On May 24, 2022, The New York Senate passed The Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Task Force Act. The bill had already passed on the Assembly side. The Dyslexia Task Force Act provides an opportunity to carve out specific frameworks to identify struggling readers and writers due to potential dyslexia/dysgraphia. The Task Force also documents the most appropriate interventions and trainings proven to demonstrate high gains when properly implemented.

In New York, two-thirds of fourth-graders are not reading proficiently. Children with reading issues like dyslexia, Black and Brown children, and children living in poverty pay an even steeper price to learn to read. The challenges range from not getting identified early when interventions are most effective to lack of access to interventions proven to help the most amount of children learn to read. The Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Task Force Act is a critical first step to initiating policy in New York to help all kids learn to read. Additionally, the task force work happens as New York City moves forward with comprehensive dyslexia solutions, such as mandatory screenings and training additional literacy tutors. What about the rest of New York?

When my daughter struggled to read, it consumed our lives. When we finally figured out what was wrong and what helped, I couldn't believe how hard it was to get access to the help she needed. But then, I discovered thousands of families like our family in New York, facing the same struggles. We consider ourselves lucky because we painfully paid for tutoring and a specialized camp. That's a privilege. Literacy affects everything, and we need to promote policy that improves reading in New York so all kids have access to the same opportunities. 

October 1st is the start of Dyslexia Awareness Month. For the sake of New York's children, please sign this petition and urge  Governor Hochul to request and sign The Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Task Force Act bill today!

This petition is initiated in coalition with the following groups: Dyslexia Advocacy Action Group, Decoding Dyslexia New York, Dyslexia Allies of Western New York, WNY Education Alliance, National Parents Union, Teach My Kid to Read