Ranking Member Cassidy, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Recognizing October as National Dyslexia Awareness Month
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, John Boozman (R-AR), Angus King (I-ME), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Chris Murphy (D-CT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced a U.S. Senate resolution recognizing October 2023 as National Dyslexia Awareness Month. Earlier today, Cassidy and Hickenlooper introduced the 21st Century Dyslexia Act, legislation that works to incorporate the modern, scientific understanding of dyslexia into federal statute and prevent the harm unidentified dyslexia can inflict on young students.
“Dyslexia doesn’t affect intelligence but impacts an individual’s ability to read. Research shows it impacts 1 in 5 Americans,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This National Dyslexia Awareness Month, we work to educate the nation on dyslexia and ensure these bright children have the resources to achieve their dreams just like any other student.”
“Early detection and treatment of dyslexia is important to ensuring students have the resources they need to succeed. I’m proud to cosponsor this resolution raising awareness about dyslexia so we can help young learners overcome the challenges they experience as a result of this learning disability,” said Senator Boozman.
“Maine children devote hours in and out of the classroom studying subjects like math and history as they prepare for their futures. However, learning disabilities often impede on this progress and too many children lack the needed support due to unnecessary stigmas,” said Senator King. “National Dyslexia Awareness Month aims to bring awareness to students who need specialized support and resources in their education journey. As we work to make education more accessible, let us acknowledge our past shortfalls and support the success of all Maine students.”
“With Dyslexia impacting individuals in West Virginia and all across our country, it is important that we stand with them and recognize the significant challenges it poses to students and adults. I’m proud to again join my colleagues in introducing this resolution, which will help us to continue raising awareness about the need for early screening, diagnosis, and evidence-based invention,” said Senator Capito.
“For years, parents in Connecticut have told me how difficult it is to get their kids with dyslexia the attention and specialized instruction they need to succeed. We can and should do better for these families. I’m proud to join my colleagues in helping raise awareness about dyslexia and calling for more resources so we can provide the very best education to every student,” said Senator Murphy.
U.S. Representatives Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Erin Houchin (R-IN) introduced the companion resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Millions of students have faced social stigmas and learning challenges due to dyslexia for far too long,” said Representative Westerman. “This important resolution brings congressional awareness to a critical issue and urges support for proper resources so that students impacted by dyslexia can learn and succeed. No student should be held back from success simply because they learn differently. I am honored to support this resolution, and I want to thank Senator Cassidy and my fellow Dyslexia Caucus Co-Chair, Representative Brownley, for making it a bicameral and bipartisan issue.”
“Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, but it often goes unnoticed or misdiagnosed for years. I know this firsthand as my own son struggled in school without answers. It’s our job to provide tools to help identify Dyslexia and to show students that their Dyslexia diagnosis is impacted by their accommodations, not their intelligence. As I work to address Dyslexia and other literacy related issues on the Education and Workforce Committee, I’m proud to introduce a resolution to mark October as National Dyslexia Awareness Month and continue working towards legislative solutions,” said Congresswoman Erin Houchin.
Despite the prevalence of dyslexia, students are rarely tested. This prevents them from getting the services and accommodations necessary to assist dyslexic students learning to read. When children are not identified with dyslexia, evidence shows lifelong harm can occur, including lower career wages, reduced graduation rates, and even increased rates of incarceration.
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 2023 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 2023 as “National Dyslexia Awareness Month”.
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