Trust Your Gut and Raise Your Voice | Missy Purcell

In this episode of The Reading Symphony Podcast...

Katie talks with Missy Purcell, literacy advocate, educator, and parent, about what families can do when their child is struggling with reading, but school assessments suggest everything is fine.

Together, they explore dyslexia, early screening, structured literacy, reading interventions, IEP meetings, and the challenges parents face when advocating for their children. They also discuss how to recognize signs of reading difficulties, navigate school resistance, and ensure struggling readers receive the evidence-based instruction and support they need.

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👤 About Missy Purcell

Missy Purcell is a literacy advocate, educator, and parent whose journey into dyslexia advocacy began when she fought to secure appropriate reading instruction and support for her dyslexic son. She is the co-founder of Gwinnett Advocates for Dyslexia and serves as Education Chair with Decoding Dyslexia Georgia. Through her advocacy work, Missy helps families understand dyslexia, navigate the special education system, and advocate for evidence-based reading instruction and appropriate educational support. Connect with Missy Purcell

🔗 Missy’s links:

Website: https://misspurcell.com/

Instagram: @misspurcelladvocates

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misspurcelladvocates/

X / Twitter: @MissyPurcell

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/missy-purcell-84061b143/

Chapters:

00:00 – Opening: “I Shouldn’t Be the Most Knowledgeable Person in the Room”

01:18 – Meet Missy Purcell: Dyslexia Advocate & Educator

03:10 – Fighting the School System to Get Her Son Help

09:40 – When Good Grades Hide Reading Struggles

15:20 – How Parents Can Spot Dyslexia Early and Push for Support

33:59 – What Effective Reading Intervention Looks Like

36:20 – Why Dyslexia Laws Need Real Accountability

43:50 – How Parents Can Advocate With School Boards

50:20 – Being Brave When Your Child Is Being Failed

01:03:00 – Helping Dyslexic Kids Decompress After School

#dyslexia #scienceofreading #structuredliteracy #strugglingreaders #parentadvocacy