Columbiana Council proclaims October to be Dyslexia Awareness Month

Published 12:03 pm Wednesday, October 16, 2019

By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – The Columbiana City Council approved a proclamation for Dyslexia Awareness Month at its Oct. 15 regular meeting.

The proclamation designates October as Dyslexia Awareness Month in Columbiana and states that residents may wear red clothing and display a red porch light in support of children and adults with dyslexia.

“We’re always happy to proclaim for a good cause,” Mayor Stancil Handley said, noting dyslexia is sometimes mistaken as a vision problem in children. “It’s really frustrating for these students.”

Dyslexia is defined on the International Dyslexia Association website as a neurological condition caused by a different wiring of the brain, and for which there is no cure, meaning children and adults diagnosed with dyslexia must form coping strategies to combat the condition.

An estimated one in five students have dyslexia, according to the proclamation.

Shelby County High School students Abigail Rush and Logan Starnes are advocates for dyslexia awareness and contributed to the proclamation.

Rush and her parents attended the council meeting to accept the approved proclamation.

“This is a good proclamation, and I’m happy to make it,” Handley said.

In other business, the council:

  • Heard an update on the Farr and Howard property adjacent to Old Mill Square regarding possible egress placement. Handley said Shelby County Engineer Randy Cole said he has evaluated the property and a recommendation is forthcoming.
  • Heard plans for a nature trail to be incorporated on land Handley’s family is donating to the city near the Old Mill Square park. Handley said the 1-mile walking trail would be called the Elda Handley Nature Trail in memory of his mother.
  • Approved the Oct. 1 regular council meeting minutes and check registers for Oct. 1-10.