Promoting Effective Learning Environments for All Students
Dyslexia may be the most common learning disability, but it unfortunately remains misunderstood in many parts of the country. This learning disability should never be a roadblock for students’ success in the classroom; however, the lack of public awareness further hinders early diagnoses, preventing our students from receiving the tools they need to succeed early in their educational journey. Thankfully, great efforts are being made on the state level in Arkansas to ensure our students with learning disabilities can receive the help they need for a better, more inclusive learning environment.
Early in my years of public service, I had the privilege of serving as school board president. That, combined with my understanding of education as the husband of a teacher, deepened my comprehension of dyslexia, growing my desire to provide accessible resources for educators who could support students with dyslexia. During my service in the Arkansas legislature, we were proudly able to lay the groundwork for changes in the Natural State.
As co-chair of the Congressional Dyslexia Caucus, I now have the opportunity to work in Congress on behalf of educators, parents, and students with dyslexia to advocate for a more science-based approach to creating a modern understanding around the definition of dyslexia. This week, it was a privilege to introduce a Resolution recognizing October as National Dyslexia Awareness Month in addition to signing on as a cosponsor for the 21st Century Dyslexia Act. This legislation underscores the need for a modern-day, scientific understanding of this learning disability in order to prevent the harm that unidentified dyslexia can inflict on our young students.
Education policy is always best handled at the state and local level, but the federal government can help with research, bringing focus to an issue, and sharing best practices. Efforts to expand and streamline training and schooling for dyslexia therapists are greatly encouraging to see, as schools across the Natural State face a growing need for trained professionals. The University of Arkansas recently announced its partnership with the Academic Language Therapy Association and the Nelms Dyslexia Center to create a new master’s degree pathway for those looking to pursue a career in academic language therapy. This new avenue allows Arkansans who are pursuing a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) certification to also earn university credit, creating a more affordable and streamlined path for their credentials process.
True change and progress for all learning disabilities will only come from the continued advocacy, awareness, and commitment to resources that lead to a greater understanding of helping individuals succeed in learning, and I extend my deepest thanks to the tireless advocates in Arkansas who lead the charge in this pursuit. While millions of students experience the hurdles of dyslexia, my hope is that we continue to gain a deeper understanding of this learning disability in order to foster a more inclusive, supportive, and modern-day learning environment for all students.