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Why this matters right now

The 21st Century Dyslexia Act is currently in review. Small wording changes can have outsized effects on who qualifies for support and how schools interpret their obligations. Two issues to watch closely are (1) whether the bill removes or weakens the idea of “unexpected difficulty,” and (2) whether it shifts dyslexia out of IDEA’s framework for Specific Learning Disabilities, which could reduce clarity and enforceability of protections for many students.

HERE is our Policy Brief.

Contact your Senator and Representative

You do not need to be an expert. Congressional offices pay attention to clear, personal messages from constituents, especially when a bill is under review.

Step 1: Find your Members of Congress

Use the official “Find Your Member” tool at Congress.gov to locate your U.S. House Representative and your two U.S. Senators. Once you have their names, go to each official website and use the “Contact” page (email form) or call the Washington, D.C. office.

Step 2: Send a short message

Keep it short, respectful, and specific. You can paste the sample below and personalize the bracketed lines.

Sample message (email or contact form)
Subject: Please protect students with dyslexia in the 21st Century Dyslexia Act

Hello [Senator/Representative Last Name] and staff,

I’m a constituent in [City, State]. I’m writing about the 21st Century Dyslexia Act, which is currently under review.

Please ensure the bill continues to recognize dyslexia as an unexpected difficulty in reading that can occur in students with average to superior reasoning potential, and please avoid language that would weaken identification or reduce protections by shifting dyslexia outside IDEA’s framework for Specific Learning Disabilities.

In our community, [one sentence personal reason: my child / my students / my work / my own experience]. When “unexpected difficulty” is not recognized, capable students can be overlooked, denied appropriate instruction, or refused accommodations because their reading struggles are treated as “expected.”

Thank you for protecting accurate identification and enforceable supports for students with dyslexia.

Sincerely,
[Full Name]
[City, ZIP]
[Optional: Phone number]

Step 3: Make one phone call (optional, but powerful)

Call the D.C. office and leave a 20–30 second message:
Hello, I’m [Name], a constituent in [City]. I’m calling about the 21st Century Dyslexia Act. Please protect the “unexpected difficulty” concept in dyslexia and avoid changes that would weaken IDEA protections for students who need services and accommodations. Thank you.

Step 4: If you are a teacher, clinician, or school leader
Add one sentence about what you see in practice:
In my work, I regularly see students whose comprehension and reasoning are strong, but who still need explicit instruction and accommodations for print-based tasks.

Step 5: Share this with one other person

Forward this page to a friend, teacher, tutor, or family member who cares about dyslexia. A few short, respectful messages from different constituents can make a real difference while a bill is in review.