Bright Solutions for Dyslexia

The Truth About IEP

A child only qualifies for an IEP after the school conducts psycho-educational testing and determines they meet the eligibility requirements for special education. That IEP will outline how often the child will leave their general education classroom to work in the Resource Room, and it will include goals that the school will attempt to meet by year’s end.

But here’s the truth: what’s written in the IEP is only as helpful as the methods used to carry it out.

The goal is not just a compliant IEP.  It's meaningful progress—the kind you see in real growth, fewer tears, and a child who finally feels confident.

So, before you sign your child’s IEP, request more information on the critical questions every parent should ask during their next IEP meeting.

  Beyond the Labels

How an NFL Star Transformed His Childhood Struggles

into a Legacy of Mentorship

Denver Broncos offensive tackle Garett Bolles has been nominated—for the second time—for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, one of the league’s highest honors. This prestigious award recognizes an NFL player for excellence on the field and a deep commitment to philanthropy and community impact off the field. The winner will be announced live during the NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

To many, this nomination comes as no surprise. On the field, Bolles is known for his strength, precision, and leadership. Off the field, he is a powerful voice for children with learning disabilities like dyslexia, ADHD, and apraxia.

The Weight of a Label

Growing up, Bolles’ journey was defined by a struggle to fit into a traditional mold. Difficulty with reading and spelling led to relentless bullying. "Kids would make fun of me because I couldn’t read and didn’t know how to say certain words," Bolles recalls. Even more damaging, some teachers told him he wouldn’t accomplish much in life. The emotional weight of being called “dumb” and told that his brain was "broken" manifested as anger, frustration, and rebellion, leading to Bolles being expelled from five different schools.

The Turning Point

Everything changed when Bolles found a support system that looked past his test scores and behavioral issues. Through the mentorship of Greg and Emily Freeman, who took him in during a period of homelessness, Bolles learned to channel his energy. He discovered that while his brain worked differently, it wasn't "broken." By using football as a vehicle for discipline and finding ways to learn that worked for him, he thrived at Snow College and the University of Utah before becoming a first-round NFL draft pick in 2017.

Legacy of Mentorship

Today, through his GB3 Foundation, Bolles works to ensure children with similar struggles don’t give up or slip through the cracks. He focuses on mentoring young people who feel left behind by the school system, reminding them that their value is never measured by a letter grade.

To the students who feel defeated by schoolwork, Bolles offers a powerful reminder:

 “Your learning disability does not define your future.”

He is living proof that with hard work and the right support, you can reach the highest levels of success.

If you love someone with dyslexia, you’re not alone. Dyslexia affects about 1 in 5 people, which means millions of families are walking a similar path—learning, adapting, and supporting each other every day.

Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, tutor, or friend, your love matters more than you know. It fuels the patience needed on hard days and magnifies the joy found in every hard-won victory.

Music as an Emotional Refuge

Despite the obstacles he faced with reading music, Powter continued to pursue his passion for music and even enrolled in a music college after high school. However, his difficulties with musical notation led him to eventually drop out. Rather than abandoning his dreams, Powter adapted by relying less on sheet music and focusing on learning by ear, developing improvisational skills, and writing his own songs. 

This approach allowed him to reduce the “print load” while still nurturing his talent and creativity.

For students, Powter’s journey sends an important message: struggling with print or sheet music does not define intelligence or potential. For parents and educators, his story is a reminder to seek out access points that preserve confidence while academic skills are developed. These strategies might include audiobooks, text-to-speech tools, explicit structured literacy instruction, additional time for tasks, reduced copying demands, and, in music, options such as learning by ear, using recordings, enlarging notation, and breaking sight-reading into smaller steps. Powter has even described dyslexia as a “gift,” since it led him to create and experience music through listening, rather than relying on the barrier of sheet music

Barton Tiles App Update

Have You Been Logged Out of Your Barton Tiles App?