Dyslexia Information
What is Dyslexia?
The following language was used to describe dyslexia in S.R. 576 (2016) by the U.S. Senate, based on a panel of experts in the field:
- Defined as an unexpected difficulty in reading for an individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader; and
- Most commonly due to a difficulty in phonological processing (the appreciation of the individual sounds of spoken language), which affects the ability of an individual to speak, read, spell, and often, learn a second language
HHSC Dyslexia Stats
In accordance with Indiana Code 217 (read more here):
School Year 2024-2025
The dyslexia intervention program(s) used during the previous school year to support students with dyslexia:
- Seeing Stars
- Visualizing/Verbalizing
- Recipe for Reading (Orton Gillingham)
- Fundations
- UFLI
- Lexia Core5
The number of students who received dyslexia intervention during the previous school year: This indicator represents the number of students who were identified as “at risk” or “at some risk” for dyslexia during the previous school year and who received the appropriate interventions.
- This school year, we utilized a new universal screener called Amplify mClass with DIBELS, 8th edition. 55 students K-2 were identified as "at risk" or "at some risk" for characteristics of dyslexia in the 2024-2025 school year.
The number of students identified with dyslexia during the previous school year.
- 17 Students were identified as SLD due to a pattern consistent with dyslexia
Signs & Misconceptions
The following struggles may be signs of dyslexia if observed after adequate instructional opportunity and effort:
- Decoding words
- Recalling letters of the alphabet
- Rhyming words
- Recognizing words that start with the same sound
- Blending sounds to make a word
- Retrieving specific words (e.g., says “stuff” or “things” instead of known word)
- Spelling words
- Remembering spoken directions
- Reading aloud in class
- Recalling names of people and places
Some views of dyslexia that are incorrect include the following:
- Letter or number reversals indicate a child is dyslexic.
- Students with dyslexia never learn how to read.
- Dyslexia is a vision problem.
- Dyslexic readers simply lack motivation or effort.
- Dyslexia is a medical condition that a doctor has to diagnose.
- Special diets, tinted glasses, or balancing exercises are cures.
- A child identified with a specific learning disability in reading at school was overlooked for dyslexia.
Want to know more?
Dyslexia is generally misunderstood; that's why it's so important to learn about. If you're interested in learning more about dyslexia, download and read the Hamilton-Boone-Madison Special Services Cooperative pamphlet.
In 2018, the Senate passed Act 217, an act to amend the Indiana Code concerning education.