I chose to work in the field of SpLD because I wanted to make a difference. As cliché as it may sound, that is exactly what inspired me as a young child. I remember reading heartfelt stories in Reader’s Digest about children with learning difficulties, mental handicaps, and other challenges, and I often envisioned myself doing that same kind of meaningful work. By the time I was in my early teens, I knew this was my path. Despite my parents’ disapproval, I pursued a degree in Special Education, and my journey began.

My entry into international school education as I see it now was fated. It opened the doors to a broader perspective on learning differences and educational approaches. But it was my work with children with dyslexia that became the most defining part of my professional journey. Although I was a trained Special Education teacher, I felt ill-equipped to meet their specific needs in those early days. But my passion and my tenacious drive to support my students pushed me to seek out every book on dyslexia I could find, long before the days of the internet. I read voraciously, applied what I learned, and year after year, I watched my students thrive. That experience ignited a deep conviction that this was truly my purpose. Over the years, I continued to grow and hone my skills while remaining a lifelong student.

It took me more than decade of working across premier international schools in Asia and the Middle East as a learning support specialist teacher to clearly see the broken systems that were meant to support learners with dyslexia. What I witnessed was heartbreaking; well-intentioned structures that consistently fell short of meeting students’ real literacy needs. That insight reignited my passion and compelled me to examine current practices more critically, including my own. I became determined to seek out the most effective, evidence-based approaches, so I could rededicate my life to this work with renewed purpose and integrity. I committed myself to learning everything I could about how to teach reading in a way that works for the brain and specializing in the most current, research-aligned structured literacy approaches.

It is this ongoing learning that fuels me most, to see the transformation that happens when a child moves from self-doubt and failure to confidence and success. It reaffirms why I do this work. It is not just about teaching literacy. It is about breaking barriers and transforming lives. It’s about making a difference in one child’s life trajectory at a time.

It never fails to make me smile when a student suddenly gets it, that spark of recognition in their eyes when a word finally clicks, or when they read a word or sentence smoothly for the first time. It is that moment when their whole body lights up with pride and they realize, “I can do this!” No matter how many times I witness it, that breakthrough moment never gets old. It reminds me why I do what I do.

I was motivated to join RETA because I wanted to be part of a professional community that values evidence-based practices and stays grounded in current research. As someone who has worked in this field for decades, I know how critical it is to keep learning and evolving. RETA gives me access to research and resources provided by professionals who are deeply committed to improving outcomes for students with specific learning difficulties. Being a RETA member has expanded my professional knowledge, kept me connected to current developments in literacy and intervention, and given me a platform to grow. It’s a learning space that has been incredibly valuable.

My advice is this: never let a label define your limits if you’re the learner. A diagnosis can give clarity, but it should never become a ceiling. Every person learns differently, and with the right support, patience, and belief, meaningful progress is possible.

For those living or working with individuals with special educational needs, I would say: see the person first, not the difficulty. Focus on the strengths. Celebrate small wins. Be consistent, be kind, and don’t underestimate how far encouragement and high expectations can go. Growth may not always look the same as it does for others but it’s growth all the same, and it is worth every step.