Dyslexia in Schools:

From Neuroscience to Practice

Friday, November 8th, 2024

Hosted live and virtually at the MGH Institute of Health Professionals in Boston, MA.

The Dyslexia Foundation

For more than 30 years, TDF has been bringing together leading scientists from important fields in dyslexia research, while working to create a bridge between research and practice.

OUR MISSION: To facilitate and disseminate scientific breakthroughs and advances in dyslexia through collaboration among neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, geneticists, and practitioners.

On Sunday, November 20th, Will Baker, The Dyslexia Foundation’s founder, and president passed away peacefully after a difficult battle with cancer. He was a true visionary, humble in his approach yet bold in his ambition to promote scientific breakthroughs in the early detection, prevention, and remediation of dyslexia and related reading difficulties to unlock the full potential of all children and adults. Learn more about his life and the community that he built.

We continue to be grateful for all the people asking how they can help. Will’s wish was for the Foundation to continue its essential work. One way to support his vision and the future of TDF is to make a donation in his memory.

TDF will be holding a celebration of his life sometime in 2023. Once plans are finalized, information about how we will celebrate and remember our extraordinary leader and friend will be posted on our website and Facebook page.

William Baker Jr. Founder of The Dyslexia Foundation and Nonquitt

Reading Fluency and Dyslexia: The Science and the Practice

View the Fall 2023 Dyslexia Foundation Conference Series

Professor Jennifer Zuk Receives Inaugural Dyslexia Foundation Research Award

Jennifer Zuk, an assistant professor in the Sargent College Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Albert M. Galaburda Research Award from The Dyslexia Foundation (TDF).

The award provides $50,000 in research funding over two years to early or mid-career researchers who investigate novel research questions. In particular, the award provides seed funding for pilot or experimental studies, which allow recipients to test new ideas and apply for NIH funding based on the success of that work.

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What is Dyslexia?

“Dyslexia is a brain-based type of learning disability that specifically impairs a person’s ability to read. These individuals typically read at levels significantly lower than expected despite having normal intelligence. Although the disorder varies from person to person, common characteristics among people with dyslexia are difficulty with phonological processing (the manipulation of sounds), spelling, and/or rapid visual-verbal responding. In individuals with adult onset of dyslexia, it usually occurs as a result of brain injury or in the context of dementia; this contrasts with individuals with dyslexia who simply were never identified as children or adolescents.  Dyslexia can be inherited in some families, and recent studies have identified a number of genes that may predispose an individual to developing dyslexia” NIH.gov.

NIH.gov

What is the prognosis?

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“For those with dyslexia, the prognosis is mixed. The disability affects such a wide range of people and produces such different symptoms and varying degrees of severity that predictions are hard to make. The prognosis is generally good, however, for individuals whose dyslexia is identified early, who have supportive family and friends and a strong self-image, and who are involved in a proper remediation program” NIH.gov.
NIG.gov

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What Research is Being Done?

Two institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) support major research on dyslexia (and other institutes may on occasion also support studies on learning disabilities or neurological conditions including dyslexia). The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) support ongoing dyslexia research through grants to major research institutions across the country.

Current research avenues focus on developing techniques to diagnose and treat dyslexia and other learning disabilities, increasing the understanding of the biological and possible genetic bases of learning disabilities, and exploring the relationship between neurophysiological processes and cognitive functions with regard to reading ability and learning. This information is provided by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute of Health.

Latest Research

Read about the latest research from our affiliated Researchers, partners, Scientific Advisory Board members.

Past Conference Videos

Watch video sessions from past conferences from leading experts in science and education.

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