I failed to read until third grade, despite extra attention from parents and teachers. Eventually I learned and was able to complete college with extra effort and time. I still read slowly and need to go over information three times before I can fully comprehend it. I have always been a terrible speller.

I didn’t know I had dyslexia until I was almost 50. Finally having a name for my struggles has given me power to accept myself as I was created as well as to advocate for my needs and the needs of others.

Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects the way the brain processes language. It runs in families. People with dyslexia often have difficulty ­processing the sounds of languages. This makes reading, spelling and pronouncing words difficult. From 15% to 20% of the population has symptoms of dyslexia — some mild, others severe.

Dyslexia is an invisible disability that can cause someone to feel stupid or be viewed as less intelligent or lazy.

I felt shame during Sunday school as the teacher asked each of us to read from our lesson, and I could not. I did not want to expose my struggle to my church friends or invite ridicule or comments.

After a certain point, the Sunday school teachers stopped asking me to read. But I still felt anxious, wondering if they would call on me again or had decided I was stupid. I found out decades later that my mother had talked privately with the teachers and asked them not to call on me.

I vividly recall, in third grade, being chastised by a church member for not singing during worship. She told me I was old enough to read; I should be singing. I was beginning to read, but not fast enough to keep up with the hymns.

People with a mild form of dyslexia may not know they have it. They have always lived with their symptoms and compensated for them. Many congregations likely have an adult member with more severe dyslexia who struggles to read, as well as several children struggling to learn. Adults work hard to hide this struggle or avoid situations where they may be asked to read.

Adults with dyslexia may take in information better orally or through videos. Congregations should not assume all adults can easily access information in written form. No group, whether for children or adults, should expect everyone to take a turn reading. Only volunteers should read aloud.

For those who struggle with processing speed or fluency speed, providing information before a meeting gives the time they need to read, reread and process the information.

People with dyslexia have great strengths to offer. They think outside the box, are creative problem solvers and are some of the most compassionate people I know.

The neurodiversity of the ­dyslexic brain is a great strength to our communities. Making a few simple changes in how material is presented and shared, and creating a culture that celebrates diversity and individual gifts, can make a huge difference in our congregations.

Lori Steiner Jans of Tipp City, Ohio, is a dyslexia specialist and a member of Happy Corner Church of the Brethren.