The state of Texas, the first to adopt a law requiring instruction for students with dyslexia in 1985, continues to set the standard when it comes to dyslexia education reform (T. Flanders, personal communication, August 30, 2011). Until recently, little consideration was made in the use of assistive technology (AT) for students with mild disabilities, specifically in the field of dyslexia education and intervention (Edyburn, 2006, p. 18). With the passing of Senate Bill 866, concerning the implementation of classroom technology plans for students with dyslexia, the pursuit of reform has become of utmost importance (The Texas State Senate-Information News and Events of the 82nd Legislative Session, 2011). Although Texas is proactive in dyslexia policy decision making, there continues to be a gap between dyslexia mandates and the actualization of dyslexia reform, where teachers are required to perform tasks that have not been fully realized by lawmakers.
Dyslexia is caused by a lack of maturation in the part of the brain responsible for language. One positive aspect of this disorder is how receptive dyslexic students are to the visual, spatial, and lateral thinking abilities that can be heightened and fostered through the use of computer programs (Camarata, 2006). AT includes, but is not limited to, the use of any technical aid, device, tool or adaptation that supports students in the educational environment (Loftus, 2009). Phipps, Sutherland, and Seal (2002) stress the importance of matching assistive technology to the individual using it instead of adopting a one size fits all mentality. Oftentimes trial and error is necessary to determine the appropriate tools and techniques for a specific user ("DO-IT", 2010). Implem...
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...ld aid classroom teachers who are not equipped or trained in dyslexia intervention.
Texas Legislature Online - 81(R) Text for HB 461. (n.d.). Texas Legislature Online. Retrieved August 24, 2011, from http://www.legis.state.tx.us
This site gives insight to the committees that are formed to make informed decisions about dyslexia and related disorders. It includes membership and agendas.
The Texas State Senate - Information News and Events of the 82nd Legislative Session. (n.d.). The Texas State Senate - Information News and Events of the 82nd Legislative Session. Retrieved August 24, 2011, from http://www.senate.state.tx.us
This site provides access to documents relating to Texas Citizenship and walks you through the process of passing a bill. Carefully outlined are ways to advocate before election, before legislation, during legislation, and after legislation.
Texas is a unique place with a colorful history of legendary cowboys and tall tales. The state stretches over the middle section of the southern United States. Texas has experienced shifts in governmental control within the United States. French, Spanish, Mexican, and Confederacy, and all having once been in charge, not to mention the time Texas spent as an independent republic. Texas has had many battles and wars within its borders, resulting in seven different constitutions within a span of fifty years between each document.
University of Texas at Austin. Texas Politics, The legislative Branch. Austin, 2nd Edition-Revision 94 2009, Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services.
Robert Buck once said, “If children can’t learn the way we teach, then we have to teach the way they learn.” The Wilson Language Program has become disclosed to amplify this mentality. Dyslexia is a common disease among ten to fifteen percent of the United States, where a human being has trouble in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols. Programs are reaching out to try to terminate as much distress of dyslexia as possible. Up and coming programs, The Wilson Language Program for example, are making their best efforts to start working with children from a young age with the slight signs of this common problem. Catching dyslexia earlier in life brings more assurance that the child’s future will have little to no setbacks or disadvantages for success. In order to enhance the regressive literacy of dyslexic individuals, the Wilson Language Program is progressively being implemented into regular schooling to ensure that reading standards are met, through structure, hours of research, copious practice, and strong evidence.
The political future of Texas has been widely debated since the 2012 election of Pres. Barack Obama, since the state has always played a significant role in impacting national elections. Nationally, there was uneven support among minority voters in favor of the president and Democrats, and as a result there has been an increasing interest in the Hispanic population growth in Texas (Lawrence.) The speculation regards how the changing complexion of Texas voters will influence the political process, with political pundits broadly predicting that since the Latino population typically votes for Democr...
Texas the second largest state in the nation has seen a boom in its population over the past decade, which presents both challenges and opportunities for state politicians, such as creating and modifying the state’s current water plan. Texas’ population growth was only second behind California with an increase of 4.3 million people between 2000 and 2010. (Tannahill) The increase in the state’s population growth rate is due to both a natural population increase, whereby live births exceed deaths, and immigration. Compared to the rest of the nation Texas has one of the lowest cost of living expenses in the nation, making it an affordable and attractive option for immigrants from all over the world. Although, most people would see the lower cost of living as a valuable resource, it also has a draw back. Texas which shares a border with Mexico has the largest Stretch of Border between the United States and Mexico. The United States and Mexico border is more 1,900 miles long, in which Texas has more than 1,254 miles...
"Senate Joint Resolution No. 232." Legislative Information System. Legislative Information System, 08 Mar. 2012. Web. 25 Oct. 2013.
National Conference of State Legislatures. Wendy Underhill , 26 Mar. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
Too frequently dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia are clumped together and thought to be the same problem. In reality, the three issues are similar but also constitute many of their own distinct complications. Dyslexia is manifested not only in seeing letters backwards and upside down but is the inability to decipher sounds and letters or shapes. “Dyslexia reflects a deficiency in the processing of the distinctive linguistic units, called phonemes, that make up all spoken and written words.” (Shaywitz pg98) This makes it difficult for the child to sound out words phonetically to read fluently; they might also struggle with remembering
This is a subject and disorder near and dear to my heart. My personal experience with dyslexia, with myself and my daughter, has given me great insight into what dyslexia is, what the signs are, and how soon you can detect the potential for problems. It is not always the case that dyslexia is the sole source of reading and reading comprehension difficulties, there are other disorders that can exist at the same time, and this is important to know in order to help students improve their reading abilities. But, dyslexia will not only affect reading abilities and reading comprehension. It can affect writing, spelling, math, memory, listing comprehension, self-esteem, social skills, the ability to understand sarcasm, understanding spatial concepts,
"Texas Politics - Texas Political Culture." Welcome to Texas Politics. University of Texas at Austin, 2011. Web. 15 Mar. 2011. .
Goldish, Meish. Everything You Need to Know About Dyslexia. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 1998.
Dyslexia is a language based learning disorder that is grounded in the neurobiology of the brain. The disorder interferes with the processing and comprehension of both spoken and written language. Often there are other associated symptoms such as poor spelling, writing, handwriting and occasionally arithmetic (1). People do not read or write backwards as is depicted by the media. Nor is it a disorder of laziness or lack of intelligence.
Assistive technology is often used by individuals with a learning disability. A learning disability “describes a neurobiological disorder in which a person’s brain works or is structured differently” (Lee1). A person’s abilities can be severely affected from a learning disability. They may listen differently, talk differently, write, spell, organize, and work with school subjects in a different way. Learning disabilities also affect people’s individual and personal lives to a great extent. According to the National Institutes of Health, one in seven children has a learning disability. The disability manifests itself when the child shows difficulty in reading, writing, spelling, and conversing with others. The added time they need to process information may make them seem less intelligent then others around them, but this is not the case. Individuals with learning disabilities are just as smart as anyone else; they just need to learn in a different way. The earlier a learning disability is noticed and detected, the earlier a child may be able to learn how to deal with or compensate for it (Lee 1). This is where assistive technology comes into play.
As common as learning disabilities may be, not every child in America is affected, however, the number may be larger than one thinks. In 2001, over 2.9 million children were diagnosed with a learning disability. The number is not accurate since some definitions of a learning disability are different than others. (NCLD 2001) Some of the most common are dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Typically one who suffers from a learning disability has difficulty in writing, reading, speaking, listening, and mathematics (NCLD 2001). They may also have short-term memory loss and will frequently let their emotions overpower their reasoning. They may have a hard time paying attention in class and find ways to avoid work, especially when they find the material too difficult. (Silverman) They are disorganized in bo...
Bowser and Reed [1995] as cited by Bryant et al [1998] argue that as a child progresses through the Education System, their requirements change and this may necessitate a need for different devices. This is not limited to those children with a physical disability but is relevant to all children with SEN as they progress and the Education System places additional burdens upon them. For children with a visual impairment ICT can provide support in various ways; tools to support communication, to improve access to information and as a means of producing learning materials in alternative. There is a wide range of devices and software, which can