News

Dyslexia Awareness Month in October aims to support those with this learning difficulty. Dyslexia is not a disorder of any kind; but it is a learning impairment that causes problems with writing, reading, and spelling. 

About

The intelligence of dyslexic people is unaffected. This misunderstanding of the condition leads to stigmas, which Dyslexia Awareness Month aims to eradicate.

The International Dyslexia Association defines dyslexia as the following:

“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.”

Resources

In support of Dyslexia Awareness Month, Trying Together, as well as our Buzzword program, have provided resources on dyslexia, and other learning impairments:

• “Dyslexia” Isn’t a Dirty Word: Let’s End the Stigma and Get Students the Training They Need (Pittsburgh Business Journals)
• How to Teach Kids With Dyslexia to Read (Child Mind Institute)
• Understanding Dyslexia (Child Mind Institute)
• International Dyslexia Association Fact Sheets (International Dyslexia Association)
• Free Early Literacy Materials for PA Early Learning Programs (Trying Together)

Buzzword List of children’s books surrounding dyslexia:

• Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty 
• Brilliant Bea by Shaina Rudolph
• A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott
• Back to Front and Upside Down! by Claire Alexander
• Just Ask! by Sonia Sotomayor

You can also check out the latest video from Buzzword regarding a great, amazing read for children called “Aaron Slater, Illustrator” by Andrea Beaty.