By Mitchell Clarke
A young Beaconhills College student is set to become the next social media sensation following the launch of her new educational YouTube channel.
Year 3 student Mia, who suffers from severe dyslexia, hopes to encourage other children living with dyslexia to read books and build their confidence.
The Berwick campus student was diagnosed last year, but rather than letting her learning disability define her, Mia is continuing to improve her reading skills every day.
“I want to inspire other children with dyslexia” Mia said.
“When I was told I had dyslexia I thought I’d never read but I’ve worked really hard on my reading and I’ve developed my confidence and I’ve realised I can do it.”
According to the Australian Dyslexia Association, individuals with dyslexia have trouble with reading and spelling despite still having an ability to learn.
While on campus at Beaconhills, Mia spends a couple of hours per week undertaking a program called MultiLit, but because of home learning due to Covid-19, that service has become unavailable.
But to keep on top of her own personal development, Mia decided to begin her own YouTube channel in a bid to inspire a passion for reading and persistence in other children living with the condition.
With five videos down and over 25 subscribers reached within the first week, Mia has been approached by famed Australian children’s author Sally Rippin, who hopes her books will soon feature on the channel.
“Basically this all started with Mia reading to me and I noticed that she was really expressive and creative with her storytelling, so I wanted to capture it,” mother Ella explained.
“Her reading has just improved so much since she was diagnosed April last year. She could barely string a sentence and her spelling was really bad.
“I’ve noticed the reading has improved so much already and I really think that her improvement has got to do with confidence.”
Ella is hopeful her daughter’s channel will bring some much needed awareness to dyslexia, which currently affects one in every 10 people.
“I think what we’re really wanting to do is break down the stigma of dyslexia and educate the general public about what it is to provide greater support for children,” she said.
“Every child really has the right to learn to read and that’s what education should do. Reading is the foundation of education.
“I’m so proud of her, she’s very artistic and creative and I think the world’s her oyster. I can definitely see a motivational speaker in her.”
To view Mia’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjtIjc118hOYuwhOuk96msw/videos
