87: Part 1 Dyslexia, Dysgraphia & Dyscalculia Explained (The 3 Dys) | Dr Shae Wissell & Michael Shanahan from Dyscastia

In this episode of Dr Shae and the Dear Dyslexic Podcast, our host Shae,welcomes Michael from the podcast Dyscastia to discuss dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, and why there aren’t enough conversations about these learning difficulties. Michael explains his view on labels, using “disability” for official funding and support contexts and preferring “difficulty” personally, while questioning the term “difference.” He shares his work as an intervention tutor supporting children with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and related neurodivergence such as ADHD and autism, and describes the morphology-focused “word cracking” software and the Literacy Support Kit he developed with Sally Andrew to better support students for whom some programs move too quickly. Michael also recounts his varied career path, his late identification through his children’s diagnoses, and his lived experience of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dysgraphia. 00:00 Podcast Mission 00:36 Meet Michael 01:34 Labels Disability Or Difficulty 03:08 Tutoring And Tools 06:00 From Teaching To Tutoring 06:55 Family Diagnoses Spark Journey 08:28 Career Path And Wrap Up 09:00 Resources And Support Lines