WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?
Texas Education Code (TEC) §38.003 defines dyslexia and related disorders in the following way: "Dyslexia" means a disorder of constitutional origin manifested by a difficulty in learning to read, write, or spell, despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence, and sociocultural opportunity.
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON SIGNS OF DYSLEXIA?
Kindergarten - 3rd Grade
- Failure to understand that words are made up of parts or individual sounds
- Difficulty learning the letter names and their corresponding sounds
- Difficulty reading single words in isolation
- Choppy reading
- Difficulty spelling words the way they sound
4th Grade - High School
- History of reading and spelling difficulties
- Avoids reading aloud
- Reads most materials slowly; oral reading is not fluent
- Avoids reading
- Difficulty with spelling
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON MYTHS?
- Reading and writing letters backwards is the main sign of dyslexia.
- Dyslexia is a vision problem.
- Dyslexia can be "cured" or outgrown.
- Dyslexia is caused by lack of effort.
HOW DOES RISD SERVE DYSLEXIC STUDENTS?
- Students with dyslexia are provided services to meet individual needs.
- Identified students are provided with an appropriate instructional program that is systematic, sequential, and multi-sensory.
For more information about dyslexia, contact your child's teacher or:
Audrey Pelzel
RISD Dyslexia Specialist
512-430-6030, ext 5030
