Traditionally, students with dyslexia have been identified in schools only as having a specific learning disability, rather than having their dyslexia recognized formally. As a result, many students were not getting the assistance they required to help them with reading or other educational issues.
Dissatisfied with this status quo which was hurting her dyslexic third-grader, Beth Ravelli began an eight year long campaign in New Jersey to get dyslexia recognized in schools. Ravelli launched her statewide effort in order to raise awareness and help all children with dyslexia. Groups such as the Reading Disabilities Task Force and Decoding Dyslexia began lobbying for the bills to get dyslexia recognized.
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Their efforts ultimately proved successful when New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a bill into law that officially recognizes dyslexia in New Jersey schools on August 6th. He also signed two related bills requiring teachers to receive annual training in reading disabilities and the State Department of Education to provide training opportunities for teachers.
This is a huge step forward for the recognition of dyslexia and will lead to many students finally getting the help they need.
Ravelli is now working towards a bill that will require all students to be screened for dyslexia and other reading disabilities.
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