Sandra Ding L&S Social Sciences
Developing and Evaluating a Bilingual Dyslexia Psychoeducation Model
Bilingual children often face a hidden crisis in our education system: when they struggle to read, it is hard to tell if they are simply learning a new language or if they have a learning disability like dyslexia. For Chinese American students, this confusion often leads to a wait-to-fail approach, where genuine reading struggles are dismissed as temporary language barriers or misidentified as behavioral issues. This delays critical early intervention and causes deep academic and emotional distress for children. My SURF project addresses this gap by developing an evidence-based Bilingual Dyslexia Toolkit. Working directly with Chinese American families and early childhood educators, I first conduct edfocus groups to understand the lived experiences and systemic barriers these communities face. Using these insights, I will design targeted educational modules for both parents and teachers. By equipping this community with a shared, destigmatized understanding of reading development, my research aims to bridge the cultural divide between immigrant families and special education, creating a collaborative safety net where bilingual learners can reach their full potential.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you so much for your generous support of my research this summer through the SURF program. Your funding allows me to conduct the community-based work necessary to ensure students from immigrant families receive the early support they need to thrive, and thus I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to dedicate my summer to such meaningful research.