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The DDON Dyslexia Toolkit for parents

Just in time for IEP meetings, and Dyslexia Awareness month, we’re launching our new tool kit to help parents navigate the education system and support their dyslexic children. Go to our parent tool kit website to read and download this free resource:

Right to Read: DDON response

For release:  February 28, 2022 “It is time for change.” Today, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released the findings of their ground-breaking, two-year Right to Read inquiry into the systemic discrimination facing students with dyslexia in Ontario public schools. As parents of dyslexic children, and volunteers working with thousands of families across the province,…

Right To Read: Speech by DDON President Lark Barker

Lark Barker, parent, advocate and President of DDON, presented at the launch of the Right to Read inquiry report on February 28, 2022. Here is the transcript of her speech: “Decoding Dyslexia Ontario is extremely grateful to the OHRC for completing this in-depth inquiry into the discrimination faced by students with reading disabilities in Ontario’s…

Time for change: Watch the release of the Right to Read Inquiry Report

The time has come! On Monday, February 28, 2022, the Ontario Human Rights Commission will release its Right to Read inquiry report on human rights issues affecting students with reading disabilities, such as dyslexia. Our President, Lark Barker, is honoured to be presenting at the launch. Watch the livestream of the report launch on YouTube. When: Monday, February 28,…

Right to Read: Contact your MPP

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) launched their Right to Read Inquiry in 2020. They released their detailed report on February 28, 2022.  We encourage you to contact your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) to let them know that the recommendations made by the OHRC — and the proposed changes to the curriculum as announced after…

Black history month: Celebrating black history and people with disabilities

“When I was a teenager in special education wrestling with what it meant to have a disability, I didn’t have many examples of role models that looked like me.” Lederick Horne February is Black History Month. We’re pleased to share a video series that celebrates black history and people with disabilities. The videos feature African…

The Science of Reading: 4 Myths and Top 3 resources

By Lark Barker, special education teacher, structured literacy specialist and DDOn President The purpose of the Right to Read inquiry is NOT to investigate and determine what are ‘best practices’ to teach reading. That has already been ascertained by science and data. One purpose of the OHRC inquiry is to determine whether Ontario School boards…

Dyslexia road map

Decoding Dyslexia Ontario’s dyslexia roadmap — how to navigate school with reading challenges. Created by DDON research lead Natalie Gallimore. Please share!

Decoding Dyslexia Ontario calls on government to make pandemic learning accessible to students with dyslexia and other exceptionalities

On November 18, Decoding Dyslexia Ontario published the following statement expressing concern about the lack of support for students with dyslexia and other exceptionalities in Ontario public schools during the pandemic. You can download and share a copy of the statement as a PDF or word document: Decoding Dyslexia Ontario calls on government to make…

Veteran wants “all kids to live with purpose and conquer their challenges.”

Today we mark Remembrance Day with the story of American World War II veteran Frank Macon. Frank is one of the original Tuskegee airmen, a group of African American military pilots (fighter and bomber) who fought in WWII, disproving the belief that African Americans were not fit for military combat. As a child he struggled…

Ontario Human Rights Commission releases Right To Read video

In October, during Dyslexia Awareness Month, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released a new video that provides a snapshot of the progress of Right to Read inquiry. The OHRC launched its public inquiry into human rights issues affecting students with reading disabilities in Ontario’s public education system one year ago, and plans to release…

Right To Read Inquiry Update

In its latest update, the Ontario Human Rights Commission states that the Right To Read Inquiry report is planned for release in Spring 2021. Decoding Dyslexia Ontario welcomes the report, and thanks the commission for their continued work during these very challenging times. “The inquiry team is currently analyzing the information received and drafting a…

Decoding Dyslexia Ontario signs Black Literacy Matters statement

Decoding Dyslexia Ontario stands with our partner DD Groups and supportive families in support of the following statement and pledge because #Blackliteracymatters: “Decoding Dyslexia’s Official Position on Black Literacy Matters (BLM) Disclaimer: We subscribe to the statement-Black Lives Matter Too and have no affiliation with the organization. Literacy is a human right and dyslexia is often…

Everyday Dyslexia Heroes Project

Heroes don’t always wear capes or leap over tall buildings. In the dyslexia community, our heroes are… …our very own kids who everyday come home from school exhausted, go for tutoring, do mountains of homework, and then get up and do it again ..you, the parents, who work hard everyday to make sure your amazing…

DDON submission to OHRC Right to Read inquiry

Decoding Dyslexia Ontario made its submission to the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read Inquiry on April 14, 2020. Read the full submission Download the attached PDF to read our full submission. Summary Decoding Dyslexia Ontario (DDON) welcomed the OHRC’s October 2019 launch of the Right to Read Inquiry. Since 2014, DDON has been…

Press release: Dyslexia community applauds launch of Right to Read inquiry

Dyslexia community applauds the Ontario Human Rights Commission “Right to Read” Public Inquiry Toronto, ON – October 3, 2019 – Decoding Dyslexia Ontario and The Ontario Branch of the International Dyslexia Association applaud the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) decision to launch an inquiry into human rights issues that affect children with dyslexia and other…

Letter to the Editor: Dyslexia is the elephant in the room

Published in the Globe and Mail, January 31, 2019 Re Canada’s Shortfall In Basic Skills Costs Us All (Jan. 25): Dyslexia is the elephant in the room when there is discussion of low literacy. Dyslexia affects, by the Ontario Ministry of Education’s own admission, 6 per cent to 17 per cent of students. That is at least…

Fact sheet: Inadequate appropriate special ed sevice = discrimination

This week, Renu Mandhane, Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), acknowledged that children with dyslexia must be accommodated in Ontario schools — whether schools use the term “dyslexia” or not. She further advised parents of children with dyslexia or specific learning disorder (SLD) (which may be dyslexia even if your public school…

Webinar: Navigating the IEP/IPRC process

Dr. Norm Forman, Navigating the IEP & IPRC Process – A Decoding Dyslexia Ontario Webinar Decoding Dyslexia – Ontario held an information session and webinar on Saturday, October 28, 2017, at Beaches Reading Clinic, featuring Dr. Norm Forman. We learned a great deal about the IEP/IPRC process and how parents can effectively advocate for their children. Dr. Forman is a…

Statement: Ontario parents applaud US special education ruling

We, parents of dyslexic children, are delighted with the March 22, page A10, story in the Toronto Star, regarding the US Supreme Court’s ruling for a Denver CO boy whose public education was ‘essentially stalled’ whereby his parents pulled him from public school and enrolled him in a specialty private school where he would get…

Videos: Faces of Dyslexia

Decoding Dyslexia Ontario has produced 2 “Faces of Dyslexia” videos featuring students with dyslexia: Faces of Dyslexia in Canada – 2017 This year, in an effort to increase awareness about Dyslexia in Canada, Decoding Dyslexia branches across our country are launching our “Faces of Dyslexia Canada” video. We need the country to know about our bright…

Letter: To Premier Kathleen Wynne

AN OPEN LETTER TO PREMIER KATHLEEN WYNNE – STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA IN ONTARIO NEED YOUR SUPPORT Dear Premier Wynne, Congratulations on your government’s December 5th commitment to develop an education accessibility standard under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. This is an important step toward ensuring equality of education across our province and as representatives of…

Canada-focused research on education

Through the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada* (CMEC), since at least 2009, Canada’s Provincial Ministers of Education have been aware that the lack of identification and interventions for dyslexia is a contributing factor to the problems encountered by students in Canada achieving success in literacy. CMEC is a good source of Canada-focused research and…

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Decoding Dyslexia Ontario is a parent-led, grassroots movement that promotes dyslexia awareness and empowers families. We advocate for evidence-based practices for identification, remediation and support for students with dyslexia in Ontario.