Our Goals
Decoding Dyslexia – NJ is a grassroots movement driven by NJ families concerned with the limited access to educational interventions for dyslexia within our public schools. 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 NJ public schools.
We advocate for:
- Expanded and improved access to early screening tests for dyslexia
- Mandatory dyslexia remediation programs, which can be accessed by both general and special education populations
- Access to appropriate “assistive technologies” in the public school setting for students with dyslexia
Goals we have achieved to date:
- A universal definition and understanding of “dyslexia” in the state education code (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.3)
- Mandatory teacher training on dyslexia, its warning signs and appropriate intervention strategies (N.J.S. 18A:6-131)
- Mandatory early screening tests for dyslexia (N.J.S. 18A:40-5.1, et seq.)
- Spreading awareness and offering families a variety of opportunities to connect, share experiences, and gain insights and resources:
- A Facebook Page reaching over 8,000 followers
- Parent/educator workshops and events
- Community roundtable discussions
- Parent networking sessions after our monthly business meetings
DD-NJ Advocacy in Action!
DD-NJ with Timothy Lynagh, Deputy Chief of Staff & Legislative Director for Rep Christopher Smith (NJ)
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DD-NJ with former US Representative Rush Holt (NJ)
DD-NJ with Brendan Hennessey, Legislative Assistant for Representative Frank Pallone (NJ)
Dr. Nadine Gaab published a list a common dyslexia myths. Myth #1: Children will grow out of their dyslexia/reading impairment on their own and catch up eventually. Gaab Lab ![]()
www.gaablab.com/dyslexia-myths
www.gaablab.com
Without intervention, children who are poor readers at the end of first grade almost never acquire average-level reading skills by the end of elementary school (Francis et al., 1996; Juel, 1988; Shayw...
Welcome to Dyslexia Awareness Month! To kick off this month, we present this year’s New Jersey Joint Legislative Resolution which officially observes October as Dyslexia Awareness Month. ![]()
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DDNJ would also like to make special mention that this awareness resolution bill was first sponsored in 2017 by Asm Ron Dancer, who sadly passed this summer. Asm Dancer had been a huge sponsor and supporter of NJ dyslexia legislation and of DDNJ’s advocacy efforts since we began. He will be greatly missed.
Attention Parents: There is a free, in person parent workshop on Thursday, October 6, at 6:30pm in Highland Park, NJ (near New Brunswick, NJ). Experts in the field, Norma Francullo and Susan Miller, talk about how to best advocate for your children! ![]()
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Event is hosted by Raising Hands Tutoring and Tickets can be reserved at www.eventbrite.com/e/advocating-for-your-child-with-dyslexia-in-new-jersey-tickets-395043725417
The Children’s Dyslexia Centers of NJ provide professional reading and written language instruction to children and young adults with dyslexia for free or at low cost. To receive their services, a child must have been diagnosed with a learning disability characterized by a particular difficulty in learning to read as determined by a qualified examiner.![]()
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If you have a child with a reading disability, visit their website to learn more. If you're interested in having your child tutored, complete and submit an application!![]()
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There are centers in Burlington, Hasbrouck Heights, Northfield, Scotch Plains, and Tenafly, NJ.![]()
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mlcnj.com
Children's Dyslexia Centers of NJ – Serving Children with Dyslexia
mlcnj.com
The five centers in New Jersey are part of the Children’s Dyslexia Centers, Inc which is a Scottish Rite charity. If you have a child with a reading disability, please look at our website and if you...
If you are more of a binge reader, LAist's (part of SoCal Public Radio) series on dyslexia and reading instruction is now complete! While the focus is on CA's education system, we know the themes and experiences are universal. ![]()
August 3: The Science![]()
August 10: The Realities Of Early Childhood![]()
August 17: Policy Meets Practice![]()
August 24: Bringing Dyslexia To College![]()
August 31: How Teachers Are Prepared![]()
September 7: Through The Cracks![]()
laist.com/news/education/undiagnosed-dyslexia-schools-affects-learners-their-whole-lives
‘We’ve Been Hurt So Much’ — How Undiagnosed Dyslexia Can Affect Learners Their Whole Lives
laist.com
Educators say unaddressed learning disabilities overwhelm and frustrate students, sometimes leading to behavioral problems. Studies have shown a disproportionate number of incarcerated people are like...
Yeah, we know 🙄 😞![]()
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hechingerreport.org/opinion-former-middle-school-teacher-says-older-students-arent-getting-the-re...
OPINION: Former middle school teacher says older students aren’t getting the reading help they need
hechingerreport.org
Something is broken when most of our middle and high school students are struggling to reach reading proficiency
Can you stand *yet another* nationally reported long-form piece that (again) exposes the fallacy of so-called “balanced literacy” and what passes for reading instruction as peddled by The Teachers College Reading and Writing Project and Heinemann Publishing? Thank you Jessica Winter and The New Yorker for reporting on reading instruction -- an issue that is so important to us! #SOR #dyslexia ![]()
www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-education/the-rise-and-fall-of-vibes-based-literacy?mbid=social_...
The Rise and Fall of Vibes-Based Literacy
www.newyorker.com
Is a controversial curriculum, entrenched in New York City’s public schools for two decades, finally coming undone?
NJ FAMILIES - Check out this opportunity to provide feedback on a new advocacy resource! A stipend will be provided.![]()
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Wunder is a free community app for families raising kids with learning differences to get support from each other, experts, and credible resources. You can join groups focused on specific interests, get advice from professional experts, and access a library of both bite-sized and long-form content! The idea is for families to feel supported in a safe, inclusive space committed to helping them thrive. Learn more at www.understood.org/wunder![]()
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Understood values the perspective Decoding Dyslexia brings to the field, and is seeking insight into how well the app can support real families of all types. We are inviting Decoding Dyslexia families to try out the app for 3-weeks and complete a feedback survey (a written response or a conversation is also welcome). Up to 100 Decoding Dyslexia advocates can receive a $50 gift card stipend for your valuable time and feedback. ![]()
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We hope that this provides an opportunity for you to help us shape this resource for other families! If you’d like to participate, please provide your name, email address, and state in this signup form by September 9th: forms.gle/2oo8HsnDCdVKNXc18![]()
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You’ll receive an invitation to a virtual introduction to Wunder as an orientation (on Monday, September 12th at 7:30 pm ET), and you’ll receive a survey after your 3-week trial (on September 30th). ![]()
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Thanks for considering!![]()
Charles Doolittle | Director, Strategic Partnerships
How does this keep happening? 🤔 🙄![]()
"When tier one classroom instruction failed him, he moved to tier two instruction called Reading Recovery. Unfortunately, what we didn’t know then, was this was just more of the same instruction, but delivered in a one on one setting. When tier 2 instruction failed him, he qualified for an individualized educational plan (IEP) and was moved into a room where we would begin tier 3 instruction that was…![]()
you guessed it: more of the exact same method." ![]()
www.thedyslexiainitiative.org/post/dear-balanced-literacy-teacher?fbclid=IwAR3cGNkKhvJxz_trj4BK7k...
Dear Balanced Literacy Teacher
www.thedyslexiainitiative.org
by Missy Purcell Dear Balanced Literacy Teacher, I will never forget taking my current 6th grader to his first day of kindergarten. He was wide-eyed and full of wonder. As the 3rd child, he couldn’t...
Here's another national media story about reading instruction by Belinda Luscombe of TIME. We appreciate the shout out ! ![]()
"... Education departments around the country had begun to earn the ire of a particularly determined group: the parents of dyslexic children." ![]()
time.com/6205084/phonics-science-of-reading-teachers/
The Massive Effort to Change the Way Kids Are Taught to Read
time.com
“A lot of times the teachers have no idea that they’re not teaching things that are beneficial to the kids”Check us out on Instagram!