WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), author of the 21st Century Dyslexia Act, led a group of fellow senators in introducing a U.S. Senate resolution recognizing October 2022 as National Dyslexia Awareness Month. U.S. Representative Bruce Westerman (R-AR) introduced the House version of the resolution.
“Dyslexia impacts one in five Americans. By diagnosing dyslexia early, these students won’t be left behind and can reach their full potential,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This month, we work to educate the nation, support these children, and ensure they have the resources to achieve their dreams.”
U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Angus King (I-ME), John Boozman (R-AR), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) cosponsored the resolution.
In July, Cassidy held a dyslexia roundtable with experts, doctors, parents and advocates to discuss legislation and the importance of codifying a federal definition of dyslexia to ensure dyslexic students are identified and given the instruction and resources to meet their full potential.
In June, Cassidy co-led a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on students’ learning losses as a result of school closures and remote learning during the pandemic. Cassidy discussed how the state of Connecticut is addressing students with dyslexia who have fallen behind due to remote learning with the Connecticut State Department of Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker.
Read the full text of the resolution here or below:
Calling on Congress, schools, and State and local educational agencies to recognize the significant educational implications of dyslexia that must be addressed, and designating October 2022 as “National Dyslexia Awareness Month”.
Whereas dyslexia is—
(1) defined as an unexpected difficulty in reading for an individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader; and
(2) most commonly caused by a difficulty in phonological processing (the appreciation of the individual sounds of spoken language), which affects the ability of an individual to speak, read, spell, and, often, the ability to learn a second language;
Whereas, the First Step Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–391; 132 Stat. 5194) included a definition of dyslexia as part of the requirement of the Act to screen inmates for dyslexia upon intake in Federal prisons;
Whereas the definition of dyslexia in section 3635 of title 18, United States Code, as added by section 101(a) of the First Step Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–391; 132 Stat. 5195), is the first and only definition of dyslexia in a Federal statute;
Whereas dyslexia is the most common learning disability and affects 80 to 90 percent of all individuals with a learning disability;
Whereas dyslexia is persistent and highly prevalent, affecting as many as 1 out of every 5 individuals;
Whereas dyslexia is a paradox, in that an individual with dyslexia may have both—
(1) weaknesses in decoding that result in difficulties in accurate or fluent word recognition; and
(2) strengths in higher-level cognitive functions, such as reasoning, critical thinking, concept formation, and problem solving;
Whereas great progress has been made in understanding dyslexia on a scientific level, including the epidemiology and cognitive and neurobiological bases of dyslexia;
Whereas the achievement gap between typical readers and dyslexic readers occurs as early as first grade; and
Whereas early screening for, and early diagnosis of, dyslexia are critical for ensuring that individuals with dyslexia receive focused, evidence-based intervention that leads to fluent reading, the promotion of self-awareness and self-empowerment, and the provision of necessary accommodations that ensure success in school and in life: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) calls on Congress, schools, and State and local educational agencies to recognize that dyslexia has significant educational implications that must be addressed; and
(2) designates October 2022 as “National Dyslexia Awareness Month”.
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