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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 17, 2022 04:28 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Katie J. Muth |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Resolution Recognizing “Dyslexia Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce a Senate Resolution recognizing October 2022 as “Dyslexia Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania. Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability occurring when there is a problem in areas of the brain that help interpret language. Dyslexia refers to a cluster of symptoms which result in people having difficulties with specific language skills, particularly reading; some students will also experience difficulties with other language skills such as spelling, writing, pronouncing words and mixing up similar words. The disability is a specific information processing problem that does not interfere with one's ability to think or to understand complex ideas. Students with dyslexia are likely to struggle with many aspects of academic learning, are at a higher risk of dropping out of school, and often go years without being properly diagnosed. Aside from problems in school, individuals with dyslexia can experience a loss of self-esteem and general reading problems that may persist into adulthood which can affect getting a job, job performance and keeping a job. According to the International Dyslexia Association, approximately 85 percent of students classified as having a primary learning disability have difficulty in reading and language processing. However, the number of people having some symptoms of dyslexia is much higher, perhaps as much as 10 to 20 percent of the entire U.S. population. As of the most recent National Assessments Educational Progress Reading assessment in 2019, only 35% of American fourth graders are reading at or above proficient levels. Research has shown that students of lower socioeconomic status are disproportionately impacted, with nearly half of all minority children reading at below basic levels. According to a study conducted by the University of Texas in conjunction with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the prevalence of dyslexia in prisoners is more than twice that of the regular population or 48%. Over the course of the past 25 years much has been learned about how reading develops, what critical skills are needed, and even how to predict and identify students who will struggle. Dyslexia affects individuals throughout their lives; however, its impact can change at different stages in a person’s life. The goal of this resolution is to call attention to this often-misunderstood language-based and mis-diagnosed learning disability and the large percentage of residents in the Commonwealth who experience one or more symptoms. Please join me in co-sponsoring this resolution recognizing October 2022 as “Dyslexia Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania. |
Introduced as SR378