Bolinsky Applauds Dyslexia Training Bill

HARTFORD-After hearing distressing testimony from many grade school students and their parents that school districts were slow to identify dyslexia, State Rep. Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) supported a proposal in the Education committee which trains school districts and teachers on the learning disability.

The legislation, SB-1054, An Act Concerning Students with Dyslexia requires the state Department Education to designate a point person for dyslexia and adds dyslexia training to mandatory subjects of in-service training and teacher prep programs. The bill received unanimous committee support and now heads to the State Senate and House for a full debate.

“The earlier children can identify and begin addressing problems kids have reading in school, the smaller the gap that needs to be closed. The good news is that dyslexia can be identified early and kids who have it can be taught to become successful readers,” said Rep. Bolinsky.

Ten to 15 percent of people in the U.S. have the specific reading disability called dyslexia, yet very few are properly identified and receive assistance, reports the Dyslexia Research Institute, a nonprofit organization.

The Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance also testified that early identification of problems and timely, appropriate, intervention to address them, are in the best interests of children and the taxpayers.