Support NJ Students with Dyslexia
ACTION ALERTS for NJ Families: Visit our NJ Legislation page for pressing action alerts where you can participate and make a difference. It only takes a few minutes to make a phone call or send an email. Click here for our latest action alert today!
WHAT CAN I DO RIGHT THIS MINUTE?
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- Familiarize yourself with the NJ dyslexia laws
- Learn about current bills focused on dyslexia
- Assembly Bill A1292 – Click to find the bills
- Send a letter and/or email to your local NJ legislators sharing your personal story and asking for their support
- Click to find your local legislators
- Click to find tips for writing your family story
- Make an appointment to meet with your local legislators
- Download and use DD-NJ’s helpful literature packet
- Encourage your US Representative to join the Bipartisan Congressional Dyslexia Caucus
- Click to find your representative
- Contact Your U.S. Congressional Representative and urge him to Support House Resolution on Dyslexia, #456 (click here to see copy of resolution)
- Click to find your representative
- Host a DD-NJ community roundtable discussion in your NJ county
- Share this information with 3 others and ask that they get involved in this movement also!
“Like” us onWHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
- Join the NJ Branch of The International Dyslexia Association.
- Get involved at your local level:
- Inquire about your school district’s state mandated “Special Education Parent Advisory Group” and join. If they don’t have one yet, start your own. Technical assistance is available for free through the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network’s START Project.
- Get involved in your local PTA and help plan literacy events and/or fundraisers.
- Go to school board meetings and consider becoming a school board member.
- Join a variety of district committees, talk to other parents at local events, and discuss dyslexia with educators. Become a resource for others!
- Get educated about dyslexia
- Read literature about dyslexia. Books, such as Overcoming Dyslexia by Dr.
Sally Shaywitz, have been crucial for many parents in understanding our children’s
needs. Check out our Resources page for more good books and websites. - Check out IDA and NJ IDA websites and literature.
- Take a parent training course in reading intervention so that you can help your
child at home. - Familiarize yourself with the NJ Administrative Code on Special Education.
- Take a parent advocacy course through a group such as SPAN to understand your child’s rights.
- Get second opinions through private testing by a university, learning center, educational consultant, speech pathologist, developmental pediatrician, occupational therapist, physical therapist and/or other specialists.
- Speak to advocates, educators in private practice, and special education attorneys.
- Attend seminars, get on mailing lists, and network with others from support groups and LD organizations in your area.
- Read literature about dyslexia. Books, such as Overcoming Dyslexia by Dr.
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Dr. Maryanne Wolf: "In our work, each happy reader is happy because they have learned the skills necessary to become a fully comprehending reader. It may be tempting to assume each unhappy (struggling) reader is different, but each has been impeded by not having mastered some or many of the same basic skills." Read on for why the teacher-authors of this piece say teachers need to demand more from their prep programs and professional development as to how children learn to read so teachers can better address reading difficulties.
righttoreadproject.com/2020/05/27/every-child-is-unique-and-every-child-has-to-learn-the-same-ski...
So who watched that new dyslexia film and/or the live panel discussion last night. What did you think?
UPDATE to the Our Dyslexic Kids film viewing tomorrow. Streaming starts at 12:00pm ET on YouTube (not just anytime as posted previously), and will be available unlimited from that time on (days and weeks later).
Panel tomorrow night is still at 8:00pm and shown live, but a recording of it will be available later.
Here are the links again:
To watch film:
Thursday, May 21, starting at 12:00pm
youtu.be/oJ7xa6meD2Q. (available unlimited after then)
Panel discussion:
Please also register for the 8pm EDT panel (see image for panelist):
osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__1XrKoyESj69NdmHg99IGQ
If you would like to submit questions for the panel, please do so by emailing them to OurDyslexicChildren@gmail.com
THURS MAY 21st - New dyslexia related film release
"Our Dyslexic Children"
The story:
In 2010, a group of parents in a suburban school district near Columbus, Ohio discovered their children had something in common - they could not read. Together they filed a systemic, group complaint with the Ohio Department of Education and the district was found in violation. Then, they formed a partnership with the district and now work shoulder to shoulder to deliver the nationally recognized early literacy program they built together. This film was made to offer a roadmap for parents to advocate on behalf of all children. (see their website for more of their story, ourdyslexicchildren.com)
To watch film:
View the film anytime beginning on Thursday, May 21 at youtu.be/oJ7xa6meD2Q.
Panel discussion:
Please also register for the 8pm EDT panel (see image for panelist):
osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__1XrKoyESj69NdmHg99IGQ
If you would like to submit questions for the panel, please do so by emailing them to OurDyslexicChildren@gmail.com
Many parents and caregivers, recently pressed into service to keep lessons going at home, might be getting a new look at their child's reading skills. The popular "strategies" taught in school are not supported by research, and are in fact, the strategies of weak readers. Teacher Lindsay Kemeny writes "It is unfortunate that most of us have not had access to this knowledge. And worse, have been taught ways that are not in line with what cognitive scientists have learned about reading and the brain." Read her piece here:
thelearningspark.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-7-deadly-errors-of-teaching-reading.html
ATTN NJ Educators: Free Tutoring Services for Children with Dyslexia in South Jersey Locations
The Children’s Dyslexia Centers, funded through the generosity of the Scottish Rite Masons, provide intensive reading instruction to children grades 1 –12, with dyslexia. The children receive one-on-one instruction twice a week after school which allows for the instruction to be tailored to each individual child’s needs. A diagnosis from a Child Study Team or outside qualified examiner documenting a diagnosis of dyslexia or presenting test results reflecting a diagnostic profile of dyslexia is required. The Centers provide reading instruction using the multisensory Orton Gillingham approach, also known as a structured literacy approach, which includes direct, explicit teaching of phonics. The instruction is provided at no cost to families except for a modest registration fee. An admission application and report of the professional evaluation help us determine if our approach would be appropriate for the child.
There are two Children’s Dyslexia Centers in South Jersey – one is located in Burlington and the other in Northfield. If you are interested in referring a child for these services, have parents request a Child Admission Application by calling our Central Office at 201-288-1183 or e-mailing masoniclearningcenters@verizon.net.
The Centers are now accepting applications for Fall 2020. In keeping with State guidelines for sheltering in place, they are currently offering services online through the end of the school year. They hope to provide in-person instruction in the Fall, but will comply with State and Scottish Rite Masons policy on this matter.
Learning Ally is once again hosting their Spotlight on Dyslexia online conference on
Friday, June 5th.
Live from 9:00am-4:00pm ET.
Watch live or on-demand through September 30, 2020 to earn up to 16 CE certificates
Two keynote speakers, Dr Anita Archer & Emily Hanford plus 14 other speakers.
Use the promo code SPOD20DB to get $20 off
Registration: learningally.org/Dyslexia-Conference/Spotlight-on-Dyslexia
Virtual Dyslexia Conference - Spotlight on Dyslexia - Webinar
learningally.org
Learning Ally's annual online dyslexia conference, Spotlight on Dyslexia, features webinars and programs by dyslexia experts. Learn more about dyslexia.Check us out on Instagram!
