Governor Hochul Signs the Dyslexia/Dysgraphia Task Force Act on 
​December 26th, 2023
​
​New York's First-Ever Action Bill for Literacy!

The bill aims to establish a dyslexia and dysgraphia task force and implement the findings. 

Thank You, Governor Hochul, for Your Leadership!

*Proposes Legislation to Ensure Evidence-Based Practices are Used at All NY Schools

​*10 Million in State Funding to Train 20,000 Teachers 

*SUNY and CUNY Microdential Program for Teachers Will Expand to Ensure  Next Generation of Educators Utilize Evidence-Based Best Practices

​For more information click image:

Share Your Experience of Dyslexia at School - Let us Ensure the Task Force Stay Informed! Parents, students, teachers, and administrators are welcome.

The Right to Read

​Watch the Film for Free this Black History Month!

Thursday, February 1st

In celebration of Black History Month this February, join us for a free virtual screening of The Right to Read on February 1, 2024. The film will be available for just 24 hours, so make sure to mark your calendars!

Pre-register to watch the film for a reminder when the film becomes available, here.

Guidance from NYS Dept. Of Education:
Directs Schools to Put Diagnosis on Independent Education Plans (IEPs) 

Look at this, New York's one and only literacy law: a letter.

NYSED FUND 
SCIENCE-BASED  
READING & WRITING
REMEDIATION PROGRAMS
& METHODOLOGY 
FOR ALL STUDENTS

WAKE - UP NYSED!
LOOK AT THE TERRIBLE DATA 
84 % OF BLACK & AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS
READ AT OR BELOW BASIC

65% OF GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENTS READ AT OR BELOW BASIC

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW & GO TO "THOUGHT EXCHANGE" AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK!
THANK YOU

A Hidden Crisis in New York

​84% of Black or African American Children Read Below Grade Level. 53% Are Functionally Illiterate.
68% of 8th Grade General Education Students in New York State Read Below Grade Level.
Why do New York schools fail to teach reading over 68% of the time?
​
Find Out Why - Listen to Our Article Here:

Click logo to see data on NYSED's website:
Change a life: donate

Dyslexia Day 2020, Albany NY

We testified and provided evidence that NYS needs literacy laws to protect our students, teachers and communities from teacher training programs that do not teach children how to read. We need science-based programs that work!
Joint Legislative Public Hearing 02/11/2020, we asked for literacy laws to ensure that all children received a science-based approach to reading. An approach that shows e
Click for Written Testimony HERE

2018

​

Thursday 8th March
Dyslexia Symposium:The Way Forward

Background information 
Most experts agree that dyslexia accounts for 80% of all learning disabilities, and nearly 20% of the population is hampered by it. However the rates of dyslexia soar higher among the homeless and the incarcerated. The intersectionality with mental health issues is clear as well. While people of means can find tutors and specialized schools for their kids, as well as relief for the anxiety and depression that comes with failing, too many other families are left behind. 
As dropping literacy rates were noticed throughout the 1990s, Congress called for a National Reading Panel. To examine best practices in reading instruction, the panel reviewed 100,000 studies and published a comprehensive report. Among other things, there was no evidence to show “whole language” pedagogy is effective. Whole language focuses on reading sentences and paragraphs, but ignores words. Rather, the report concluded that teaching children the relationship among sounds, letters and spelling patterns improves reading for all struggling readers, not simply those with dyslexia.
Since then, the “balanced literacy” approach became popular and helps natural readers but still leaves out struggling readers and dyslexic students. 20 years after the National Reading Panel we have made little progress in preparing teachers to teach reading and writing. The specialized schools train their own teachers. The International Dyslexia Association has identified only 25 colleges in the U.S. that prepare teachers to work with dyslexic readers.
If you are interested I can send you research on the intersectionality of dyslexia and mass incarceration, and a separate report on dyslexia and homelessness.
​
Debbie Meyer
Founding Member
Dyslexia (Plus) Task Force





​2017
​

New York State Recognizes Dyslexia on School IEPs
Picture
Credit: Sag Harbor Express (sagharborexpress.com)
A Conversation with Helen and Harry Roussel

A Conversation with Helen and Harry Roussel (2017) HERE

Dyslexia Awareness Day in Albany April 4th 2017

Hold a "Dyslexic Days Library initiative"
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Contact: [email protected]


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2016



​Have Your Child Assessed and or Come to Our

​Information Sessions

Picture
Yale and many other educational institutions state that 20% of our population have dyslexia. Three out of every four people on welfare cannot read properly, there are strong correlation to mental and emotional wellbeing and the inability to read. Illiteracy is quoted as being the direct pipeline from school to jail and poverty (NAAL). We know of many students who read years below their grade level (67% of 4th graders) and are not getting programs from their school districts in the Hamptons (NYSED) .

Because of these issues we are holding an East Hampton Library sponsored initiative "Reaching Resistant Readers" on Saturday 3rd December (see flyer attached). An Orton-Gillingham specialist who works at a public school Upstate will be in East Hampton to conduct assessments for K-3rd grade (using PAR) and present informational sessions to parents. The session at 12.30-1pm is particularly designed for special education teachers, school psychologists and administrators. We will also have a specialist in assistive technology demonstrate the newest AT and other resources. The informational sessions for teachers are centered in multi-sensory approaches, structured literacy and Orton-Gillingham. 

The goal is to get as many teachers interested in training as possible so we may hold a training session locally at the Peconic Teachers Center, otherwise our teachers will have to travel to NYC and it is not possible for those who have young children.

Wilson Intensive is a good program for dyslexic students or those who are reading a few years below grade level - it is a kick-starter of a program. The majority of teachers can be trained in it as it is a highly structured program and falls within reach of the skills and knowledge of the majority of special education teachers. The down side is that it does not help with dysgraphia, in the way many children need to learn math, it does not reach our autistic community (many children on the autism spectrum have learnt to read using Orton-Gillingham). Orton-Gillngham centers on multi-sensory approaches, there are many other factors that are not included in the Wilson Intensive program as a result children will not develop some critical skills or may not be reached at all. 

Many special education teachers are tasked with helping children at the end of the day to grasp math concepts that may have eluded them during the lesson - wouldn't it be smarter to have the special education teacher then teach the class using a multi-sensory approach? By using a different part of the brain to learn aspects of writing or math a child will make the progress that would otherwise be completely lost.

Next September all special education teachers at City University NY will be trained in Orton-Gillingham, all current public school special education teachers will be retrained in Orton-Gillingham (http://www.ortonacademy.org) but that is the city-too far for our teachers to travel. 

We have a brilliant opportunity to train teachers on the east end, if we had enough teachers interested the Peconic Teachers Center would be interested in conducting training locally so all teachers interested may train.

2015

Dyslexia Hill Day, Washington DC  2015
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​https://dyslexiacaucus-brownley.house.gov/photo-gallery/dyslexia-hill-day-2015
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