Families of dyslexic students urge state board authorities to improve dyslexia handbook

Supporters and families of Dyslexic students in Texas, along with the State Board of Education are working towards improving the dyslexia handbook. The handbook aims to support dyslexic students and improve the public schools’ identify and help dyslexic students. 

The IDEA program, or the complete special education assessment program under the Federal Education Law for Persons with Disabilities, is one of the ways a teacher or a guardian can opt to refer a student for dyslexia assessment. 

Dyslexic advocates and family members started a grassroots coalition in order to pass a bill clarifying how school districts are required to identify and assess suspected dyslexic students. When the Senate failed to agree on the bill’s provisions, family members decided to work alongside the state board of education to improve the dyslexia handbook. 

Amy Trainer, mother of Olivia Trainer, a dyslexic student told Texas News Today that she appealed for additional services when Olivia’s teacher recommended her a rating. Olivia, however, did not receive support from public schools. 

According to Texas News Today, Amy, along with a grassroots coalition of family members decided to bring Texas into federal law and provide public school districts with a complete special education assessment for suspicious students.

Olivia’s board testimony urged school boards to review state guidelines for screening, assessing, and providing services for students with dyslexia.

“Rather than someone else experiencing what I did, I would rather testify and do it as many times as I needed,” Olivia told Texas News Today.