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What happens when someone tells your parents you'll probably never graduate high school, but you go on to earn a master's degree and write a novel?

In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, I'm joined by Leigh T. Braden, a fellow dyslexic, social worker, and author of the upcoming novel Word Blindness.

We talk about growing up with dyslexia, the incredible impact of parents who advocate for their children, finding confidence in our different brains, and why representation matters for adults with dyslexia, too.

Leigh also shares the inspiration behind Word Blindness and reads a beautiful passage from her book.

This conversation is full of laughter, connection, advocacy, and a reminder that our stories deserve to be told!

Connect with Leigh: Leigh Braden Books

Word Blindness releases November 22, 2026, and is available for pre-order.

Leigh's Bio:

Leigh T. Braden: is a master-level social worker with over thirty years of experience in the nonprofit sector, specializing in family systems, adult education, neuro-diversity and mental health in Philadelphia. Dyslexic herself, she drew on her own lived experience to inform the emotional truth of Word Blindness, though the novel is a work of fiction. A lifelong writer, she has been honing her storytelling voice through creative writing, poetry, and live narrative story-telling. Word Blindness is her debut novel.

Connect with Leigh:

Website

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