We Are Decoding Dyslexia Maryland: 14 Chapters, Stronger Together

Decoding Dyslexia’s Official Position on Black Literacy Matters (BLM)

Literacy is a human right and dyslexia is often a reason why many children and adults struggle to read and spell. Dyslexia has largely remained misunderstood and under identified in the public-school setting. Legislation, awareness, and advocacy are occurring nationally on this important topic to help increase dyslexia awareness.

Decoding Dyslexia was created to take on this urgent right to read as one of the civil rights issues of our time. We have made important steps forward but admittedly have come short of addressing the literacy needs of Black and brown students whose dyslexia and learning disabilities are disproportionately unidentified or misidentified as being attention issues or emotional disturbances.

This means their literacy needs are being overlooked, or they are left with little to no access to services or appropriate structured literacy approaches that address dyslexia with fidelity. Often times, false narratives like a lack of parental involvement, care or concern, and false blame that perpetuates that Black and brown children are not being read to as much as their white counterparts are suggested as the sources of their reading issues and they are labeled secondary dyslexics.
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These false narratives further separate the educational inequities that Black and brown children experience within the current education system. Decoding Dyslexia has fallen short in imagery, advocacy, support and partnerships, although dyslexia crosses all racial boundaries and does not discriminate. Our imaging and movement for the most part has unconsciously portrayed dyslexia as a white literacy issue, and that could not be further from the truth.

Our Pledge

Decoding Dyslexia disavows racism, hatred, discrimination, police brutality, systematic, institutional and implicit biases.

Decoding Dyslexia pledges to diligently work to learn, listen and become aware of the effects of racism, biases, disparities in resources and programs and its impacts on Black and brown students who are dyslexic.

We pledge to become conscious and intentional of our messaging, campaigns, imagery, advocacy, support and partnerships to ensure that Black and brown students and families are represented.

We pledge to genuinely support, raise awareness and hold accountable the systems that overlook their needs and advocate on behalf of Black and brown students who not only have to overcome the effects of dyslexia but racism, educator bias, educational and systemic bias, access to services and information.

​We stand in accountability of the growth and changes we need to take, and we understand and stand in solidarity that Black lives matter, too.

Call to Action



  1. Review/revise grassroots policy statement to include diversity-focuses; 
  2. State-wide recruitment efforts to involve Black/brown families; 
  3. Be intentional in having Black/brown representation in campaigns and as part of our leadership and committees; 
  4. Create minority safe spaces for dyslexia support;
  5. Identify educational/organizational partnerships with minority-focused initiatives;
  6. Include disaggregated data in statistical outputs;
  7. Form an accountability structure to ensure consciousness remains; and
  8. Seek out opportunities for implicit bias awareness for organizational development.

Respectfully

Decoding Dyslexia Alaska Decoding Dyslexia Arkansas Decoding Dyslexia Colorado Decoding Dyslexia Delaware Decoding Dyslexia Florida Decoding Dyslexia Georgia Decoding Dyslexia Illinois Decoding Dyslexia Iowa Decoding Dyslexia Kentucky Decoding Dyslexia Louisiana Decoding Dyslexia Maryland Decoding Dyslexia Massachusetts Decoding Dyslexia Military Decoding Dyslexia Minnesota Decoding Dyslexia Missouri Decoding Dyslexia Nebraska Decoding Dyslexia New Hampshire Decoding Dyslexia New York Decoding Dyslexia North Dakota Decoding Dyslexia Ohio Decoding Dyslexia Oklahoma Decoding Dyslexia Ontario, Canada Decoding Dyslexia Oregon Decoding Dyslexia Rhode Island Decoding Dyslexia South Carolina Decoding Dyslexia Texas Decoding Dyslexia Utah Decoding Dyslexia Vermont Decoding Dyslexia Virginia Decoding Dyslexia Washington Decoding Dyslexia Washington, DC Decoding Dyslexia West Virginia Decoding Dyslexia Wyoming
Families/Advocates of Dyslexic Children in NJ Edward and Delaney Bray The Brittain Family Mark Brugger The Evoy Family Andrew Kavulich The Lewer/Lynam Family The Marsh Family
WY Lit (Wyoming)

Diversity Committee Team:
​ Clarice L. Jackson, Winifred A. Winston, Sheila Carr, Brandi Graham, DeJunne' Clark Jackson, Sandra Chittenden, Jamie Crenshaw, Karla Witt-Reid and Katie Ballard.
Decoding Dyslexia Maryland is a parent-led, grassroots movement driven by families concerned about reading instruction and interventions for all students, including those with dyslexia, in Maryland Public Schools.

COVID-19 Response & Recovery

Maryland's Education Recovery Plan

Both the State of Maryland and the Maryland Department of Education released plans on May 6 to recover and resume the economy and education. The first draft did not include input from community stakeholders and has since been updated to reflect some of that input.  A new version of the plan is linked HERE and is still considered a DRAFT.  The team that is working on the DRAFT document meets June 3 and a summary of that meeting will be posted on the DDMD blog page.
Resources to Stay Informed & Take Action
  1. Federal, State and Local Guidance, Information and Resources
  2. Maryland's Continuity of Learning Plans for each of the 24 school districts.  The Padlet includes special education information and resources district by district.
  3. TAKE ACTION PAGE: Federal and State action items are listed here including a response to the May 6 DRAFT Education Recovery Plan for Maryland.  Response to the June 1 DRAFT recovery plan will be posted ASAP.
  4. Remote Learning Padlet: Resources and information with a focus on dyslexia and reading.  Resources are digital and non-digital for use at home with your children and/or students.
Please let us know how we can help you and your family: DecodingdyslexiaMD@gmail.com

READING & DYSLEXIA HANDBOOK BILL Dies in Senate After Early Adjournment by Legislature

Delegate Eric Luedtke and Senator Katie Fry Hester introduced HB 718 and SB 575, sponsored by Delegate Eric Luedtke & Katie Fry Hester.  We appreciate their investment in pulling the best practices for reading and dyslexia in a handbook that is accessible to all.

Due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the Maryland Legislature adjourned Sine Die in mid-March.  the legislation was deferred until late May or perhaps the next session.  It's unclear at this time what legislation will be considered when the legislature resumes in late May.  

Maryland to Screen & Intervene for Kindergarten Students

Listen to educators, legislators, parents & students as they explain how reading screening and early interventions can help students who are at risk of reading difficulties and disabilities like dyslexia.
Listen to the DDMD origin story and learn about why parents and students across Maryland (and across the country) join together to raise their voices for students with dyslexia.  We know what to do: so let's do it.

Where to Find Help for Dyslexia, Dysgraphia & Dyscalculia

Please connect with your local Decoding Dyslexia Maryland chapter to learn more about supports for families along with how you can put your boots on the ground to change reading instruction in Maryland. LOCAL CHAPTERS

Ready to Read Screen & Intervene Legislation Signing Ceremony

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Thanks to these students and their parents, teachers and community partners, the Ready to Read bill passed the House and Senate unanimously. #soallcanread
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ESOL teacher Diana Gough, Prince George's County Chapter Leader, presented to the Prince George's County Delegation Education Committee, Chaired by Delegate Alonzo Washington in January 2019.
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Delegation's Education Subcommittee in February. Pictured above are Diana Gough and Delegation Chair, Delegate Alonzo Washington, D-Prince Georges.
Delegate Eric Luedtke and Senator Craig Zucker, sponsors of the Ready to Read bills, talk about the unanimous House vote for SB 734 on March 27th!  #soallcanread 
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Ameer Baraka supports the Ready to Read Act and asks Governor Hogan and Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford for their support to screen kids for reading difficulties early! Follow Ameer on Twitter @ameerbaraka
Delegate Luedtke Drops House Bill 690: Ready to Read! 85 cosponsors!!
Decoding Dyslexia Maryland Frederick County's Dynamic Duo delivers testimony to the Kirwan Commission during its last public forum in November 2018. With laughs and honesty delivered with the true spirit of fierce advocates, the girls supported the Ready to Read Act and related how reading screening would have helped them get the help they needed.