Latest news with #InternationalDyslexiaAssociation
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
From maps to meetings, my struggles as a dyslexic adult
Byline: K Vaishali A lot of people believe that the effects of dyslexia are only felt in school, that adults aren't affected by dyslexia. In a yoga class, meditating in padmasana, when the instructor asks the class to start anulom vilom breathing — use your right hand, gently close your right nostril with your right thumb — I go from a state of meditative calm to a state of dyslexic panic. I immediately open my eyes to look at the person next to me to mimic what they are doing. I'm 33 years old, and I can confirm that I still can't process multi-step verbal instructions or tell left from right easily. Being a dyslexic adult means adjusting to awkward, embarrassing and, at times, frightening situations. It's awkward when a colleague wants me to review a document and I have to move the text to another application that's more friendly to my screen reader, where I can change the font to a font that's easier on my eyes. As a dyslexic person, I don't read words by joining letters, I read words by recognising their shape. Since the shape of words changes with the font, my reading speed depends on the shape of the font. When I was seeking a diagnosis at the age of 20, an age when I could legally drink, drive, and consent to sex, the govt hospital needed my parent's signature to let me take the dyslexia assessment. My dyslexia evaluation used tests developed in the US. These weren't adapted to the Indian context or education system and may be inadequate to test those who haven't done their formal education in English Vaishali It's embarrassing when I am in a conference room at work where my peers and seniors are addressing me by my name and, despite significant conscious efforts, I can't remember their names. If I know who's invited to a meeting, I look at their profile pictures, their names, and look up their names' pronunciations before the meeting, but multiple faceless profiles on the invite make me nervous. I cope by addressing them with pronouns — you/they/she made a great point! It's frightening when I'm in a foreign country trying to read a map to find my way around. Sitting in a bus stop chanting the bus number in my head so I don't forget it, just to get on a bus and realise after a few stops that I'm going in the wrong direction. I have been confused and stranded more times than I can count. Dyslexia is a learning disability that primarily affects reading and writing skills due to difficulties processing language. The International Dyslexia Association claims that as many as 15-20% of the global population could have dyslexia. Dyslexia is not a reflection of a person's intelligence or effort: many highly intelligent and creative individuals, including successful entrepreneurs, scientists and artists, are dyslexic. Dyslexia is not something a person can 'grow out of', but early detection and remedial education help dyslexic individuals learn strategies to improve their reading and writing skills. My understanding of dyslexia is still evolving, I was already an adult when I was diagnosed with dyslexia. My evaluation involved a psychiatric assessment, an IQ test, and a series of tests that aimed to map my reading and writing skills to the standardised skill levels of various school grades. A psychiatrist then evaluated my reading and writing tests along with my IQ test and diagnosed me with dyslexia. Because skills are mapped to school grades, it's harder to get diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult. Perhaps most telling of this fact is when I was seeking a diagnosis at the age of 20, an age when I could legally drink, drive, and consent to sex, the government hospital needed my parent's signature to let me take the dyslexia assessment. My dyslexia evaluation used the Woodcock-Johnson 3 assessment and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IQ test which were both developed in the US. These tests weren't adapted to the Indian context or education system and may be inadequate to test those who haven't done their formal education in English, making them inaccessible and ineffective to most Indians. As a dyslexic adult, I possess a unique cognitive toolkit that sets me apart. My mind excels at interconnected reasoning and abstract thinking, allowing me to quickly discern hidden connections and intricate patterns within complex, evolving systems. This enables me to leverage my dyslexic creativity to solve challenging problems with innovative solutions. Dyslexia also fuels my ability to be an empathetic storyteller. I can craft vivid narratives and deliver clear, engaging messages that resonate with others. Navigating an ableist world has made me resourceful and flexible, which makes me a highly effective team player. My professional achievements — a fast-paced career in tech and winning the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar for my book 'Homeless' — are a direct result of dyslexia, not in spite of it. Vaishali is an award-winning author Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
CBS News
01-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Colorado Senate bill for standardized dyslexia screening makes way through State Capitol: "This is a piece we're missing"
Monday was a big day at the state capitol building for Laura Mitchell. As a co-founder of COKID, an organization dedicated to providing resources and advocacy for dyslexic children across the state , the fight for standardized dyslexia testing in Colorado has been a years-long battle. "This has to be our year. It has to be for our kids," she said. The original READ Act was adopted just prior to 2020, but since that time, the state has lagged in its ability to create guidelines for testing, advocates say. "It's in their best interest to get them on grade level just like the other kids by third grade because that's when you go from learning to read to reading to learn," Mitchell said. She and her COKID co-founder, Lindsay Drakos, know the struggles on a personal level. "My oldest was 10 in fifth grade," Drakos told CBS Colorado. "I paid for a private evaluation -- $2,000 -- when she was 10 years old and found out she was dyslexic." The costs of such services can be prohibitive for many. And while Drakos and Mitchell were able to help their kids, they don't want to pull the metaphorical ladder up behind them. Instead, they continue to advocate for standardized testing to help provide equity across the state education system. "Seventy-five percent of Black, Latino and low-income kids in Colorado are not reading proficiently and this is a piece we're missing," Drakos said. The biggest question on the legislative side is regarding the state budget , as many bills that require significant funding may face some hurdles to getting to the governor's desk. Democratic State Sen. Chris Kolker, one of the bill's co-sponsors, explained that that wouldn't be a problem for what is known as Senate Bill 25-200. "It does not have a fiscal note and we do not have any general fund expenditures foreseen initially," he said. As Colorado aims to catch up to other states across the country. "We're trailing to the last five-ish states with getting actual legislation for universal dyslexia screening," said Rachel Arnold, who runs the Rocky Mountain Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. The hope is that future children, like Laura and Lindsay's, have a chance of catching up earlier academically and being set up for success across the state.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Lexia Aspire Professional Learning Earns Prestigious IDA Accreditation
The International Dyslexia Association accreditation recognizes excellence in educator preparation programs BOSTON, February 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lexia Aspire Professional Learning, a science of reading-based professional learning solution from Lexia, a Cambium Learning Group brand, has been awarded the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Accreditation Seal. This recognition comes as part of the IDA's Program Review and Accreditation initiative, which promotes the systematic evaluation and continuous improvement of educator preparation programs (EPPs). The IDA accredits programs on the basis of their ability to document alignment with the Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading (KPS). Aspire will be eligible for reaccreditation in 2030. The IDA Standards emphasize the importance of equipping teachers with an in-depth understanding of language structure, particularly the science of reading. These standards cover critical areas such as the speech sound system, the writing system, sentence structure, the meaningful components of words, relationships between words and their meanings, and the organization of spoken and written discourse. "This rigorous and prestigious accreditation process ensures educator preparation programs meet the highest standards in structured literacy, for all students including those students with dyslexia," said Lexia President, Nick Gaehde. "This accreditation distinguishes Aspire as a trusted, high-quality professional learning program and reinforces its position as a leader in providing evidence-based professional learning for educators of adolescent learners." Aspire is a flexible, self-paced digital solution that helps educators apply science-based strategies that accelerate literacy skills among students in grades 4-8 across disciplines and all levels of literacy competencies. The program, available 24/7, is designed to support all upper elementary and middle school educators, including content area teachers, classroom teachers, interventionists, speech pathologists and English language arts educators. The Aspire solution helps educators quickly build the depth of skills needed to support students who are 'reading to learn' but have not yet mastered the foundational reading skills required to learn, comprehend, and articulate ideas across various subjects. To qualify for accreditation, Aspire's requirements for participation, foundational pedagogy, curriculum, assessments, and author credentials were all submitted for a comprehensive review. "The IDA is raising awareness of the critical importance of teacher preparation in reading instruction," said Gaehde. "And the rigor of its review means that graduates from an IDA-accredited program can rest assured that they have the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively teach both struggling readers and the general student population. When teachers are better equipped to teach reading, the impact of reading difficulties—including dyslexia—can be significantly reduced." About IDAThe International Dyslexia Association (IDA) provides the opportunity for all people who struggle with dyslexia and other related reading differences to have richer, more robust lives by providing access to the tools and resources they need. IDA's home office, 38 branches in the United States and Canada, and 12 Global Partners provide educator training, publications information, and support to help struggling readers around the world. IDA is the authoritative voice of current and reliable research and information to educate families and professionals about dyslexia and to inform the practice and policy changes needed to provide effective instruction for all people to learn to read. IDA has been serving individuals with dyslexia, their families, and professionals in the field for more than sixty-five years. Its membership is composed of a global network of people with dyslexia, their families, educators, diagnosticians, physicians, researchers, and other professionals in the field. IDA provides publications and information and referral services to thousands of people each year, and its annual conference attracts thousands of researchers, clinicians, parents, teachers, psychologists, educational therapists, and people with dyslexia. Visit IDA at to learn more. About LexiaLexia®, a Cambium Learning Group brand, is a leader in science of reading-based solutions. For more than 40 years, the company has focused on pre-K-12 literacy and today provides solutions for students and educators. With a complete offering of professional learning, curriculum, and embedded assessment, Lexia helps more learners read, write, and speak with confidence. For more information, visit About Cambium Learning GroupCambium Learning Group is the education essentials company, providing award-winning education technology and services for K-12 educators and students. With an intentional collection of respected global brands, Cambium serves as a leader, helping millions of educators and students feel more seen, valued, and supported every day. In everything it does, the company focuses on the elements that are most essential to the success of education, delivering simpler, more certain solutions that make a meaningful difference right now. To learn more, visit or follow Cambium on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. The Cambium family of brands includes: Cambium Assessment, Lexia, Learning A-Z, ExploreLearning, and Time4Learning. View source version on Contacts Media ContactsSabrina LeonLexia PR Charlotte AndristNickel Communicationscharlotte@ Media Inquiries Only: 770-310-5244 Sign in to access your portfolio
