16-year-old Kansan creates book after dealing with dyslexia

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Audrie Mangel was diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade through the Fundamental Learning Center. She continued at the school for four years, where she learned the Orton-Gillingham curriculum.

“Before I knew that I had dyslexia, it was pretty upsetting that I couldn’t spell,” Mangel said. “I was very behind in my classwork, wasn’t quite sure why I wasn’t up to what the other kids were like in their classwork, and I just kind of felt left behind or like I wasn’t really normal.”

Although dyslexia challenges her, there are also things it has given her.

“It was pretty hard, but I do know that it has a lot of good aspects to it,” Mangel said. “There’s always the highs and the lows. I’ve learned that I’m very creative because of my dyslexia, and trying to find new ways to learn and trying to find more creative ways to learn so that I’m more focused on the study. I’ve learned that there are a lot of people like me, and trying to find the people that at least try and understand or are understanding of the struggles is what helped me a lot.”

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Mangel has been scouting for five years and is working toward her Eagle rank, requiring an Eagle project. She is a scout from Troop 1736 and is a Junior Assistant Scout Master. Her scoutmaster has been a mentor and encourager for her.

“I struggled with trying to figure out what I wanted to do because I wanted it to be important not only for me but for other people,” Mangel said. “And I wanted it to be something powerful, meaningful and impactful.”

For her Eagle project, she decided to facilitate a dyslexia awareness book called “As You Fly.”

“My hope is to raise education, empathy, and understanding of learning differences,” Mangel said.

The book is a combination of stories, art and other creative content by current students at the Fundamental Learning Center and alumni.

“I have gathered alumni from the school, so my old classmates to help write short stories, tips, anything that they found would be helpful to other dyslexic kids, and current students of this school, and had them draw or paint flying creatures or animals, bugs, whatever they kind of wanted to do,” Mangel said.

She wanted to do a project that would last for generations.

“I have struggled with my dyslexia to an extent and really wanted to let people know that they are important, that even with the struggles, that they can do amazing things,” Mangel said.

One person who shaped the way for her is Billie Vilet because she taught Mangel how to read.

“I’ve always tried my best to live up to what I think she would want me to do, and I have been supported by her memory and all that she had done when she was alive,” Mangel said. “And with that, I’ve found people who support me like she did.”

Mangel also says her mom has taught her how to fight through tough situations and learn the importance of self-advocacy.

Mangel is raising money to print the book and wants to put it in Kansas schools. Her goal is to become a special-education teacher and help kids with dyslexia.

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“So that more kids, teachers and parents are able to understand dyslexia to a better extent and to feel less alone, and kind of feel like there are things that they can do because unfortunately, there are times when it feels like you can’t really succeed, but you can, and there’s a lot of great things that you can do,” Mangel said.

She hopes her book will help at least one person.

“Keep going,” Mangel said. “Keep pushing. You’ve got this. It doesn’t end here. This is only the start. You’ve got a lot within you. Even though sometimes it may seem like this is a dead end. It’s never a dead end. You will always find a way around it. You’re creative. You know how to do that. And just making sure that even if you have to fight a little bit in order to get what you need, you know that it is important.”

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