Decoding Dyslexia Virginia

Decoding Dyslexia Virginia is a grassroots movement focused on linking families to resources, support, and educational interventions for dyslexia. We aim to raise dyslexia awareness, empower families to support their children and inform policy-makers on best practices to identify, remediate and support students with dyslexia in Virginia. Virginia has a universal definition of dyslexia in the state education code: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/regulations/state/regs_speced_disability_va.pdf We are advocating for Virginia to implement: 1. Teacher/staff training on dyslexia, its warning signs and appropriate intervention strategies 2. Early screening tests for dyslexia to include parental notification 3. Evidenced-based dyslexia remediation programs implemented with fidelity which can be accessed by both general and special education populations 4. Access to appropriate “assistive technologies” in the public school setting for students with dyslexia Our group is made up of parents whose children are dyslexic. We are not experts; we are not a business or an educational organization. We offer the community the benefit of our collective experiences. We encourage parents to meet with their local policy-makers to tell the story of their child, and ask for policies and/or legislation to identify and support dyslexic children in our public schools.