Dyslexia law

Dyslexic students need equal access to learning opportunities. The federal government and states have introduced a wide range of dyslexia legislation to help ensure this accessibility, protecting these students and their education.

This article will dig into that legislation.

It starts with an IDEA

Learning disabilities affect many people, but it doesn’t diminish their rights to participate in society. The first step in helping them achieve their goals is to improve educational opportunities for children with dyslexia. It paves the way for independent living and self-sufficiency.

One of the most important laws the federal government has enacted to provide equal education is the Individuals with Disabilities Education ACT (IDEA). This legislation makes free public education available to eligible kids with dyslexia and related disorders.

It’s a comprehensive federal law that offers access to public schools nationwide. The law guarantees special education and additional services to affected individuals.

On top of that, IDEA dictates how public agencies and states provide early intervention to over 8 million children, youth, and infants with disabilities:

• IDEA Part C covers infants (from birth to 2 years old) with dyslexia or other disorders and their families.
• IDEA Part B covers youth and children (ages 3 to 21) with dyslexia or other disorders.
• IDEA also offers formula grants for states to enhance special education, early intervention, and related services.

Lastly, it gives discretionary grants to non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, and state agencies. The funds support the following factors to ensure easy access to schools:

• Evidence-based research
• Demonstrations
• Technology development
• Technical assistance
• Personnel development and preparation
• Parent and teacher training
• Information centers

These programs help involve more people in special education services. With everyone on the same page, dyslexic students can learn more efficiently.

State laws for dyslexia

Federal legislation is but a starting point for ensuring equality for dyslexic persons. States can build on IDEA with their own laws.

The main reason is that everyone’s needs are different. Someone may have a specific learning disability that requires more intervention and support than other children. Therefore, specific state laws can give children with dyslexia additional protection and rights throughout the school year.

Another reason state laws are sometimes more comprehensive than federal legislation is research. IDEA passed nearly 40 years ago, but there’s been in-depth research into dyslexia since the enactment. Professionals have learned more about the condition and its effects.

There’s also been more advocacy by the Department of Education to start reading programs and interventions that help children with this disorder. Plus, researchers know more about recognizing the condition and performing dyslexia screening at different grade levels.

Many breakthroughs predate IDEA, but state governments can optimize their guidelines with current research. In turn, they can pass laws to outline ways for school districts to identify, evaluate, and teach children after determining their eligibility.

As state schools have some independence when implementing IDEA, they can focus on different aspects of children’s lives. But in general, they address the following problems:

• Defining dyslexia or other disorders that influence language learning
• Early identification and using different screening tools in early grades and high school
• Dyslexia handbooks that outline procedures for interventions and screening
• Professional development and training for teachers to help them better understand how to approach dyslexic children
• Educating future teachers about dyslexia and the multisensory approach to learning
• Accommodations, early reading instructions, and support for kids diagnosed with dyslexia
• Funding various programs and initiatives

Supporting dyslexia in school and work – What can you do?

Dyslexia can impact all aspects of the affected individual’s life, not just school performance. It can impair their career and professional development.

Here are a few other characteristics of dyslexia, besides difficulty with spelling and writing:

• Remembering addresses, appointments, and instructions
• Copying information accurately (similar to dysgraphia)
• Distinguishing between left and right
• Reading maps

Sufferers have these challenges because dyslexia blocks essential brain processes. Some training can help them elevate their literacy, but it may not be applicable in the workplace.

They need professional support to manage nine-to-five challenges, and relaxation training is one of the best options. Combined with assertiveness practice, it enables employees to raise their self-esteem and deal with problems in a calm environment.

Another great idea recommended by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) is integrating productivity software for employees and learners. It allows them to organize data more effectively.

Screen readers are also invaluable. They help students and workers read and write without feeling anxiety when reading aloud.

Moreover, be sure to provide dyslexic children and employees enough time to complete, process, and read tasks. Give them frequent breaks to minimize the risk of information overload. You can use calendars to enhance their time management.

Finally, a quiet classroom and working environment are incredibly beneficial. Noisy settings can aggravate them, so make sure they’re not near loud peers who can distract them.

Speechify – Helping dyslexic people read text

As previously discussed, people can use cutting-edge technology to help dyslexic people overcome challenges and improve professional development. One of the tools you can rely on is Speechify – a complete text to speech (TTS) platform.

The software is perfect for assisting dyslexic individuals due to several features. For instance, Speechify can increase their phonemic awareness by reading text aloud on any device. As it reads the source material, it highlights words to help the user focus.

Additionally, the AI-generated voices pronounce text clearly and naturally. There are no monotonous voices. Instead, you get human-like recordings that guarantee immersive sessions.

Speechify can help dyslexic individuals in many more ways. Visit the website today to get a closer look at this convenient tool.

FAQ

Which states have a dyslexia law?

Many states have enacted laws to provide easy access to Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for people with dyslexia, including Tennessee, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Arizona. Most of them also use the same definition of dyslexia but contact your senator for more information about your state.

Is dyslexia covered under the American Disability Act?

Learning disabilities, like dyslexia, are normally covered under the American Disability Act because they dramatically impair life activities. 

What states do not recognize dyslexia?

Few states have no laws that improve educational opportunities for dyslexic individuals, such as Vermont, Idaho, and Hawaii.

What are the symptoms of dyslexia?

The most common symptoms of dyslexia are slow reading, learning new words slowly, reversing sounds, and difficulty pronouncing certain words.

Is dyslexia a learning disability?

Dyslexia is a learning disability that causes reading, spelling, and writing problems.