Please visit Decoding Dyslexia Maryland's Community Partners in Room 170 during our breaks and in between your meetings.  Visit their websites too!

Anne Arundel Conflict Resolution Center
Atlantic Seaboard Dyslexia Education Center (ASDEC)
Baltimore Lab School
bowman educational services, Inc.
Cardinal Reading Strategies, LLC
Chelsea School
Creative Learning Experiences
D.C. Capital Area Branch, International Dyslexia Association (DCIDA)
Educational Learning and Training, LLC
Glenwood Academy
InferCabulary
International Dyslexia Association, Maryland Branch (IDAMD)
Jalen McNeely Photography
Janice C. C. Lepore, Psy.D. and Associates, LLC
Jemicy School
Law Office of Brian K. Gruber, P.C.
Learning Disabilities Association
                 of Maryland, Inc. (LDA-MD)
Lindamood-Bell Learning Centers
Loud Voices Together Educational Advocacy Group, Inc.
Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities (MANSEF)
Multisensory Math
NeuroBehavioral Associates
Radcliffe Creek School
Readventures
Right To Read Maryland
State of Maryland International Reading Council (SoMIRAC)
The Attention Fix Educational Consulting, LLC
The Highlands School
The Lab School of Washington
The Law Offices of Nicole Joseph
The Legacy School
The Mindset Center
The Odyssey School
The Siena School
The Summit School
Wendy Scarff, Educational Consultant
Wilson Language Training
Wright Academics
Wye River Upper School

PROGRAM, 8:30am-1:00pm
Join Decoding Dyslexia Maryland in Annapolis on February 8th in Room 180 and hear from parents, students and teachers about how to address the reading instruction problems in your school district.

Learn tips from parents in your districts and meet the parents, students and teachers who are changing reading instruction for students who struggle with reading and dyslexia.  

Presentations will also review proposed reading and dyslexia legislation, announce the Reading and Dyslexia screening pilot program and includes a panel discussion on evidence based reading instruction "Solutions for Reading that Work, So All Can Read". 

Please download the program and share it with your legislators and friends!

Decoding Dyslexia Maryland and the DCIDA Board Members receive daily information requests from both parents and teachers.  

They most often want to know:

1. How can my child receive reading help at school?
2. Where can I receive training that would help my student or my child?
3. I have student I think has dyslexia, what should I do?
4. What kind of instruction is effective for dyslexia?
5. Is my child eligible for special education as a student with specific learning disability?
6. Is dyslexia a specific learning disability?  If yes, why isn't there a category for dyslexia?
7. Why does the school want to label my child ADHD when they have dyslexia?
8. Why does the school tell me they "can't diagnose" dyslexia?  What should I do/say?
9. My school and leadership don't say the word dyslexia and/or they don't have programs for dyslexia.  What should I do?
10. The school says my child is not far enough behind to receive an IEP so they are getting Response to Intervention (pull out/pull in) instruction using Leveled Literacy/Six Minute Solutions/Rewards/Reading Recovery...[insert program name] -- is this adequate and appropriate?
11. What are the signs of reading difficulties like dyslexia?
12. At what age can my child/student be screened for dyslexia?
13. Can schools identify dyslexia?
14. What assessments are used to identify dyslexia for special education purposes?
15. What screeners are used to identify reading difficulties in Kindergarten/1st Grade?
16. What screeners and assessments are used to identify reading difficulties in older students?
17. What is structured literacy?

FREE EVENT, REGISTER HERE

Thursday, February 2, 2017 ~ Room 180 ~ Lowe House Office Building, Annapolis, Maryland

2016 was a year of solution finding for families and educators concerned about access to effective instruction for dyslexia and reading.  The “Task Force to Implement a Dyslexia Education Program in Maryland” completed its recommendations and provided a report to the Maryland General Assembly and the Governor.  The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) developed a Technical Assistance Bulletin on Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) with a focus on dyslexia to help facilitate and implement effective instruction for students with dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia.

But we must do more.  Join us to learn about dyslexia and reading solutions that will narrow the reading and writing achievement gap in Maryland.  Many students with average to above average intelligence have trouble learning to read, write and/or spell in Maryland public schools.  The 2016 Maryland state assessment (PARCC) for 4th grade students shows that 91% of special education, 77% of African American, 98% of limited English proficiency and 79% of students in poverty are not on grade level for reading and writing.  Maryland can change this outcome with your help.

INVITES, PROGRAM, MEDIA ADVISORY

Downloadable Advocacy Day Flyer, 3-color, Legislator Invite
Download File

Downloadable Dyslexia Advocacy Day Panel, Multi-color Legislator Invite
Download File

Downloadable Advocacy Day Flyer, Public Flyer Invite
Download File

Downloadable Advocacy Day Program, 2017
Download File

Media Alerts, Advisories & Press Releases
Download File

​PROGRAM

8:00 - 9:00am -- Community Partner Open House 

8:00am -- Delegate Al Carr, Montgomery County, Welcome Message

9:00 - 9:20am -- Lisa Blottenberger: Decoding Dyslexia Maryland: The Science of Reading: How to Help Struggling Readers Thrive!

9:20 - 9:35am -- Dr. Joan Mele-McCarthy: Chair, Task Force to Implement a Dyslexia Education Program in MD: Best Practices to Serve Students with Dyslexia in Maryland: Task Force Update

9:35 - 9:45am -- Delegate Anne Kaiser: Chair, House Education Subcommittee, D-Montgomery
What Legislators Need to Know About Dyslexia & Reading

9:45 - 10:00am -- Marcella Franczkowski: Assistant State Superintendent, Special Education & Early Intervention Services, MSDE:  Newly Released Technical Assistance Bulletin Drives Identification and Instruction for Students with Disabilities & Dyslexia

​10:00 - 10:10am --  Susie Fowler: Director of Special Education, St. Mary's County: Practical Advice on How to Implement the Dyslexia Technical Assistance Bulletin

10:10 - 10:20am -- Rick Smith, CEO, International Dyslexia Association: How Revisions to University Accreditation on Reading will Improve Student Learning

10:20 - 10:30am -- Laura Schultz: Decoding Dyslexia Maryland: ACT-vocate for Dyslexia

10:30 - 11:45am -- BREAK -- Pre-scheduled individual/group legislator meetings

​12:00 - 1:00pm -- Panel Discussion (see below)

Lunch & Panel Discussion
Reading & Dyslexia Policy Solutions
​
PANELISTS -- Moderator: Karleen Spitulnik, Decoding Dyslexia MD, State Leader

• Dayne Guest, Recent Graduate, Baltimore County Public Schools: What I Needed from my School
  
  
• Ella Jane Miller,  7th grade student, Earle B. Woods Middle School in Rockville: What I Need for School Success
  
  
• Amy Siracusano, MS, Ed., Maryland Teacher, Literacy Coach, Higher Education Adjunct:  What Teachers Need to Know about Reading and Dyslexia
  
  
• Monica McHale-Small, Superintendent, Saucon Valley School District, PA & Dr. Fran Warkomski, Dyslexia Pilot Coordinator, PA Dept. of Ed: Creating and Sustaining Reading Achievement Through Teacher Training
  
  
• Delegate Anne Kaiser, Chair, House Education Subcommittee: Next Steps for Reading and Dyslexia Policy

1:00 - 4:00pm -- Pre-scheduled legislator meetings
​

Dyslexia Advocates Create #OneTeam to Pursue Education ReformDyslexia advocates from across Maryland will join together to celebrate advances in Maryland dyslexia policy and to pursue continued reform to policies and practices that impact families of students with reading differences and dyslexia in Maryland Public Schools.
​
Advocates include 26 Community Partner schools and organizations dedicated to educating students with dyslexia and learning disabilities in Maryland.

Wth the support and dedication of these organizations, Decoding Dyslexia Maryland can provide a high quality program free of charge to the public and  policy makers.  Parents of struggling students and students with dyslexia often have a difficult time navigating Response to Intervention, Special Education, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.  Not only do parents struggle to ensure their student learns to read, write, and spell, they also have to understand these laws; which often means hiring a lawyer, an advocate and/or purchasing remediation for their student outside the school day and OUT OF POCKET.

Decoding Dyslexia Maryland appreciates the continued support of these organizations for our events and activities.  We charge a nominal fee ($50) to participate and bring the services of these organizations to the attention of parents, teachers and policy makers.  The promise of education is that all students receive the same education -- no matter their ethnicity, income or disability.  Decoding Dyslexia Maryland is dedicated to providing an opportunity for all students, particularly those who cannot afford private tutoring, advocates, lawyers and/or private school, the opportunity to learn to read, write and spell in Maryland Public Schools.  We also appreciate the continued opportunity to work with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to ensure equity and opportunity for students who struggle to read, write and spell and those with dyslexia.  Thank you MSDE!

Decoding Dyslexia Maryland appreciates our Community Partners' support and welcomes the continuing partnership to work as #oneTeam to #sayDyslexiaMD.

Next Steps: A Dyslexia Family Networking Forum and Movie Event!

Location :
The Lab School of Washington
4759 Reservoir Road Northwest
Washington, DC

Date and Time:
Saturday, October 22, 2016
12:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Sponsored by the Lab School of Washington, Decoding Dyslexia Maryland and the D.C. Capital Area Branch of the International Dyslexia Association