Dyslexia Awareness Month

Please contact the school principal or literacy specialist if you have questions or concerns about your child’s learning. Your school’s Special Education Advisory Committee representative is another excellent parent resource. 

Dyslexia Awareness Month: What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. 

Children and adults with dyslexia may struggle to read fluently, spell words correctly, and memorize rote facts such as multiplication tables, among other challenges. But these difficulties have no connection to their overall intelligence. While people with dyslexia can be slow readers, they often, paradoxically, are very fast and creative thinkers with strong reasoning abilities.

Dyslexia can’t be “cured”—it is lifelong. But with appropriate instruction, an individual with dyslexia can learn to read, write, and spell and become a highly successful individual. 

IDA Dyslexia Handbook: What Every Family Should Know

Get the facts on Dyslexia from the International Dyslexia Association (IDA): Fact Sheets 

Video: What is Dyslexia in 4.5 minutes? https://youtu.be/zafiGBrFkRM

What are the signs of Dyslexia?

Dyslexia commonly affects how the brain processes written and spoken language. It can be associated with trouble reading but can also affect writing, spelling, and speaking. Some children have one or two of these issues on occasion. Please review the LOSD Dyslexia Handbook for characteristics and signs of Dyslexia in children from preschool to high school.

AudioEye Accessibility Tool

AudioEye is our district's primary accessibility tool. When you see the accessibility graphic (or “widget”) on our district webpages, click on it to view a variety of accessibility tools, e.g., keyboard navigation, screen reader, pause animations, text spacing, or color options. 

Assistive Technology … Did you know?

Technology is changing and improving the school experience for students with dyslexia. Text-to-speech and speech-to-text software, calculators, and note-taking apps are typical examples of “assistive technology.” Many of us enjoy audiobooks for pleasure reading, but audiobooks also can serve as a vital piece of assistive technology for those with learning differences such as dyslexia.

With audiobooks, everyone can acquire new vocabulary, expand their knowledge and love of books, and enjoy complex or intriguing storylines. Because students with dyslexia have excellent listening comprehension, audiobooks enable independent access to the school curriculum through “ear-reading” of complex or voluminous textbooks and novels. 

The Lake Oswego Public Library has many audiobook services here: E-books and Streaming

LOSD assistive technology and audiobook resource information can be found here: LOSD Audiobooks & Read-Aloud Tools

Oregon's State of Mind on Dyslexia

Oregon developed its first legislative guidelines for dyslexia in 2015 with the passing of Senate Bill 612, followed by 1003 in 2017. By law, each school must complete a universal screening on all kindergarten and first-grade students to identify those at risk for dyslexia. This law also mandates that each K-5 school have an extensively trained educator who can recognize the warning signs of dyslexia and support students, teachers, parents, and the community. LOSD currently uses DIBELS as our dyslexia screening tool. If you have more questions, please contact your school’s literacy specialist.

There also are three major federal laws that directly affect children with dyslexia. They are the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

Oregon Department of Education Dyslexia Resources: Oregon Department of Education : Dyslexia: Regional Programs and Best Practices: State of Oregon

Gifted and Dyslexia?

Some kids with learning and attention difficulties have exceptional skills in certain areas. These kids are often called “twice-exceptional” (2E) learners. 

LOSD Student Services and TAG (Talented & Gifted) Services are both responsible and should cooperate to meet the needs of twice-exceptional students. The student’s abilities will determine appropriate instruction. 

To read about twice-exceptional students, visit UNDERSTOOD.ORG: Twice-Exceptional Students | 2E Learners | Gifted and Learning Disabilities