Alumni Spotlight – Deborah Zang ‘77

Deb Zang remembers moving to Southern York County from the suburban New York City area as a 13 year old. “At the time, I thought it was the worst thing that could have ever happened to me. It turns out that it was the best. It opened my eyes to a different world and a different way of looking at things.”

She attributes the immediate and welcoming support of the SYC school community as a key to her transition. “It was a real family atmosphere,” she recalls. “Everyone made me feel welcome.”

Deborah was active in student life. She was the school mascot at football games and remembers having a live black snake around her neck. She laughs, “I don’t suppose you’re allowed to do that anymore.”  She was the band manager, active in AFS (the school’s foreign exchange club), and was in school plays.

After graduation, she went to art school in Pittsburgh, but realized that she was more inclined to work on the management side and began a career in international advertising. Her professional path led her to Baltimore, then to New York, and ultimately to Australia, where she now resides in the Melbourne area.  She still has family in the area and visits whenever she can, although as her life fills, those visits, which were previously annually, have become less frequent.

But she admits struggling throughout her academic career, despite hard work and study. When she was diagnosed as suffering from dyslexia at age 46 – a learning disability virtually unknown when she was a student – it was life changing. She said, “It was like a light had been switched on and my whole life was explained,” she said.

She acknowledges her French teacher, Rosa Baer, in particular as a key to success in coping with her then unknown learning disability. “She believed in me. Without her, I don’t think I would have made it through high school. I knew the material, but didn’t do well on tests. Mrs. Baer took the time to give me her tests verbally.”

Deb’s interest in learning disability research came when she observed her son going through the same academic struggles that she had experienced. He was diagnosed with dyslexia and her awareness grew into an obsession for helping others with learning disabilities through support groups.

She left her advertising career and co-founded the Learning Disabilities Network of Australia where she is now the director.  The network comprises leading professionals in the field including researchers, educat-ors, psychologists, and social workers. An example of one of her projects is the Excursion Factor, a web-site devoted to providing parents with guided support activities.

Her professional interests include advocating for the learning disabled through legislation, conducting seminars and workshops, serving on the Vision Australia iAccess Action Committee, and creating awareness in the educational community.

“Australia is about 40 years behind the U.S. in this area,” she explains. She cites statistics estimating that one in 10 Australian children have learning disabilities. The numbers are similar to those in the U.S., but there is no public understanding. “Little time is spent (if any) in most teacher training courses on identifying or addressing learning disabilities,” she said.

When asked if she ever thought she would end up where she is, her answer is quick; “Absolutely not.” “But she goes on to offer advice often heard from successful graduates.

“That’s the thing about life. When you least expect it, doors open for you. And if you’re open to them, you’ll find yourself on a different and exciting path. Life can be interesting.”

As for now, she has few outside interests other than her two children, who come first, her passion is her learning disability awareness project.

“There will be time for hobbies later,” she said. “For now, I need to change things.”

Thanks to Deb Zang, Class of 1977, for making us Warrior Proud.