Whitman Rogers and Laura Rogers

00:03 Hi, my name is Whitman Rogers. I'm 14 years old. Today's date is November 3rd.

00:11 2017 we are at Richland County Public Library in this month, and I'm here with my mom.

00:19 I'm Laura Rogers and I'm 44 years old today is November 3rd 2017. I'm here at Richland library in Columbia South Carolina with my son Whitman Rogers where I guess since we're in a library, I thought maybe we could talk about what are some of your memories of us reading together when you were little younger than you are now and what maybe some of your favorite books where that we read when you were little I remember dad reading me The Hobbit and my father's dragon and The Lorax great Over Again The Lorax over and over again. I remember that being one of your feet hurt, but your sister Addison loves epictv. So you guys I can remember you reading that in your little turtle. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What do you ever like the very few ever? Do you have any memory of like the very first book that you loved?

01:14 I got my father's dragon. Probably father's dragon. Do you remember when we used to read there was one that takes place in the zoo. Goodnight. Gorilla. Goodnight. Gorilla cage is all like black except for the little eyes and you would always make that funny face like with your eyes all stretched out. We got that it would always make me laugh. But yeah, so I just wondered like what your favorite what's your favorite memories were

01:41 Do you remember when you first noticed that everybody else was reading that you were having kind of a struggle with it? I don't don't remember. Do you remember like trying to read the cereal box that morning and telling me how frustrated you were cuz you couldn't read it vaguely vaguely. I just remember that when you were in kindergarten that you would get really frustrated trying to remember your letters from week to eat. I remember that you were that yeah. Yeah. You're right how you felt about it then?

02:13 Frustrated frustrated. Yeah, and then since you and Maddie are kind of the older cousins, I remember when your younger cousin started reading. You became really angry. Yeah, do you ever that? I think so. Yeah.

02:29 And then when do you remember I guess first being us talking about dyslexia.

02:40 I think probably just when I went to go get tested. Yeah. Yeah, I remember going there and waiting the waiting room and going back. I'm thinking it was very odd.

02:56 What was odd about it you would just ask me to point out like do you see the sea turtle and it was like a puzzle over?

03:04 She like skate for something and you had to answer a question. Yeah. Yeah. Do you remember us talking about dyslexia later on that day?

03:15 Fegli little heart, right? Yeah, I think it was in the car that we talked about. What dyslexia was?

03:22 I just remember thinking that you seemed relieved.

03:25 Because you had been so stressed out about not reading in frustrated with not being able to read it seem that I mean to me for my perspective. It seemed like you were relieved when you knew there was a reason and there was something that we could do about it. I think so. I don't really remember that that much.

03:47 What do you remember in the days after you were diagnosed when we were trying to get things started?

03:53 For you, I don't really remember that that much.

03:57 I remember putting the alphabet up on the wall like the cards with the letters on them and

04:05 Yeah, I remember that to what about when we started look what I started looking for resources to help you learn to read and it was really really hard like everything was so expensive and there was so much conflicting information and then I finally found tutor Eau Claire and the people on there and then we started going there for from my training to get trained as a tutor. But also when we were able to start the program where other kids with dyslexia could come do you remember your first day going to Turner player tell me about it.

04:44 I remember going in there and thinking that the place looked a little creepy.

04:50 And that

04:53 It was pretty dark and was very old and old building.

05:02 And I remember going in and being the first when they are waiting for everybody there for the other kids. Yeah, and what did you think by the end of the day? Like when all the kids are coming?

05:15 You guys have had a day together. I don't really remember that much.

05:22 When I remember going to to do clear right but I mean after that like first date just seemed like a regular occurrence a regular guy. And what did you what did you like about it?

05:34 My favorite things was getting to play.

05:38 Sharks and Minnows at recess. Yeah, we used to play that you got to love that. And what about just having the other kids there that had dyslexia. How was how was that experience?

05:50 Great.

05:55 I felt like really alienated before and then I didn't realize there were so many people that had to talk to you. Yeah, yeah there before you had felt kind of on your own but then after meeting other kids, yeah.

06:10 I know that you had found some of your very best friends there at tutoring player and started doing things with them.

06:24 Tutor Eau Claire is a dyslexia Resource Center here in Columbia that's partnered with the library on different occasions to have trainings for parents and tutors and I helped them get started with a program for homeschoolers two mornings a week and with started going to that and really really enjoyed his time there and I'm met some other kids with dyslexia and ADHD and I think you guys really bonded

06:58 Yeah mean that was what four years ago. Yeah, some of those people are still my very best friend. So yeah with Mario with some with somebody that you met at tutoring player yet. Yeah, so and then I guess having friends that tutor of clear. We started getting more information about what kinds of books and and what kinds of instruction would be helpful for you and then I started trying to get the library to purchase this applies to everybody in the community could use a do you remember coming to the library? And I had that book display set up in the children's room and you kind of got to help me pick out some books and look through what I had that we were using at home. I think so. Yeah. Yeah.

07:48 And do you remember when words started making sense for you?

07:56 Yeah, I think so. I just was able to

08:00 So what they were do you remember what books you started reading then that maybe you would want to read before but couldn't couldn't read.

08:10 I remember that the first time that I went to your room and you were wanting to stay up and read at night and I was I wanted you to go to bed on time, but I was so excited that you were finally able to read you had Calvin and Hobbes. Yeah, I love I love Calvin and Hobbes and I mean I still read it like

08:28 I remember Calvin and Hobbes was one of the first ones and

08:33 The Berenstein Berenstain Bears Berenstain Bears spooky old tree. Yeah, it was a spooky old tree and

08:42 Berenstain Bears go on vacation

08:47 Yeah, do you remember when we first started talking about your reading?

08:53 I know I don't I don't think so. Cuz it just seems like it's always been there now. Yeah, cuz you've been listening to audiobooks or what we call it here waiting for a long time. Ya want to talk a little bit about what that was like for you to discover audiobooks.

09:11 I don't really remember discovering them. I remember them just being there.

09:17 And I mean now I've had to take a break from Reading cuz that my ears have started to hurt and I couldn't hear that well in my right ear so I had to take a break and why was that?

09:29 Check how many books did you listen to last week?

09:34 I read The Unwanteds Island of shipwrecks in one day that site.

09:42 How many it's a big but yeah, it's like 450 maybe 600 Pages. Yeah somewhere in that range, right? So that was one day one day. I just know that every other and I was reading everywhere we go you have earbuds in and people are always like oh he's a teenager is listening to music and I'm like actually he's listening to audiobooks cuz you read all the time with your audiobooks.

10:10 And

10:12 I remember I read the Warriors series for a while. Like just found those on audio right and then once they didn't have him like anymore on audio, I just checked him out like paperback, right which I mean I remember sitting in the chair and reading those and then saying like can you guys read very well my eyes are getting tired eyes are getting tired and

10:43 Then you guys were like, I can't read this. It's too hard.

10:48 You like what his fur smells like cloudtail cloudtail? Yeah, I never has a lot of difficult names in it and I was impressed that you could read them. Like i r e d when you were here waiting cuz you had I knew you would come so far with your reading. So after the reading Studio got started in the children's room and we started adding more and more audio books and decodable books and things for you remember coming in and kind of helping me get things on the shelf and taking a look at it with me. Yeah.

11:23 I remember doing that a few years ago. Yeah.

11:29 And how did you feel about that then?

11:32 Felt like it was really great. Cuz I mean other people get to you as of now. So yeah and the universe wanted to donate your readers that you had finished. Yeah. I remember doing that and now the library keeps sending me things saying we need money.

11:51 That's what happens when your donor.

11:54 Got about 10 of the

11:59 I love this recording.

12:03 So

12:05 You're making me laugh.

12:08 So with your score now, do you use the audio with that to no? Not really cuz it seems like to me you've been doing a lot of eye reading for your eye red. Good Masters sweet ladies for school recently. Yeah. I read that and my Dad read some of that and

12:31 I mean, he'll read me my history book and like if there's sometimes if like he'll usually read to me and then I'll work on other stuff. I usually read the paragraphs for Stuff myself on the in Google Docs and just speak into the microphone even using that too kind of instead of having to write it out. Yeah, it's lots easier the speech-to-text on Google. Yeah. Yeah, that seems to be working pretty well for you. What about the editing? Is that hard for you to go back in and try to fix it after you've done the speaking will sometimes it gets confused in what I'm saying? Like right I was talking I was like last night when I was texting you about the dog. Yeah, like noticed that it said like sometimes like see instead of kin or something. Yeah, cuz that mean

13:27 It just messes up sometimes so but do you enjoy having that I'd like the speech-to-text stuff to use if ya is making life easier to use that when you text your friends or are you just typing sometimes I always check read it before I send it. I was trying right and what are some of your favorite books now? Cuz we talked about what are some of your favorite books in your little DM want is for sure. I love those the Warriors. I love the Warriors and I love the Lord of the Rings Danny that you are your father's son in that regard.

14:14 The Unwanteds my cousin

14:18 Tell me about about few months ago, maybe like 2-3 months ago and

14:26 We are too went up there like

14:29 Couple months ago and he was reading it in their first book and it's just so creative.

14:36 I mean they live in like this desolate well-oiled and then they get sent to the death farm and they find out that it's like so bright and colorful.

14:48 And they learn how to use magic like through creativity and stuff. I'm on book 6 right now, I think cool.

14:59 And I love older than Wings cuz I mean I will always just love to Medieval stuff.

15:06 Very interesting to me in the Warriors. I just love cats animals in particular but very interesting spin on how cats feral cats thinking.

15:21 You said that you loved medieval things and this year. I know that we're studying medieval history. What's been your favorite part about that? Probably reading King Arthur. What did you love about that?

15:37 I don't know. I just like King Arthur.

15:43 What about what's your favorite subject right now science why I get to learn about animals and stuff.

15:51 So and I either want to be a marine biologist or contractor, so

15:57 Two very different things were different but that I can see you doing either one of those. Do you remember like a long time ago when you were younger and you were stressed out about learning to read and really frustrated that people would act like you you could have kept your head down or people would ask you ask out of your older sister, like what she wanted to do and she would start talking about going into medicine and and they would ask you and you would just kind of Mumble or keep your head down because you were

16:27 I think you were really feeling like you weren't smart.

16:32 And then do you remember when we went to visit your cousins in Durham, and we went over to the campus of Duke?

16:40 Yeah, you were like loving the architecture cuz you said it look like and I wanted to play basketball. They said it looks like those pictures on my screen saver for my iPod right now. And then you started talking about going to college team and it was like the first time that you would kind of had like shown confidence outwardly that you thought that you were smart and that you

17:06 Could do something. Yeah, I remember saying I wanted to go there. Yeah, and you guys were like like what was it 8 out of a thousand or a hundred hundred something like that. It was a lil sum-sum number that Ashley had that about how many people get accepted like, yeah 8% or something or stand. I wonder who the other seven what we do really so confident. Yeah. Yeah. Do you remember what it was like to suddenly have confidence in yourself when you have been like though?

17:38 No, I don't really have to be a deuce remember now be more confident. Yeah.

17:47 Well when he was younger, he would stay when wet was younger when you were younger with.

17:55 Say things like I'm not smart or I'm not as smart as so-and-so and it's kind of like a knife in my heart when cuz you know, I love you so much and I want you to have everything that you want in life. And then when you would say that you weren't smart and I knew that you were cuz you were so observant and you would pick up on everything that was happening and even like diagnosing problems. Like when we went through the drive-thru window and you saw that the latter was unlocked and you were Lego they must be having air conditioning problems cuz I was like, why would you say that and you're like at their conditions on the roof? And anyway, you always are so good at observing observing things. So I knew that you were smart, but so it kind of hurt me to hear you think that you weren't smart and to see you feeling sad about it and to watch you become so confident.

18:49 And start talking about what you want to do after high school and that you had so much confidence that you were like. Yeah, I'll go to dude maybe or or whatever. It was awesome.

19:01 It made it all worth it all that.

19:05 Because as you know, I did a lot of training to be an Orton Gillingham tutor and went to all kinds of workshops about dyslexia and ADHD. What were you thinking when I was doing all that?

19:23 I don't really remember it that was cuz I mean that was like seven years ago. Yeah, and I remember being like

19:35 Not really from favorite that much.

19:38 Do you remember when we talked about how you were like the poster child for dyslexia? Because people always ask you about it because I'm doing stuff with it. And what did you say I said do you mind?

19:49 What did you say?

19:51 No, cuz I remember saying I was really proud of you because you were helping all these other people.

20:01 But this week.

20:04 But I'm really proud of you because I really think the way that you help other people even in your Co-op class that I've noticed, like if people are having a hard time with their reading I just really like the way that you even suggested they sit at your table because you guys are so accepting of people who are having a hard time reading or writing.

20:28 So I'm proud of you as well. Thanks. Thank you for telling me that there that's really sweet.

20:36 I really enjoy working with your class on Mondays and watching you guys cuz there's a lot of dyslexic kids in your group there. Yeah.

20:46 How does that feel to be a part of that group?

20:49 Good. Yeah, what do you like about it?

20:55 I mean, I don't really know some of them that well, but I mean

21:01 I mean, what's it like at the same table with some of them? So yeah, and how do you feel that your that your classes that that we do at our homeschool Co-op now help that you're able to take to kind of do a combinations.

21:21 Now that you're in 8th grade scary cuz I mean you're my teacher for one. So that's awesome. And

21:29 You know what to do so you can help those people.

21:35 Yeah.

21:46 I don't know. I mean, it's just great to have I mean, I guess it's nice cuz she's right there all the time. So I mean if I ever get annoyed with people

22:00 Or

22:05 Like annoyed with anybody I can just feel like they're annoying me.

22:11 Don't I think it's funny that your fourteen-year-old boy and that you don't mind me being around to be your teacher. That's kind of sweet. I like it. I like you being there all the time. That's why I like you being there.

22:28 I'm having an on Papa are moving to Garden City.

22:32 Yeah, you just found out that his you're close to your nana about Craigslist and they were thinking about moving out of town, but they just decided to stay in town. Yeah, I think you're very fortunate to have so many people in your life that love you. Yeah.

22:49 You're fortunate. Yeah, not everybody has that I guess.

22:58 I'm really excited about possibly getting a dog right after Christmas.

23:06 That has been the topic of your conversation for months. It really has cuz you wanted a dog lick your whole life. So yes, you're super excited about getting a dog. Yeah. I'm excited for you. Yeah, I think you you really think that your keys are cute. I do I think little dogs are cute. Did you have any questions you wanted to ask me or was something that you wanted an answer to? I don't think so now I think of anything now.

23:33 I was going to ask you something else about the library. I wanted to ask you cuz you kind of grown up in the library. Yeah, but you still seem to like to come. Yeah, do you like coming to visit the library? Love coming to visit the library mean?

23:50 Even now I mean is always changing cuz I mean, they're always hiring new people and

23:55 I mean they're renovating right now. So it don't changing. What do you like to do at the library? I'll look for me. Like I said think about getting a dog so been looking for some books on how to train dogs and

24:12 If I like I don't have the next books for them wanted your warriors. I'll just look for that and

24:22 Mean if I have school or something and I need to stay at home. I'll just ask you where a d to get it right? And are you excited about the teen center opening up very excited?

24:33 Yeah, I knew you were.

24:42 Yeah.

24:55 I mean I really used to it now, but I guess when I first found out I was only 7 so I mean, I don't really remember it that well, but I remember like I didn't know anybody else with dyslexia then so

25:12 I

25:14 Felt really like like an outsider cuz I mean

25:19 My mom and my sister now work at the library. My mom's work at the library on this my whole life, so

25:29 So, I mean we're very literary family me and my name's I'm named after poet. Yeah, so sorry because I didn't really know about audiobooks then but I mean now

25:46 It's so different cuz I mean

25:49 I can read really well. Like I can I mean I can the Warriors like even like two or three years ago. I was reading those in those are like on a high school reading level which I was super excited excited about and I mean

26:10 Once I went to TCI just really got to know more dyslexic people.

26:15 NTC to do

26:20 But yeah just was really great to get to know more dislikes.

26:30 I guess just I didn't know anybody else who was dyslexic so.

26:36 I mean, there's one in five is a right the yeah when it's about 24% about one-in-five are dyslexic. Yeah, but I mean I didn't really know that back then and I didn't know anybody with dyslexia. So it just didn't like feel like I had like

27:00 You know what? I mean, like my group of people you're trying. Yeah my tribe, but me now I know so many dyslexics and I know of some of these has like six eight Jerry Pinkney it was an Albert Einstein. I mean even Apollo 13, they that's how they thought helping dyslexic tries to find dyslexics to hire why cuz they think outside the box. Do you think outside the box? I think I do. I think you do too.

27:36 Timberlake saying when you were little that you felt like you were from another planet. Yeah, and that you didn't belong here. I just remember like I never wanted to say to you that that was a painful, but I felt horrible that you felt like you didn't belong and Irene. Also, then when we lived in the apartment, I mean there wasn't that many kids like in that neighborhood, right? So really played with Arthur and going and I'm not going Addie. Yeah.

28:12 That's true. Yes, you've had an array of strange pets already at one point. We had 15 dribble. So I remember that. Yeah, and you have a 4 of wetlands in your room now ferret ferret. Yes. And so I've always said that you were going to have to do something with animals when you get off because you've always wanted to take in animals and and even the other day when you were outside cleaning off the deck that lizard jumped on you and like sat on your shoulder and just like hung out there. It's animals come to you all the time like you talk to them. Yeah, and I mean we saw that cat the other night. Yeah. I was like, I want to check on him and make sure he's okay. But yeah, I'm pretty sure he's fine. Yeah, you're a you're always been a friend to animals. Yeah, definitely.

29:08 Me neither one of you want to be a park ranger or a biologist your contract you so

29:31 Yeah, so we are a literary family. I was read to all the time growing up every place. We live several places every place that we live. We would go and check out the library like the first me know first name, so I have memories of going to libraries in different places.

29:51 And then even your dad went like when we met he is very very little very very bookish. So we would have long talks about her favorite boxer go read poetry together. And then of course when Addison came along we read to her and then when you came along way read to you right from the very start and I knew that and I thought that if you just read to your kids than that was what you needed to do and they will learn to read so when you started when when I realized that you were having trouble remembering the alphabet or even you know, trying to make things just stick in there. I was worried because I felt like I was doing all the things that you normally hear that you're supposed to do and I can figure out like why

30:41 You couldn't learn to read and I mean when I did read I had those words memorize like write a lot of words to even now. I have the spelling memorized this will your memories incredible? I mean your memory is like a steel trap. Everybody says that I mean Papa like says that all the time and I mean even when they were moving stuff in the garage, he was like

31:08 We're looking for the

31:11 I can't remember what it was but it was something he was like when we need it. Remember what it's right under here under that chair. I mean, yeah, that's why I'll never forget. Yeah, I've got it in my head. Well, I was just I need like I said earlier like I knew you were smart cuz it was very obvious that you were so bright and so creative and such in a good Problem Solver. So I really had a hard time struggling with like what's the problem with reading? And then when you were diagnosed it was a big relief for me because I thought surely if you have if you have a name for it, then there's something we can do about it. And since I worked at the library, I thought that's me research is part of what I do and I was like, this is a fixable problem we can do this, but then as soon as I started digging around I realized that

32:01 It's very hard to find good information about dyslexia and very hard to find good material. That is Affordable. Cuz I mean, yeah, the material is very expensive it is and that's when I was like, you know what this is a place the library can stand in four people because I met other parents who are struggling and I thought if someone who works in the library and he researches and he does read all the time is having trouble finding this information. I can't imagine how hard it would be if your may be dyslexic yourself cuz it does run in families. So I mean isn't dead. He's got ADHD, right? Yeah, and then I was fortunate enough to be in a library that took up that cause and was like, yeah, you know, we need to order materials.

32:52 Ellen have programs and then it just built and built and built. Yes big even now like we've got the education Studio which I mean yeah has like so many materials, right and we're speaking of an even having events that train Librarians across the state and put collections in libraries across the state.

33:13 Pretty cool. Aren't you guys working on getting one person at every like brand shoes a g I did well with who has it. That's pretty cool. And I kind of credit you with that because without you I never would have known about that or you know, the people that you've helped me and you've helped tons of people there to do Claire and through flight all kinds of programs and stuff. That wouldn't have happened if I hadn't had dyslexia. So I mean I can remember things so well.

33:52 I mean, I remember.

33:55 Let me think of something. That's like not very many people. Remember I remember the day I got those diagnosed with dyslexia. I remember driving there playing in the waiting room.

34:12 And then you guys were really nervous and I was like, what are you guys doing here is about and I remember going back there and he had like a lot of like, you know, like the where's Waldo kind of thing and like can you find this picture that I thought this is so strange and I remember we dropped Addie off at a friend's house.

34:31 And remember the details of like I remember going in and my best friend's little sister was playing we like we came and I was like, I mean that was seven years ago. Well, I've heard dyslexia described as an island of weakness and a sea of strength.

34:49 Like where you have so many strength and Justice weakness with light decoding words and spelling I don't really think of it that way. Do you think of it as being a weakness or strength strength? Dad. Maybe you did cuz I mean, I think outside the box so much mean if I wanted to be an astronaut which I mean, I think I could be an astronaut if I wanted to Manassa wouldn't do you have a great day at confidence in your abilities. Yeah that you didn't have like when you were little definitely is and

35:26 But

35:28 I really just feel like I think outside the box so much. I mean like even when we were heading to the beach and papa and Dad were trying to get the bikes on the bike rack. Why don't you just turn it this way then when you came inside I was like was there a problem and Papa said it took the dyslexic brain to solve it.

35:49 And it did and then the backpack did it work to have the talk with you here your memories about. Yeah. I'm proud of you proud of you. Thanks.