The Problem
Dyslexia is a common reading disability however, African American students remains to be the most undiagnosed and untreated in public schools.
Black students affected by dyslexia lacks early identification and remediation and are disproportionally impacted by school disciplinary actions.
Black students with dyslexia, having difficulty acquiring reading skills raises no alarms due to the already existing low academic expectations and, therefore, will often exclude them from dyslexia diagnosis.
For people of color and diverse backgrounds finding a place and having a voice in the dyslexia community is very difficult. Dyslexia organizations’ lacks diversity and the conversation is dominated from an euro-centric perspective.
Although many cases are unidentified, approximately 15-20% of the nation’s population exhibits some symptoms of dyslexia (“International Dyslexia Association Dyslexia Basics”). It is challenging for teachers and parents to distinguish between reading difficulties and dyslexia among younger students. Research has shown that early intervention provided to kindergarten through third grade has effectively closed the gap for struggling readers (“International Dyslexia Association Dyslexia Basics”).
Purpose of the Study
There is limited research and data specifically on Black students with Dyslexia. However, some studies have found disparities in the identification and support of students with Dyslexia, including Black students.
This study aims to raise awareness about dyslexia in communities of color through dyslexia-focused advocacy, education, and knowledge shared with educators, families, and policymakers. . Nationwide, there is an overrepresentation of Black students in the category of intellectual disability. Labeling students “intellectually disabled” suggests the child is globally impaired, causing the lowering of performance expectations and resulting in fewer resources to support challenges such as dyslexia. In addition, some educators are more likely to punish Black students for failing to meet expectations, although the student’s ability level is not aligned with the given task (Jahangir et al. A17). Therefore, communities of color must identify and understand the early signs of dyslexia and how to advocate for black dyslexic kids within the education system.
Get educated: Learn about dyslexia and its impact on African American students and communities.
Support: Get involved with organizations that provide resources and support for dyslexia, particularly those that focus on African American communities.
Advocate: Speak up for dyslexia awareness and support in your local schools and communities.