Dr. Kathryn Garforth is an author, speaker, and education advocate who is challenging the systemic failures facing neurodiverse learners in today’s classrooms.

With a PhD in Educational Psychology and Special Education, Kathryn specializes in learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism—but her work is driven by far more than research. As a neurodiverse individual with dyslexia, a parent of three neurodiverse children, and an interventionist, she has experienced the education system from every angle—and seen firsthand how often it fails the very students it is meant to support.

Kathryn speaks out against ableism in education, the ongoing misalignment between research and classroom practice, and a system that continues to leave students struggling in silence. She is particularly focused on the gap between what we know about how the brain learns and what is actually happening in schools—where too many students are set up for failure, and too many teachers are left without the training, time, or support they need to succeed.

Through her work, Kathryn advocates for a fundamental shift: classrooms grounded in evidence-based instruction, educators equipped with the knowledge to meet diverse learning needs, and systems that recognize parents as essential partners—not adversaries.

She is the founder of the Right to Read Initiative and continues to amplify the voices of experts, educators, and families working toward meaningful change. Her message is clear: no child should have to fight to access an education that meets their needs—and no educator should be expected to navigate that responsibility without the tools to do it well.

Kathryn’s work challenges individuals and systems alike to rethink what they are doing, question what is not working, and take responsibility for creating learning environments where every student has the opportunity to succeed.