RTI or Response To Intervention is currently the dominant approach to reading instruction in public schools across the United States (over 70% of school districts), but in a just-released progress report funded by the Department of Education from the Institute of...
Here's our 2021 snapshot of Passed Dyslexia Laws in the US. This is a rapidly changing time for dyslexia legislation, so please update us with corrections, changes, or newly passed laws. Huge thanks to the Dyslexic Advantage community, Decoding Dyslexia, and other...
The U.S. Department of Education has just released guidelines in light of the recent unanimous US Supreme Court Decision Endrew F. vs. Douglas County School District. That decision interpreted the scope of FAPE (free appropriate public education) to mean that a...
![Surviving IEP Season [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2017-05-30-at-9.53.04-AM.png)
IEP season usually runs from late March through early June, and it’s a time when parents and teachers meet with the IEP team to assess the past year’s progress and also plan for changes that should take place for the upcoming year. Be aware, too, that we have a new Supreme Court decision that is holding school districts accountable. Here is an important excerpt from the Endrew F. vs. Douglas County School District decision: “The IEP must aim to enable the child to make progress. After all, the essential function of an IEP is to set out a plan for pursuing academic and functional advancement… When all is said and done, a student offered an educational program providing ‘merely more than de minimis’ [trivial or […]
![WHEN A UNIVERSITY IS DYSLEXIA-UNFRIENDLY [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/element5-digital-jCIMcOpFHig-unsplash-scaled.jpg)
Despite recent advances in dyslexia-friendly policies and statements in K-12 and higher education, reports of dyslexia-unfriendly and discriminatory practices are more common than anyone would like to mention. At the university level, rarely is there any education for faculty and staff about the needs of dyslexic and LD students on campus, so it should not be surprising that many professors will not understand why accommodations are necessary for dyslexic students. They may actively discourage students from obtaining such accommodations although it is against federal law. As we have recently reported, US Department of Justice regulations requires that private colleges give “Considerable weight to the documentation of past accommodations, modifications, or auxiliary aids or services received in similar situations” and not require additional burdensome re-testing. […]
![Dyslexia and Medical School – AMA Journal of Ethics [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Screen-Shot-2019-09-03-at-3.44.07-PM.jpg)
In an important article published in the AMA Journal of Ethics, physicians call for mandatory dyslexia training for medical school faculty. The article presents the case of a 1st year dyslexic medical student who excelled in college and in clinical research, but who is conflicted about whether to disclose his dyslexia to faculty and fellow classmates because of his concerns that it would negatively impact his “education, performance, and reputation.” The writers comment: “Given the scientific progress in understanding the epidemiology, cognitive basis, and neurobiology of dyslexia, it is surprising that ignorance of the condition persists; such ignorance continues to result in faculty misperceptions of dyslexia. For example, the very common and physiologically based symptom of slow reading in dyslexia can be misinterpreted as slow […]
![Surviving Parent Teacher Conferences [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/parent-teacher-conferences.jpg)
Parent-Teaching Conferences can be stressful for both parents and teachers. Keep your eye on the big picture, think strategically, and work toward a positive year for your student in the classroom. Often the amount of time you have with the teacher is quite short because of the total number of students involved. As a result, plan on showing up to see how the beginning of the year is progressing and focus on finding solutions if your students is lagging behind or having difficulties. If you’ve purchase Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, or Dyscalculia Teacher cards, now is a good time to use them. Quick Tips for Parent Teacher Conferences If Your Student is Dyslexic: Make a Positive First Impression – This may be the first time your meeting this teacher and she […]
Well, maybe not invincible, but you know what we mean. There's a new idea circulating among business leaders and entrepreneurs. It's not mindset or grit, but of course those are important. It's rejection therapy. Some people think part of the reason for higher than...
![Dyslexia and IQ: What You Must Know [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/iq-graphic-scaled.jpg)
Here are 4 of the Most Important Things You Should Know About Dyslexia & IQ: #1. It Can Be Used to Identify Strengths and Talents. In our minds, one of the best reasons that dyslexic students benefit by IQ testing is that it can quickly establish their intelligence and strengths. There are many strengths that aren’t measured by IQ testing, of course, but also many that it can find – and it provides an objective standard with schools and other institutions wil accept. For dyslexic students in particular, it tends to trump traditional ‘achievement’ assessments because the best tests are given one-on-one (we do not like group IQ tests) and tests of higher order thinking are for the most part untimed (the verbal tests) involve […]
Things are changing. From ABC: "Fortunately for Christa Hills, her dyslexia diagnosis came when she was in primary school. She was able to access appropriate help from a young age. Now studying for her Year 12 exams, she regards dyslexia as a gift. 'It's really great....
