How one San Quentin teacher helps residents combat the learning disability

There is a strong link between illiteracy, learning disabilities, and the justice system, which some call a prison pipeline for the learning disabled.

Some studies reveal 47-48% of incarcerated people have dyslexia, compared to 20% in the general population, according to Person Assessments and Dyslexia Resource Center. 

“A lot of people go their whole lives struggling to read and never reach out for help,” said Frances Santiago, Learning Specialist at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center’s Mount Tamalpais College.

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that makes it difficult to read because of how the brain relates to letters and words (decoding). Also called a reading disability, dyslexia is not due to problems with intelligence, vision, or hearing; it is linked to how the brain processes language.

There is no cure, but most people with dyslexia can excel at learning with specialized education programs, tutoring, and emotional support, noted the website mayoclinic.org

According to Wikipedia, one-in-five people have some form of dyslexia, including some of the brightest and most successful people in the world.

Steven Spielberg, Erin Brockovich, Gavin Newsom, Vince McMahon, Whoopi Goldberg, Tim Tebow, Steve Jobs, Henry Winkler, and countless others with dyslexia climbed to the top of their vocational fields.

Dyslexia is three to four times more common in prison than in the general population, according to the National Institutes of Health. In addition, up to 70% of incarcerated people have some form of literacy or numeracy deficits and are “functionally illiterate.”

Illiteracy has become an epidemic, and learning disabilities can lead to school failure, behavioral problems, and ultimately, incarceration.

“A strong link exists between dyslexia, illiteracy, and recidivism, making early identification and intervention crucial for rehabilitation,” reported the Person Assessments.

Many incarcerated individuals with dyslexia often lack proper diagnosis and support in school, contributing to their challenges. However, it is never too late to seek help.

For more than four years, educator Santiago has helped support MTC students who have difficulty with literacy. She implements individual strategies and treatments to manage their specific challenges.

Dyslexia treatments include specialized reading instruction that teaches the structure of language, linking sound to letters.

Santiago said that one-on-one tutoring sessions along with reading programs that focus on phonic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension, offer the best outcomes for managing symptoms.

The NIH states that if left untreated, dyslexia may lead to behavioral problems, low self-esteem, aggression, anxiety, and withdrawal from family, friends, and teachers.

Furthermore, people with dyslexia are at an increased risk of having difficulty maintaining attention.

The inability to read and comprehend can impact people negatively and prevent them from reaching their full social, educational, and economic potential.

According to Santiago, some people with learning disorders have associated anxiety or emotional challenges that stem from childhood trauma.

“We really think about the whole student at MTC,” Santiago said. “I think it’s cool that we get to beat the cycle that school is scary, and show that it’s a safe place where thoughts and opinions matter.”

Santiago said cognitive behavioral therapy and supportive counseling help to build peoples’ self-esteem, social skills, and confidence, which correlates into positive learning outcomes.

Home strategies to combat dyslexia include reading out loud daily, playing rhyming games, and pointing out words in daily life to build literacy skills.

As an educator, Santiago finds gratification helping those with dyslexia thrive by providing the treatments they need to excel in learning.

“Many people feel awkward or embarrassed of their condition, or are unaware they have a reading disorder,” Santiago said. “It’s very rewarding when I help someone gain self-confidence in their ability to learn.”

Incarcerated persons experiencing symptoms of dyslexia can see their facility counselor or Education Department facilitator to schedule literacy testing for assessment.

Dyslexia signs in adults are a lot like those in children and symptoms include:

• Difficulty reading, including reading aloud
• Slow and labor-intensive reading and writing
• Problems spelling
• Avoiding activities that involve reading and writing
• Mispronouncing names of words, or problems retrieving words
• Difficulty summarizing a story
• Trouble learning a foreign language
• Difficulty doing math word problems