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A group consisting of members from the three IDA Branches in Ohio: Northern Ohio, Central Ohio, and the Ohio Valley Branch continue to meet and plan for a Dyslexia Law to be introduced to the Ohio Legislature.
Timeline: 2010-Spread awareness of the need for Dyslexia Legislation.
Items targeted to be included in the bill are:
- Assessment, Prevention, and Remediation for Students with Dyslexia
- Systematic, explicit reading instruction
- Instruction taught by a teacher adequately trained and coached
- Professional development of teachers, administrators, superintendents stressing an understanding of dyslexia and what type of instruction dyslexics need to learn to read, write and spell.
- After the bill takes effect, if the district does not have teachers who are properly trained, the district must provide a qualified tutor to work with student during the school day.
- Education majors at all universities/colleges in Ohio be educated about dyslexia as part of the reading curriculum.
- Professors of Education at all universities/colleges in Ohio be educated about dyslexia and effective methods of teaching these students.
A Statewide Dyslexia Awareness Day was held on October 1, 2009.
The Dyslexia Awareness Day, October 1, 2009 was a good beginning. The day was filled with sunshine and music! Organizers received comments from those in attendance that the speakers were very good and the day was well organized. Plans are already in the works for next year’s Dyslexia Awareness Day. Many of the speakers gave heart- wrenching stories of their having to deal with dyslexia themselves or with someone in their family.
 Representative Nancy Garland reassured those in attendance of the effectiveness of contacting your legislators by mail, email, or person-person. She suggested that several people in the same district, as a group contact their legislator. This gives personal contact and the legislator knows that this is not just one person interested in the topic. She commented that when people visit her about a topic and then when the bill comes up, she can connect “faces” to it not just emails or letters.
Another effective method to get the message across to the legislators is a phone call. If a legislator gets two phone calls a week on the same topic....s/he knows this is something important.
Our goal is that every legislator in the state be contacted and informed of problems that exist; that there are dyslexics and students struggling to learn to read and they are getting little or no help from their schools. Unless a legislator has personal contact with someone who is dyslexic and struggling with school, s/he has no idea of the problem.
Jessica Byington, Kelly Fine and Janice Mitchell were the sweethearts of the day. The children in the crowd were thrilled to talk to Jessica and have their picture taken with her. Kelly and her band provided us with delightful music throughout the day. Janice, a dyslexic entrepreneur from Columbus told her “dyslexia” story. Those who heard it will not soon forget it.
Many thanks to those who participated and helped make the Dyslexia Awareness Day a success.
Many driving miles, emails, much discussion, many conference calls, writes….rewrites, and time consuming work have been and are being put into our Ohio Dyslexia Legislation. This is not going to happen “overnight!” Many have asked how you can help.
Three Things To Do:
1) Send this website link to many, many people across the state.
2) Contact your legislators.
3) Continue to check this website.
Right now…send us your email, if you have not done so already. To keep informed and updated about this legislation email us at:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Title your email: Dys Law. 
We need a lot of help to reach the four corners of our state!!!
Every senator and congressman needs to be informed about this bill.
This is where we need your help!!! |