The following organizations provide helpful information for parents, teachers, and other individuals who wish to learn more about or find helpful tools regarding dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities.
The Alliance is an organization comprised of three primary, independent organizations that train and certify candidates who successfully complete their individual training programs. The combined focus of the three organizations, the Orton Gillingham Academy (OGA), the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC), and Wilson Language Training® (WLT) is training teachers who are competent and credentialed to teach individuals with dyslexia. These educators use multisensory structured literacy curricula during a practicum experience under the supervision of a trained expert.
Bookshare® is an online library for people with print disabilities. More than 425,000 people in 70 countries have access to Bookshare’s collection of over 570,000 titles. More than 820 U.S. and international publishers contribute to Bookshare’s social mission by donating their digital files, making it possible for Bookshare to serve users around the world and ensuring that content is available to people with print disabilities at the same time as their peers.
The Center on Technology and Disability (CTD) is funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The Center is designed to increase the capacity of families and providers to advocate for, acquire, and implement effective assistive and instructional technology (AT/IT) practices, devices, and services.
The Division for Learning Disabilities (DLD) is one of 17 special interest groups of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, including both students with disabilities and the gifted.
The Council for Learning Disabilities (CLD), an international organization composed of professionals who represent diverse disciplines, is committed to enhancing the education and quality of life for individuals with learning disabilities across the life span. CLD accomplishes this by promoting and disseminating evidence-based research and practices related to the education of individuals with learning disabilities. In addition, CLD fosters (a) collaboration among professionals; (b) development of leaders in the field; and (c) advocacy for policies that support individuals with learning disabilities at local, state, and national levels.
Decoding Dyslexia is a network of parent-led grassroots groups across the country concerned with the limited access to educational interventions for dyslexia within the public education system. Decoding Dyslexia aims to raise dyslexia awareness, empower families to support their children, and inform policymakers on best practices to identify, remediate, and support students with dyslexia.
The Dyslexia Foundation’s mission is to promote scientific breakthroughs in the early detection, prevention, and remediation of dyslexia and related reading difficulties; to disseminate new findings and evidence-based reading approaches to researchers, practitioners, and families; to prevent the economic and psychological suffering caused by reading failure; and to unlock the full potential of children and adults with dyslexia so that they may personally succeed and contribute fully to society. Wilson is proud to be a Diamond-Level Sponsor of The Dyslexia Foundation.
The mission of the Federation for Children with Special Needs is to provide information, support, and assistance to parents of children with disabilities, their professional partners, and their communities. They are committed to listening to and learning from families and encouraging full participation in community life by all people, especially those with disabilities.
The Florida Center for Reading Research is a multidisciplinary research center that was established in 2002 by the Governor’s office and the Florida Legislature. It houses tenured and tenure-track faculty members at Florida State University who hold joint appointments with the College of Arts & Sciences or the College of Education.
The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) is an international organization that concerns itself with the complex issues of dyslexia. IDA membership consists of a variety of professionals in partnership with individuals with dyslexia and their families, and all others interested in the association’s mission.
LD OnLine seeks to help children and adults reach their full potential by providing accurate and up-to-date information and advice about learning disabilities and ADHD. The site features hundreds of helpful articles, multimedia, monthly columns by noted experts, first-person essays, children’s writing and artwork, a comprehensive resource guide, very active forums, and a Yellow Pages referral directory of professionals, schools, and products.
Learning Ally’s mission is to empower students who read and learn differently so that they may thrive. The organization aims to help students overcome obstacles and discover strengths by guiding them along a path to success. Information regarding audiobooks is also available.
Learning Disabilities Association of America’s mission is to create opportunities for all individuals affected by learning disabilities to succeed, and to reduce the incidence of learning disabilities in future generations.
The mission of the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) is to improve the lives of the one in five children and adults nationwide with learning and attention issues—by empowering parents and young adults, transforming schools, and advocating for equal rights and opportunities. NCLD is working to create a society in which every individual possesses the academic, social, and emotional skills needed to succeed in school, at work, and in life. Its 2017 report, The State of Learning Disabilities: Understanding the 1 in 5, provides insight into the challenges facing children who have learning and attention issues, as well as specifics on how to improve outcomes in school, work, and the community.
The NCIL is a partnership of literacy experts, university researchers, and technical assistance providers, with funding from the U.S. Department of Education. Its mission is to increase access to and use of evidence-based approaches to screen, identify, and teach students with literacy-related disabilities, including dyslexia.
In pursuit of its broad mission, NICHD conducts and supports laboratory research, clinical trials, and epidemiological studies that explore health processes; examines the impact of disabilities, diseases, and variations on the lives of individuals; and sponsors training programs for scientists, health care providers, and researchers to ensure that NICHD research can continue. Its website also includes a page dedicated to learning disabilities, including dyslexia.
The NINDS Dyslexia Information Page contains the NIH’s definition of dyslexia, information on clinical trials, and research.
QIAT is a nationwide grassroots organization composed of hundreds of individuals who provide input into the ongoing process of identifying, disseminating, and implementing a set of widely-applicable Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services in school settings. This set can be used as a tool to support school districts, assistive technology (AT) service providers, consumers of AT services, universities and professional developers, and policy makers.
SuperD!ville is a multimedia resource focusing on social and emotional learning for children with dyslexia and attention issues. Its mission is to help kids succeed in school and life because of, and not in spite of, their learning differences.
The Center is dedicated to unraveling the puzzle of dyslexia. It is a model for the organization and delivery of professional services to students with dyslexia, to psychologists and teachers who identify and instruct them, and to schools that must orchestrate a broad range of factors that will enable these students to achieve their potential.
Understood’s goal is to help the millions of parents whose children, ages 3 to 20, are struggling with learning and attention issues. Understood wants to empower parents to understand their children’s challenges and relate to their experiences. With this knowledge, parents can make effective choices that propel their children from simply coping to truly thriving.
This website contains information regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. In October 2015, the U.S. Department of Education issued a letter to state and local school districts providing guidance on recognizing the unique needs of students with learning disabilities. It stated, “The purpose of this letter is to clarify that there is nothing in the IDEA that would prohibit the use of the terms dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia in IDEA evaluation, eligibility determinations, or IEP documents.” To read the full letter, click here.
Wrightslaw is a website about special education law and advocacy. It publishes “The Special Ed Advocate,” a free online newsletter, and provides training programs around the country as well as information about special education issues.
The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity serves as a nexus for research on dyslexia, and a leading source of advocacy and information to better the lives of people with dyslexia. The organization’s mission is to uncover and illuminate the strengths of those with dyslexia, disseminate the latest innovations from scientific research and practical advice, and transform the treatment of children and adults with dyslexia.