Rebekah Dyer
President
International Dyslexia Association
Arizona Branch

I am honored and privileged to be the president of the AZ Branch of the International Dyslexia Association.  As a board we will continue to strive forward in our efforts to increase awareness and education of what dyslexia is and how it impacts people. We plan to create a foundation for parents, teachers and schools with effective programs and strategies to support individuals with dyslexia.  I look forward to working with our outstanding board members in these efforts.

Dyslexia Bill SB1318

SB1318 Update

April 26, 2019

Everyone has homework this weekend!  SB1318 is scheduled for House Committee of the Whole (COW) on Monday, April 29, 2019.  The bill will be amended to add the House Education Committee amendments and some additional changes that were requested by the House Education Committee Chair.  After COW the bill will likely be third read (voted) in the full House on Monday as well.  After the House vote the bill will go back to the Senate for a final read (vote) then off to the Governor.  We are literally three steps away from making this bill a reality in AZ.  Please take the time to contact your Representative to ask them to support SB1318 and the Rep. Udall amendments.  One final push to get this bill over the finish line.

If you have any questions, please email us at arizona.ida@gmail.com.

Thank you!

https://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster/?body=H

April 10, 2019

Calling all supporters.  SB1318 is ready for the full House of Representatives debate (also known as Committee of the Whole or COW) and a vote.  Once again this is an opportunity for the Representatives to hear directly from those impacted by dyslexia.  We are in the final stages of getting this bill passed.  Senator Boyer is working on getting funding for the screening, training and a dept of education full time employee position included in the budget.  Once the bill passes the House it will have to go back to the Senate for a final vote then onto the Governor for his signature.  We are literally four steps away from this bill becoming law in Arizona.  We need you to email and call our State Representatives.

Contact both of your State Representatives  (note we will contract State Senators again once the bill passes the House of Representatives – only contact your State Representatives for now).  If you do not know your State Representatives or Legislative District CLICK HERE and enter your address in the yellow line to locate your state legislative district.  Once you have identified your legislative district or if you already know your legislative district CLICK HERE to find your State Representatives along with their contact information.

When talking or emailing a legislator:

• Always be respectful and non-threatening (you get more with honey)
• If you live in their legislative district let them know (include your address in the email).  An email from a resident that votes in their district has a bigger impact.
• Tell your personal story – our students are struggling.  Let them know why their yes vote is important.
• Let them know they can contact you for more information about dyslexia.
• Thank them for their time and support.

Talking Points on SB1318

• SB1318 is partnered after legislation passed in Oregon in 2015 and similar to legislation being considered in other states this year.
• At least 42 States have dyslexia screening requirements including (Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming).  It is time for Arizona to do the same.
• 1 in 5 people have dyslexia or a reading related disability (approximately 350,000 students in Arizona) according the National Institutes of Health
• Screening for indicators of dyslexia is required not a medical diagnosis
• Screenings can be completed in 5-20 minutes depending on the screening program
• Screenings can cost between $1.00 and $8.25 per student depending on the screening program
• Dyslexia screening can be completed when students have their vision, hearing or other literacy screening
• Dyslexia can be identified by age 5 ½ with 92% accuracy (National Institutes of Health)
• 95% of dyslexic students will read proficiently at grade level if they receive the right kind of instruction by 1^st grade (National Institutes of Health)
• If dyslexia intervention is delayed until 4^th grade it takes four times as long to improve the same skills by the same amount (Susan Hall – Straight Talk About Reading)
• 44% of third graders in Arizona are proficient or highly proficient, 56% are minimally or partially proficient in language arts (2018 AzMerit)…Dyslexia is the link that is being ignored

Thanks for making a difference in AZ!

March 19, 2019

Calling all supporters.

SB1318 is scheduled to be heard in the Arizona House of Representatives Education Committee on Monday, March 25^th at 2:00 pm – 1700 West Washington Ave, House Building in Hearing Room 1.

Once again this is an opportunity for the Representatives to heard directly from those impacted by dyslexia.  We need a large turnout just like we had in the Senate.

Please arrive a little early as the House has security screening as you enter the building.

If you have your #SayDyslexia shirt please wear it.

If you are not able to attend or want to save time registering your support of SB1318 click here- https://apps.azleg.gov/Account/SignOn.

If you already have a request to speak account click sign-in, if you need to set-up a request to speak account click on create an account.

You can register support or request to speak for the bill once it appears on an official agenda which should occur in the next 24 hours – https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/CommitteeOverView?SessionID=121.

If you are not able to register before the hearing or need help we will be available before the hearing to assist.

Look forward to seeing everyone next Monday.

March 15, 2019

SB1318 – schools; dyslexia; screening; training will SOON be heard in the Arizona House of Representatives Education Committee! 

Please click the image for the SB1318 call to action for a details.

SB1318 will soon be considered by the full state Senate.

Please contact your State Senator (note we will contract State Representatives once the bill passes the Senate – only contact your Senator for now).  If you do not know your State Senator or Legislative District CLICK HERE and enter your address in the yellow line to locate your state legislative district.  Once you have identified your legislative district or if you already know your legislative district CLICK HERE to find your State Senator along with their contact information.

When talking or emailing a legislator:

• Always be respectful and courteous
• Let them know you live in their legislative district.  An email from a resident that votes in their district has a big impact.
• Tell your personal story – our students are struggling.  Let them know why their yes vote is important.
• Let them know they can contact you for more information.
• Thank them for their time and support.

Talking Points on SB1318:

• SB1318 is partnered after legislation passed in Oregon in 2015
• At least 42 States have dyslexia screening requirements including (Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming).  It is time for Arizona to do the same.
• 1 in 5 people have dyslexia or a reading related disability (approximately 325,000 students in Arizona) according the National Institutes of Health
• SB1318 requires screening for risk factors for dyslexia, it does not require a medical diagnosis
• Screenings can be completed in 5-20 minutes depending on the screening program
• Screenings can cost between $1.00 and $8.25 per student depending on the screening program
• Dyslexia screening can be completed when students have their vision and hearing screening
• Dyslexia can be identified by age 5 ½ with 92% accuracy (National Institutes of Health)
• 95% of dyslexic students will read proficiently at grade level if they receive the right kind of instruction by 1^st grade (National Institutes of Health)
• If dyslexia intervention is delayed until 4^th grade it takes four times as long to improve the same skills by the same amount (Susan Hall – Straight Talk About Reading)
• 44% of third graders in Arizona are proficient or highly proficient, 56% are minimally or partially proficient in language arts (2018 AzMerit)…Dyslexia is the link that is being ignored

February 13, 2019

Video of the amazing SB1318 testimony in Senate Education yesterday.  Thanks to the students, parents, teachers, therapists and dyslexia experts that testified.  Grab your Kleenex, as these stories are real, they are personal, they are sometimes difficult to hear, they were difficult to share.  We appreciate everyone taking the time out of their busy lives to testify before the Senate Education Committee.

http://azleg.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=13&clip_id=22003

Click on SB1318

Senate Bill SB1318 – schools; dyslexia; screening; training will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Feb 12^th  at 2:00PM.  We need your help to ensure this legislation becomes the law in Arizona. Our state Senators need to hear directly from dyslexic students, parents and teachers.

Please click the image for the SB1318 call to action for a details.   We are planning to gather at the Capitol at 1:00PM so everyone can register to speak and / or support SB1318.  We will have #SayDyslexia t-shirts for sale for $25. Please show your support for this important bill by wearing a t-shirt.

If you have any questions or would like more information please email us at arizona.ida@gmail.com.   Thank you to Senator Boyer for introducing this much important bill SB1318.

We look forward to seeing you Tuesday!

The AZ Branch of the International Dyslexia Association received the Branch Excellence Award for fundraising at the 2017 IDA conference today! Thank you to everyone who has supported us!

 Masquerade for Dyslexia 2017