Houchin introduces bill to help students with dyslexia

Oct. 27—SOUTHERN INDIANA — Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.), and other members of Congress presented the 21st Century Dyslexia Act to help struggling students succeed in school.

If passed, this bill would modernize dyslexia identification to avoid the chance of the learning disability going unidentified in students. This bill was made by the House Education and the Workforce Committee and the bipartisan House Dyslexia Caucus.

Houchin introduced the legislation alongside Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.).

The Yale center for Dyslexia and Creativity says that the disorder affects 20% of the population and represents 80% to 90% of all those with learning disabilities. It is the most common of all neuro-cognitive disorders.

Dyslexia is included as one of many neurocognitive differences under Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

This legislation helps students by pulling dyslexia out of the overly broad definition of SLD and including it in the list of disabilities that define a "child with a disability," thus classifying dyslexia as its own category within Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

"My hope is that every state will do a universal dyslexia screening," Houchin said. "That's what my bill did in Indiana when I was in the legislature."

This bill Houchin is referencing makes it so every child between kindergarten and second grade will be tested for dyslexia in Indiana.

A child with signs of the disorder is put on a response to intervention. If it is not dyslexia, the child is helped to catch up with peers. If the child is suspected of having the disorder, it will be referred for further testing.

In addition to Sen. Cassidy, the legislation is co-sponsored by Reps. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.), and Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.).

"Students with dyslexia face unique challenges and should have access to the resources and supportive learning environments they need to live up to their fullest potential," Brownley said. "By reclassifying dyslexia as its own category within the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, this legislation raises the much-needed awareness of the most common learning disability among American students and provides the proper accommodations and services for these students."

Houchin's son was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was in the third grade; he is now a freshman in high school. Ever since his diagnosis, she has been an advocate for the disorder.

"What my part in this as a parent and as an advocate for these students is they can succeed," Houchin said. "If they're given the right tools, they can learn to read and succeed just like any other student. They have to be taught differently, they need to be identified early so they don't fall through the cracks. This bill is certainly part of that larger effort to make sure these kids are taken care of and given every opportunity to be successful."