Our Founding Mothers

The Founding Mothers

• Julia Richter

  Founding Mother

  Julia Richter played an integral role in the creation of Dyslexia Institute of Indiana. She was active on the Dii board from the beginning and served in various leadership roles on it over time. She was one of the first people in Indiana to be trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach and used her knowledge to help students all over the state by directly teaching and then again when she joined a group of concerned parents to start Dii. She was also a teacher with a passion for students at The Orchard School. She was a fierce advocate for Dii throughout her life, always there to help and support the organization. The Julia Irwin Richter and James Richter Educational Fund exists to carry on their legacy of literacy.

• Carolyn Mutz

  Founding Mother

  Carolyn Mutz was also compelled by the desire to help everyone learn how to read. She is also one of the first people in the state trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach and has used her skill to help dyslexic people learn to read. She also advocates relentlessly for dyslexic kids in Indiana and has never wavered in her support of Dii. Both she and her husband John are outstanding partners for Dii in helping all kids in Indiana have the opportunity to learn how to read. The Carolyn & John Mutz Scholarship Fund exists in their names to help future generations on their journey to literacy.

• Betty Wells

  Founding Mother

  Betty Wells was a wonderful champion for dyslexic people in Indiana. She played an integral role in the founding of Dii and was also one of the first people trained in Orton-Gillingham in the state of Indiana. She was also a member of the Orton Dyslexia Society which later became the International Dyslexia Association of Indiana. Significantly, her work has empowered many students to learn to read and write. She leaves an incredible legacy of literacy behind for Indiana.

• Carolyn Connors

  Founding Mother

  Carolyn was the founding President and Executive Director of Dii as well as one of the first people in Indiana trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach in the state. She saw a need for structured literacy in Indiana and sprang into action to help create a resource for dyslexics in Indiana. She is a past President of the International Dyslexia Association of Indiana and was also on the National Board for the International Dyslexia Association. Somehow she also found the time to be a talented artist whose work has been exhibited extensively.