About this episode
Megan Nicolas is an occupational therapist, a mom of twins, and the author of Discovering My Dyslexia Superpowers — an anime-style graphic novel that reframes dyslexia around creativity, resilience, and problem-solving. The book began when her son went looking for an encouraging library book about dyslexia and found only stories centered on struggle.
In this episode, Megan talks about writing the book alongside her sons, why format and language matter so much for young readers, and the practical advice she gives families who are just beginning the dyslexia journey.
In this episode
- Why Megan and her sons set out to write a more encouraging dyslexia book
- How she chose an anime graphic-novel format to match how kids actually read
- Why normalizing words like “diagnosis” and “structured literacy” inside a story matters
- The “superpowers” framing — and how the book stays honest about hard days
- How one family’s book reached local libraries, TV, and readers around the world
- Megan’s advice for newly diagnosed families, and the two books she recommends first
“I looked around to see who else was going to help me here — and then I realized it’s me.” — Megan Nicolas
About Megan Nicolas
Megan Nicolas is an occupational therapist who has worked in both mental-health and dyslexia-school settings, and a mom of twin boys. After watching her son search for — and not find — an affirming book about dyslexia, she partnered with her sons and a publisher to create Discovering My Dyslexia Superpowers, an anime-style graphic novel now reaching families around the world.
Episode chapters
Jump straight to any moment on YouTube:
- 0:00The Dyslexia Awareness Month series opens.
- 0:37Meet Megan Nicolas, author of Discovering My Dyslexia Superpowers.
- 1:43Megan’s background as an occupational therapist and a parent.
- 2:18Noticing that one twin learns differently.
- 3:15A library visit reveals a gap in dyslexia books for kids.
- 4:03Writing, publishing, and choosing the anime format.
- 4:39Turning frustration into advocacy.
- 5:53The book’s story arc and normalizing clinical language.
- 7:47Superpowers, famous figures, and legacy.
- 8:43An honest acknowledgment: not every day feels super.
- 9:14Reader feedback and community media coverage.
- 10:44How the book serves teachers versus peers.
- 12:54Core advice: trust yourself and self-educate.
- 13:56Essential book recommendations for parents.
- 15:47Future plans and an ongoing family mission.
- 16:43Final message: you are not alone.
- 18:07Closing, resources, and a call to share.
Resources mentioned in this episode
- Discovering My Dyslexia Superpowers by Megan Nicolas (our review).
- The Dyslexic Advantage — one of Megan’s two foundational recommendations (our review).
- Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz, M.D. (our review).
- Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity — research on dyslexic strengths.
- International Dyslexia Association (IDA) — find a local branch.
Frequently asked questions
What is Discovering My Dyslexia Superpowers about?
It is an anime-style graphic novel by Megan Nicolas that follows a young boy from early reading struggles through diagnosis and structured-literacy intervention to discovering his strengths. It was written to fill a gap in encouraging, strengths-based dyslexia books for elementary-age readers and to normalize the language of diagnosis and intervention.
Why did Megan Nicolas choose a graphic-novel format?
She deliberately chose an anime graphic-novel style to match how elementary-age children actually like to read. Many kids with dyslexia carry negative associations with text-heavy books, and a visual format lowers cognitive load while keeping the story engaging — which makes the book more likely to be finished and enjoyed.
What books does Megan Nicolas recommend for parents new to dyslexia?
She points parents to two foundational titles first: The Dyslexic Advantage and Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz of the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity. She also encourages families to join a local International Dyslexia Association (IDA) branch.
Does the "dyslexia superpowers" idea ignore the hard parts?
No. Megan is intentional that the strengths-based framing does not capture every day, and the book honors that some days are simply hard. That balance — celebrating real strengths in creativity, spatial thinking, and problem-solving while acknowledging genuine difficulty — is what readers say makes it feel authentic rather than a "just think positive" message.
What is Megan Nicolas's advice for newly diagnosed families?
Trust your instinct over institutional reassurance, recognize that you are your child's primary advocate, and start self-educating right away. Reading foundational books and connecting with a local IDA branch are practical first steps.
Keep reading
The Literacy Heroes Podcast shares the experiences and views of our guests. This episode reflects Megan Nicolas’s perspective and is general information for parents.