More Than a Diagnosis
Geneva Blalock, a 6th grader with dyslexia, is proving to the world and education system that she is more than her diagnosis.
From as young as a preschooler, Geneva (Gigi) Blalock has been aware of her struggle to read. Before her diagnosis in 2023, her parents and educators had faith that Gigi would eventually catch up regarding reading. It wasn’t until her transfer from a private school to a Bowling Green, Ky, public school, a reading comprehension test, and an informative conversation with her reading teacher, Mrs.Coffee, that her parents, Kevin and Mariah Blalock, learned that Gigi was two reading levels behind her peers.
Geneva Blalock (12) works on spelling with her tutor, Allison Higgins, in the middle of her tutoring session at The Reading Company on April 28, 2025.
Geneva Blalock (12) reads a poem she wrote in front of her family at their home in Bowling Green, Ky, on April 25, 2025.
Shortly after receiving this news, the COVID-19 pandemic shut schools and the world down. Throughout this time, Gigi’s struggle with reading persisted along with her parents' concern for their child's education.
“She was doing hybrid stuff and she kept struggling with reading, She kept struggling, kept struggling, kept struggling and everyone kept telling us ‘Oh it’s just because she’s behind, everyone’s behind in COVID, don’t worry about it’ We finally get to fourth grade, everyone is going back to school like they are supposed to … Her teacher thought she could fix it and she tried really, really hard but she just couldn’t figure it out and Gigi just stayed way way behind.” - Kevin Blalock
Coming out of COVID-19, action was taken on Gigi’s behalf in order to find a solution.
Geneva Blalock (12) sits on the living room couch, cuddling the family dog Topper in Bowling Green, Ky, on May 5, 2025.
The Blalock family prays over their dinner at their home in Bowling Green, Ky, on May 5, 2025.
Geneva Blalock (12) smiles while eating dinner with her family at their home in Bowling Green, Ky on May 5, 2025.
Geneva Blalock (12) colors in her bible while listening to the service at her church, Alvaton Church of Christ, located in Bowling Green, Ky, on April 26, 2025.
“Her reading teacher finally said, ‘Listen, we need to get a test done to see if she has a learn disability,’ and that was when we took her to The Reading Company. From there it was pretty apparent that Gigi was dyslexic.” - Kevin Blalock.
Geneva Blalock (12) works with her tutor, Allison Higgins, on the Orton-Gillingham curriculum designed for dyslexic students at The Reading Company in Bowling Green, Ky, on April 28, 2025
Gigi was able to receive her dyslexia diagnosis from The Reading Company of Bowling Green Ky, in 2023 as a fourth grader. From there The Reading Company created a custom tutoring plan that would assist Gigi in her reading growth and tailor to what she needed because no dyslexic student is the same.
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“The most expensive thing we have ever bought that I am the proudest of is Geneva going to The Reading Company.” - Kevin Blalock
Geneva Blalock (12) uses a spell checker with assistance from her tutor, Allison Higgins, at The Reading Company on April 28, 2025.
“I really like to jump rope and hula-hoop and really just hang outside, but I also love to watch TV.” - Geneva Blalock
Geneva Blalock (12) plays with her hula hoop in her backyard in Bowling Green, Ky, on May 5, 2025.
Gigi, now a 6th grader who loves math, Taylor Swift, and hula-hooping, has learned to stand up for herself and her educational needs. Gigi is a self-published author of her book “Little Pig Big World”, who plans to continue to write and do what she loves. She has spoken out about her dyslexia and not let it stop her from creating, learning, and dreaming big.
Geneva Blalock (12) receives an award for the 2024 KSS State Testing for her proficient scores in reading and math from Principal Otto at Bowling Green Junior High in Bowling Green, Ky, on May 1, 2025.