The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity

Dyslexic individuals often have difficulty expressing their creative and intellectual strengths because not many people understand them.

The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity was founded to shed light on this and other learning disabilities, promote dyslexia research, and discuss treatment. Let’s learn more about the center’s history and work.

Who founded the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity?

The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity (YCDC) was founded in 2006 by Dr. Sally Shaywitz and Dr. Bennett Shaywitz.

Dr. Sally Shaywitz is a physician-scientist who has carried out numerous cutting-edge studies related to dyslexia. Her dyslexia research and fascinating findings serve as a framework for understanding this learning disability.

Having written over 350 articles and chapters on learning disabilities, she’s also the author of Overcoming Dyslexia and Overcoming Dyslexia 2nd Edition. These award-winning books represent go-to texts on dyslexia, its nature, and scientific breakthroughs.

Besides being an author and the first Audrey G. Ratner professor at Yale University, Dr. Sally Shaywitz is one of the co-founders and co-directors of the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity.

The second co-founder and co-director of the YCDC is Dr. Bennett Shaywitz. He’s also a physician-scientist who has contributed immensely to dyslexia research.

Being a child neurologist and neuroscientist, his research mostly revolves around identifying and understanding the neural signature behind dyslexia.

His groundbreaking research was the first to demonstrate the brain basis for the lack of fluency dyslexic individuals experience. Dr. Bennett Shaywitz’s latest studies analyze the differences in brain connectivity between typical reading and dyslexic children.

The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity’s goals and mission

The center’s mission is to increase awareness of dyslexia and define its nature. Moreover, the center aims to break the potential stereotypes related to dyslexia by presenting credible research and practical resources. Finally, the organization is dedicated to developing dyslexia treatments.

Dyslexia research and science

As mentioned, one of the YCDC’s goals is to research dyslexia and explain this learning difficulty through science. Hundreds of cutting-edge dyslexia-related studies have been published in an attempt to understand it better.

Scientists often investigate the differences between individuals with and without dyslexia and analyze the neural systems that serve reading. Besides dealing with the actual science behind dyslexia, researchers discuss the effects of different treatments.

Years of research resulted in publication of the aforementioned work Overcoming Dyslexia. The book provides detailed insight into identifying, understanding, and overcoming this learning disability.

Furthermore, the book provides information on the latest research and helpful tools for dyslexic individuals, parents, and educators. The New York Post has described the book as “more relevant than ever.

One of the most significant studies that identified the prevalence of dyslexia and demonstrated its effect on boys and girls is the Connecticut Longitudinal Study. This ongoing study has followed 445 participants since they were five.

National advocacy

The YCDC is an advocate for dyslexic boys and girls, middle-school students, and adults. Over the years, the center has participated in numerous national programs and initiatives that discuss dyslexia and offer support for dyslexic individuals but also for parents and educators.

The YCDC always supports positive changes in understanding and accepting dyslexia. It has applauded the new Federal Dyslexia Policy that is based on the center’s research and findings.

The center’s co-founders have visited numerous locations across the country to educate individuals on this learning difficulty and offer support to those affected by it.

How you can raise awareness of Dyslexia

There are numerous ways to raise awareness of dyslexia:

• Use social media to promote dyslexia.
• Take part in Dyslexia Awareness Month (Dyslexia Awareness Month takes place every October).
• Talk openly about dyslexia to dispel the myths related to it.
• Support dyslexic students, nonprofit organizations, and innovators who contribute to the field.

Navigate the YCDC website with assistive technology

The YCDC website features built-in screen readers that allow dyslexic individuals to use it without difficulty. While the screen readers are efficient and practical, they don’t give the users as much control as other options. Plus, the screen readers are limited only to the YCDC website.

If they want more accessibility and an experience they can control, dyslexic individuals should look to Speechify. Speechify is a text to speech program that can turn any text into speech. This is particularly useful for those with dyslexia.

Of course, anyone who prefers listening to reading can use this amazing program. The software can be useful to children, parents, college students, hobbyists, and people who face reading challenges. Speechify is also great for businesses who want to make their website more accessible.

Speechify has both free and paid subscription plans and is available through browser extensions or mobile phone apps.

Besides customizing the speed of speech, users can choose their favorite voice, language, and accent. Since Speechify features cutting-edge technology, users can enjoy natural-sounding language.

Speechify strives to ensure that reading is never an obstacle to learning. Whether you have reading difficulties or know someone with issues, you should try Speechify and see why more than 20 million users love it.

FAQ

What are the types of dyslexia?

There are numerous types of dyslexia. The main being phonological dyslexia, surface dyslexia, rapid naming dyslexia, and double deficit dyslexia.

What are three signs of dyslexia?

The three signs of dyslexia are confusing letters and having difficulty spelling, slow speech development, and having problems memorizing letters.

What are the reasons why people advocate for dyslexia research?

People advocate for dyslexia research to dispel myths, help dyslexic individuals, learn more about the learning difficulty, and raise awareness.