HBIDA Celebrates a Meaningful Fall Symposium at The Briarwood School

The Houston Branch International Dyslexia Association (HBIDA) welcomed another exciting school year with its annual Fall Symposium on Saturday, September 26, 2026. This year, The Briarwood School graciously hosted the event, bringing together educators, specialists, and advocates for a day filled with learning, connection, and a shared passion for helping students with dyslexia and other learning differences succeed.

It was especially meaningful to have The Briarwood School welcome everyone for this year's symposium. Bringing people together who care so deeply about students and their success is a reminder of how much can be accomplished when a community works toward the same goal. Throughout the day, attendees had the opportunity to learn from three wonderful keynote speakers and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges students can experience both inside and outside the classroom.

The day began with Dr. Kimberly Harrison, who presented “The Emotional Landscape of Dyslexia: What Children Experience Beyond the Page.” Her presentation was a powerful reminder that dyslexia is about so much more than reading. It can affect a child's confidence, emotions, and the way they see themselves. One of the statements that was so moving that she shared was, “Nobody understands. I'm not like anyone else.” These words capture feelings that many children may struggle to explain and remind us how important it is for them to feel understood and supported.

Dr. Harrison encouraged attendees to use positive reinforcement, make progress visible, and think carefully about the words they use with struggling learners. Telling a child, “This will be easy,” may seem encouraging, but it can actually be hurtful when the child finds the task difficult. She reminded everyone of the importance of preventing “difficulty becoming identity” so that students do not think their struggles define who they are.

Another message that stood out was her reminder that “Behavior is communication.” Instead of immediately reacting to a child's behavior, she encouraged adults to stop and ask, “What is this behavior telling me?” Her message was that our job is to become translators, not reactors, and to try to understand what a child may be communicating. She also shared the reassuring words, “We are pausing, not abandoning it,” reminding attendees that taking a break or needing more time does not mean giving up. One strategy that particularly resonated with the audience was the Circle Palm technique, which she described as a way to help “unstick what has become stuck.” Her presentation left attendees with an important reminder: children need more than help with reading. They need adults who believe in them, understand them, and help them see what they are capable of achieving.

Following this moving presentation, Dr. Jessica Toste took the stage to share “Word Connections Intervention to Support Word-Level Reading Skills for Students in the Intermediate Grades.” Her presentation focused on helping students develop stronger word-level reading skills, especially when working with long and complex multisyllabic words. She demonstrated how breaking words into smaller, more manageable parts can make them less intimidating and help students understand how words are connected.

One of the key takeaways from Dr. Toste's presentation was the importance of building students' confidence when learning big words. What may look overwhelming at first can become much more manageable when students have the right tools and strategies. Her presentation offered practical ways educators can help students approach unfamiliar words with greater confidence, reminding us that sometimes a small step forward can make a big difference in how a student feels about learning.

During lunch, HBIDA presented the 2026 Nancy Lafevers Service Award to Judith D. Arceneaux, M.A., CCC-SLP, for all the time and work she has given to HBIDA over the years.

Judith was very humble when she found out she was receiving the award. At first, she didn’t feel like the work she had done, which included applying for CEUs for speech-language pathologists, was enough compared to past award recipients. But after prayerful thought and reflection, she realized that being consistent and always being willing to help is important too.

In her speech, Judith talked about how she never really thought of consistency as a gift. She reminded everyone that not all important work happens in the spotlight. Sometimes, the people who help behind the scenes make a big difference without even realizing it. Judith has continued to show up for HBIDA and help whenever she is needed, and we are so grateful for that.

One of the most meaningful things she shared was that her work in this field became more than just a job. She said, “Seriously, this field is a ministry.” Her speech was a great reminder of how much dedication and heart goes into helping others. We are so happy Judith was recognized for everything she has done for HBIDA and the Houston community.

The final keynote speaker, Dr. Tiffany Hogan, presented “Dyslexia's Quiet Companion: Developmental Language Disorder.” Her presentation explored the connection between dyslexia and developmental language disorder (DLD), with a focus on listening comprehension and the ways language difficulties can affect a student's everyday school experience.

Dr. Hogan explained that students with DLD may struggle with understanding multistep directions, following classroom discussions, or expressing their thoughts in complete sentences. Some students may seem quiet or shy, and their difficulties can easily go unnoticed. Her presentation reminded attendees that a student who appears to be struggling or disengaged may actually be working hard to understand what is being said around them. Recognizing these signs can make a meaningful difference in helping students receive the support they need.

She also discussed neurodiversity, the idea that people have different ways of thinking, learning, and processing information. Her presentation highlighted the importance of understanding these differences rather than expecting every student to learn in exactly the same way. She also shared the history of the term developmental language disorder and the efforts to establish a common name that professionals could use to improve awareness, communication, and support.

Another important takeaway was the connection between dyslexia and DLD. Although they are different conditions, they can occur together, making it important to recognize a student's language needs alongside their reading difficulties. Dr. Hogan's presentation also highlighted Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day, observed on October 16, with purple and yellow representing the awareness campaign. Her message reinforced the importance of looking beyond what we see on the surface and remembering that language is a part of almost everything students do in school.

We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to this year's exhibitors: Gateway Academy, Reading by Design, Launch into Learning, Fusion Academy, Neuhaus Education Center, The Parish School, Wilson Language Training, The Briarwood School, and K Scholastic Inc. Tutoring Services. Their participation helped make the symposium a wonderful opportunity for attendees to connect, discover valuable resources, and learn more about the organizations working to support students and families.

In summary, this year's fall symposium was a reminder that supporting students with dyslexia and related learning differences means seeing the whole child. It means understanding the emotions behind the struggles, giving students the tools and confidence to work through challenging words, and recognizing language difficulties that might otherwise go unnoticed. Most importantly, it means remembering that every student deserves to feel understood, supported, and capable of learning.

We are incredibly grateful to The Briarwood School for hosting this year's event, to our three keynote speakers for sharing their knowledge and passion, to Judith D. Arceneaux for her continued dedication to HBIDA, and to all of our exhibitors and attendees who made the day so special. It is through this kind of collaboration and shared commitment that we continue working toward a world where every learner has the opportunity to thrive.