Senate Roundtable Focuses on Dyslexia
Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, hosted a roundtable this week to discuss how to better support students with dyslexia. Senators heard from a panel of parents who have faced challenges in getting services for their children with dyslexia. They shared deeply personal experiences navigating the education system to secure appropriate services for their children. Many described challenges in accessing early screening, evidence-based interventions, and trained personnel, as well as delays in identification under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and limited school resources.
CEC appreciates the parents who shared their stories and the courage it takes to speak publicly about the challenges families face. These lived experiences highlight the importance of strengthening early identification, ensuring access to evidence-based instruction, and supporting educators with the training and resources needed to meet students’ needs. As Senator Cassidy noted, “we’re here today because there is a problem when data show that 1 in 5 children have dyslexia, yet [some] schools report that no child has dyslexia.”
Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) attended and engaged with families during the discussion. In response to parent testimony, Senator Hassan emphasized that the federal government has never fully funded IDEA and expressed concern that the current Administration is “running away from its obligations to public schools.”
Senator Cassidy highlighted his bill, the 21st Century Dyslexia Act, as a potential solution. CEC has opposed this legislation for both technical and strategic reasons. The bill would create a federal definition and a specific disability category for dyslexia and, if considered by Congress, could create a pathway to amend IDEA without the necessary stakeholder engagement and deliberation. CEC remains concerned that such changes could unintentionally put the rights of children with disabilities at risk.
View the roundtable here.
Read the 21st Century Dyslexia Act here.