when advocating for their dyslexic children.   She frequently meets with other parents to provide resources and support as they network and support each other. She supported successful efforts to pass AB 1369, California’s dyslexia bill, which was co-sponsored by local Assembly Member Das Williams, and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in October, 2015.

Cheri Rae has been honored for her work on behalf of those with dyslexia, as a “Local Hero” by the Santa Barbara Independent and as a recipient of a resolution from the State Assembly. She also creates visually impactful assemblage art about dyslexia as a way to communicate its characteristics in a colorful and memorable way.

Now that The Dyslexia Project is a 501-c-3 nonprofit organization, she serves as the director and continues to work on behalf of students and community members with dyslexia and their families.