Barrett Newkirk

The Desert Sun

At least 5 percent of people are believed to be dyslexic.

The Dyslexia Foundation is hosting a conference for educators Feb. 26 in Palm Desert.

Actress Joyce Bulifant was in her 40s when, through her son's school principal, she figured out that dyslexia was the reason she'd always had trouble reading, spelling and doing multiplication.

"I went for many years thinking I was stupid. I just didn't get things that other people got," said Bulifant in the distinctive dainty voice that helped her land parts on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," Airplane! and several game shows.

As a child, her school's drama program became her safe haven. She credits acting with helping her solve the puzzle of reading when she was a teenager. Giving the words action and emotion allowed her to turn them into something her brain could understand.

"They say that the multi-scenery approach of teaching dyslexics to read is the best way to do it. See it, say it, do it, become it."

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Bulifant knows now that she wasn't stupid, but that she needed acting's basic principles of imitation and interpretation to prove that to herself.

Now 78 and living in Rancho Mirage, she hopes other dyslexic young people can find help through the arts. She's a strong supporter of the after-school arts program "Tools for Tomorrow" and recently visited Bubbling Wells Elementary in Desert Hot Springs to help her son John Asher film a video promoting the program. Asher, a director, actor and writer, is also dyslexic.

"In schools now they give a little bit of art in a classroom, but they don't really have the time to delve and immerse the student into music and art and dance and writing," Bulifant said.

Bulifant also sits on the board of trustees for the national Dyslexia Foundation and is helping organize an all-day conference Feb. 26 at Cal State San Bernardino's Palm Desert campus focused on dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and literacy issues.

Dyslexia is one of the most common language-based learning disabilities. Somewhere between 5 percent and 10 percent of people are believed to be dyslexic, and it is believed to be involved in as many as 80 percent of cases where people have difficulty reading, according to the University of Michigan.

The upcoming conference is meant to give teachers, parents and anyone else who may work with dyslexic students an opportunity to hear about the latest techniques for helping dyslexic students succeed.

Carol McDonald Connor, a professor at the UC Irvine School of Education and one of the conference speakers, said brain-scanning technology has recently led to a better understanding about what makes a dyslexic brain so different.

Part of Connor's work is helping teachers understand exactly how much extra attention dyslexic students need to grasp new skills. This is becoming increasingly important in states like California where students with dyslexia and other disabilities are more often being taught in general education classrooms.

"In the general education classroom, it's hard for teachers to do one-on-one," Connor said. "But we've found that small groups of three or four work fine too."

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Nationwide, Connor said, the US doesn't do a great job of preparing students to read, especially in poorer communities, so dyslexic students are put at an even greater disadvantage.

"There's some old myths like they reverse letters," she said. "That's not a sign. All kids reverse letters."

Common signs that a student might be dyslexic include difficulty spelling or sounding out words.

And like Bulifant, many dyslexics overcome their condition to reach success. Famed dyslexics have included Thomas Edison, Pablo Picasso, Agatha Christie and Cher.

"It's important to point out that dyslexia is very specific to reading," Connor said. "Frequently there's strong talents in other areas."

Health and wellness reporter Barrett Newkirk can be reached at (760)778-4767, barrett.newkirk@desertsun.com or on Twitter @barrettnewkirk.

Literacy, Dyslexia and ADHD

To register for The Dyslexia Foundation's Feb. 26 conference at CSUSB Palm Desert, visit www.yesread.org.

For more information, email dyslexiafoundation@gmail.com

Registration with lunch is $25 for parents or $75 for Coachella Valley educators. Otherwise it's $125. The registration deadline is Feb. 19.