NEW YORK CITY — Officials announced Thursday that New York City will establish a pilot program to screen students for dyslexia for the first time starting in fall 2022.
According to NY1, Mayor Eric Adams was educated in New York City’s public school system and his dyslexia went undiagnosed which is one of the reasons Adams is behind the new program. The idea is to prevent students from going through the public school system undiagnosed and to provide the screening for free across the city.
“As a student, I struggled with identifying my dyslexia until long after leaving the public school system. Today, we are announcing the most comprehensive approach to supporting dyslexic students in New York City to prevent students from experiencing that disadvantage. By changing the way we approach dyslexia, we can unlock the untapped potential in students who may feel insecure about their dyslexia or any other language-based learning disabilities they may have,” said Mayor Adams in a press release.
According to WNBC, dyslexia is defined by the National Institutes of Health as “a brain-based type of learning disability that specifically impairs a person’s ability to read. These individuals typically read at levels significantly lower than expected despite having normal intelligence.”
The pilot program will start next fall in eight elementary schools and 80 middle schools according to NY1. The program will evaluate which students are struggling and be able to provide support and training to help parents and educators intervene.
“Early screening ensures that every child who needs support will get the help and resources they need. These screeners are emblematic of this administration’s commitment to uplifting all of our students and making sure they are well equipped to succeed,” said Chancellor David C Banks in a press release.
The New York City Education Department plans to have at least one school that will offer specialized programs for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities by fall 2022. WNBC says teachers from kindergarten through the 12th grade will also be receiving basic training over the next year to help them figure out who is struggling and to be able to better assist them.
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