Billy Holden Allen, a doctoral student in the School of Communication Science and Disorders (SCSD), and Dr. Sana Tibi, an SCSD Associate Professor who is specialized in literacy, have co-authored the article “Looking Beyond the Lines: Mental Health Co-Occurrences and Future Treatment Considerations for Dyslexic Populations.”

“One of the main overarching themes I hope to show audiences from this work is that disabilities may not always look like their typical, textbook definitions,” said Allen.

The study focuses on dyslexia as a specific type of reading disability that can co-occur with other mental health conditions that require interventions that extend beyond just directly targeting reading and writing. The study places value on having a holistic view of how to treat and think of disabled individuals.

Allen, a proud member of the Disability community himself, said, “Disabled individuals at the end of the day are still human, and humans are complicated things. When we have more holistic and comprehensive views of disabled individuals, their conditions, and their lives, we can better understand and serve them.”

Both Allen and Dr. Tibi mentioned they are appreciative of Florida State University’s (FSU) commitment to fostering connections between industry professionals, doctoral students, and professors. Whether through supplying opportunities to teach doctoral courses or encouraging students and faculty to travel for research, FSU is undoubtedly a priceless resource. Dr. Tibi also reflects on the value she finds in teaching doctoral students.

“Working with motivated students is highly rewarding, as it allows for joint exploration of research questions and the development of scholarly work. I particularly value the role of coaching students—guiding them to refine their ideas and ground them in research evidence. This process not only builds their confidence and academic rigor but also fosters critical thinking and innovation, which are essential for impactful scholarship,” Dr. Tibi said.

Allen made his final comment as an encouragement and word of advice to his fellow doctoral students. “I encourage you to consider how you can potentially turn course projects into publishable works. It is no secret that doctoral students have busy schedules. However, being opportunistic about your research interests and how you can leverage them to advance your career can be pivotal. My primary advisor Dr. [Carla] Wood as well as my co-author Dr. Sana Tibi encourage me to be opportunistic in pursuing potential publications, and their advice has been right time and again. When you see an opportunity, go for it!”

Congratulations to Dr. Sana Tibi and Mr. Billy Holden Allen on this ground-breaking paper!