Empowered DLD

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Empowered DLD Empowering you to confidently navigate your child's language challenges.

10/08/2026

Today is World Dyslexia Day!

Did you know about half of people with DLD have dyslexia and half of people with dyslexia have DLD?

10/08/2026

Wooohoo!!

10/08/2026

Stories are the absolute best tool I have ever found to help both kids and adults understand DLD! Guess what other translations we have?!

Grab your copies here: https://mybook.to/nwINcA
Does your school or public library have children's books about DLD? Request they get copies too! Representation matters and change starts with us!

10/08/2026

Behind the scenes - blooper!
Somebody thinks he is more important than my awareness initiatives! Hahaha

We are so thrilled to see more adult research being conducted!Research Participants Needed!The Language Acquisition and ...
10/08/2026

We are so thrilled to see more adult research being conducted!

Research Participants Needed!

The Language Acquisition and Brain Lab at Northeastern University is recruiting adults ages 18–55 with a history of language, reading, or learning disabilities, including Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), for research exploring how training and sleep schedules may affect learning.

The study takes place over approximately one week and includes online activities. Some participants may also complete an in-person visit at Northeastern University in Boston. Participants are compensated for their time.

If you are outside the U.S. or unable to come to Northeastern in person, please still reach out! We may be able to offer a fully remote version of the study for individuals who speak North American English.

Interested in participating or learning more? Please see the attached flyer for additional information and contact details!

Processing time matters.For many children and adults with DLD, spoken words need extra time to become meaningful informa...
10/08/2026

Processing time matters.

For many children and adults with DLD, spoken words need extra time to become meaningful information.

A question might sound simple, but the brain may still be working hard to understand the words, hold onto the information, organize a response, and find the language to say it.

That is why a pause can be powerful.

Ten seconds of silence can feel small to the person asking the question, but it can make a huge difference for someone with DLD.

Wait time can reduce pressure.
It can prevent frustration.
It can support understanding.
It can give a child the space to respond with more confidence.

Sarah’s message is a reminder that support does not always have to be complicated. Sometimes one of the most helpful things we can do is pause.

We believe in this strategy so much that we made it into a shirt:

Pause please… I’m thinking.

You can find it here:
https://www.empowereddld.com/shop/merch/pause-please-i-m-thinking-kids-t-shirt

Over the next month, we are sharing daily posts leading up to Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day 2026.

This series was created by Sarah Devereaux 🇨🇦, a Canadian adult with DLD and ADHD, and the mom of a daughter with DLD and CAS.

These are Sarah’s messages, shared in her voice, and we are honoured to help amplify them.

Please share this post to help more people understand why wait time matters for children and adults with DLD. 💜

No “cure” does not mean no progress.DLD is lifelong, but children and adults with DLD can absolutely grow, learn, build ...
10/07/2026

No “cure” does not mean no progress.

DLD is lifelong, but children and adults with DLD can absolutely grow, learn, build skills, and thrive with the right support.

Speech therapy does not “fix” DLD because people with DLD are not broken.

Instead, speech therapy can help build tools, strategies, confidence, self-advocacy, and communication skills that make daily life more manageable.

It can support things like:

Understanding language
Finding words
Explaining ideas
Telling stories
Reading comprehension
Writing
Conversation
Advocating for accommodations

Sarah’s message is an important reminder that lifelong does not mean hopeless.

People with DLD deserve support that helps them participate, connect, learn, and succeed as themselves.

Over the next month, we are sharing daily posts leading up to Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day 2026.

This series was created by Sarah Devereaux 🇨🇦, a Canadian adult with DLD and ADHD, and the mom of a daughter with DLD and CAS.

These are Sarah’s messages, shared in her voice, and we are honoured to help amplify them.

Please share this post to help more people understand that DLD does not need a cure for support to matter. 💜

Trust your instincts, parents.If your child is struggling to follow instructions, learn new words, retell simple stories...
10/06/2026

Trust your instincts, parents.

If your child is struggling to follow instructions, learn new words, retell simple stories, explain their ideas, or keep up in conversation, it is okay to ask for help.

You do not need to “wait and see” forever.

Parents often notice the little things first.

The blank look after directions.
The frustration when words will not come.
The difficulty telling you what happened.
The way they avoid certain tasks.
The feeling that something is harder than it should be.

A speech-language pathologist can help you understand your child’s communication profile and what support may help.

Sarah’s message is an important reminder that parents should not be dismissed when they raise concerns. Early support can make a real difference, but it is also never too late to better understand a child’s language needs.

Over the next month, we are sharing daily posts leading up to Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day 2026.

This series was created by Sarah Devereaux 🇨🇦, a Canadian adult with DLD and ADHD, and the mom of a daughter with DLD and CAS.

These are Sarah’s messages, shared in her voice, and we are honoured to help amplify them.

Please share this post to remind parents that their concerns matter and that children with language difficulties deserve support. 💜

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