House to Consider Dyslexia Bills

Parents and advocates for children with dyslexia are lobbying the General Assembly for passage of two bill they say will improve services for dyslexic students in Rhode Island.

One bill would establish new policies and practices for the treatment of students with dyslexia in Rhode Island Schools.

The other would establish a legislative study commission that will study the implication of dyslexia and come up with a list of "recommendations for the House of Representatives on the educational needs of children with reading disabilities and dyslexia and all aspects of providing education to these children."

The legislation will be presented at the Health and Education Subcommittee meeting Feb. 28 and is backed by the state branch of the International Dyslexia Association.

Parent Suzanne Arena has been rallying support for the legislation and has been encouraging professionals, educators, parents and students to write statements of support and send them to lawmakers.

"This is a great first opportunity for the community to stand together and make our collective voices heard about our expectations for statewide policy and services around dyslexia," Arena said.

She hopes to get 200 statements of support.