R.E.A.D Inc.
We are a non-profit organization dedicated to providing success focused services for dyslexic students.
Dyslexia is defined as a disorder in children who, despite conventional classroom experience, fail to attain the language skills of reading, writing, and spelling commensurate with their intellectual abilities. [1] Specific manifestations may occur in one or more areas of the following characteristics of dyslexia:
- Lack of awarness of sounds in words --sound order,rhymes, or syllable sequence.
- Difficuty decoding words -- single word identification.
- Difficulty encoding words -- spelling.
- Poor sequencing of letters in words, when read or written (i.e. b/d, sing/sign, left/felt, 12/21).
- Problems with reading comprehension.
- Difficulty expressing thoughts in witten form.
- Delayed spoken language.
- Imprecise or incomplete interpretation of language that is heard.
- Confusion about directions in space or time (i.e. right/left, up/down, early/late).
- Difficulty with handwriting.
- Difficulty in mathematics -- usually related to sequencing of steps.
Even though estimates of the prevalence of dyslexia is hard to find, it is estimated that 15% of children entering school each year in America are dyslexic. This percentage does not include children whose dyslexia has not yet been recognized. In America, dyslexics constitute 80 - 85% of learning disabled students. [2] [3] This trend is prevalent in both America and Louisiana, where according to census 2000 nearly 8 out of 10 children, between the ages of 5-15 who have a disability, report it as a mental disability (difficulty in learning, remembering, or concentrating.) [4]
There are children with bright, intelligent minds who are failing not because they have dyslexia, but because they lack the skills to manage their dyslexia. You may not see a pair of crutches, but the learning disability's effects can be every bit as devastating as those of a physical nature. Without help to overcome this disability, these children will lose their self-esteem, develop behavioral and/or social problems, and often drop out of school. This is why OUR MISSION is to work in partnership with parish communities to provide dyslexic students in Louisiana the educational opportunity to overcome their disability and to assist these students in achieving their maximum potential. Our goal is to provide affordable Dyslexic Therapy to school age children. However, the number of children we can offer our service to is limited by funding. Any contribution to our efforts would be greatly appreciated.
References:
[1] The Research Group on Developmental Dyslexia and World Illiteracy of the World Foundation of Neurology; 1968
[2] Senate Bill Report SB5664, February 16, 2005
[3] Shaywitz, S.E.(1996). Dyslexic Scientific American, Nov. 272 (5), 98-105.
[4] U.S. Census Bureau Disability Status by Sex: 2000, QT - P21
