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Chairman Phil Mendelson 2
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 5
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 7
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To recognize October as International Dyslexia Awareness Month, and to declare October 2023 9
as “Dyslexia Awareness Month” in the District of Columbia. 10
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WHEREAS, dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that refers to a cluster of 12
symptoms, which result in people having difficulties with specific language skills, particularly 13
reading; 14
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WHEREAS, dyslexia affects approximately 20 percent of the population and represents 16
nearly 90 percent of all those with learning disabilities. It is the most common of all neuro-17
cognitive disorders; 18
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WHEREAS, dyslexia affects all segments of society, regardless of race, income, 20
educational background or ability and is not an indication of a lack of intelligence or desire to 21
learn. Dyslexia is not rare, and affects individuals throughout their lives; however, its impact can 22
change at different stages in a person’s life; 23
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WHEREAS, dyslexia occurs in people of all backgrounds and intellectual levels. People 25
with dyslexia are often gifted in areas such as art, computer science, design, drama, electronics, 26
mechanics, music, physics, sales, and sports; however, dyslexia also can be associated with other 27
learning challenges in areas such as writing, spelling, mathematics, speech, language processing, 28
executive function, fine motor skills, attention or mental health; 29
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WHEREAS, literacy is a critical skill for educational success. Students who do not read 31
at grade level by third grade are four times more likely not to graduate from high school; 32
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WHEREAS, early detection and proper diagnosis, structured scientifically-based 34
reading intervention supports, and the provision of necessary accommodations are critical to 35
ensure school and life success for those with dyslexia; 36
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WHEREAS, teachers and students across the District of Columbia benefit from increased 38
educator professional training about dyslexia and scientifically-based teaching strategies designed 39
to better identify and educate students with dyslexia; 40
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WHEREAS, the District of Columbia is committed to equity in educational opportunities 42
through identifying obstacles to educational advancement and endeavoring to remove those 43
obstacles; 44 45
WHEREAS, to that end, the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) started a dyslexia 46
task force in January 2020; 47
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WHEREAS, the Council also passed the Addressing Dyslexia and Other Reading 49
Difficulties Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Law 23-191) to require the Office of the State 50
Superintendent for Education (OSSE) to: (1) provide dyslexia awareness and other reading 51
difficulties training to all educators; (2) provide educators with professional development on 52
recognizing reading difficulties, screening for reading difficulties, and implementing instruction 53
that meet the needs of students with reading difficulties; (3) compile a list of recommended 54
screening instruments and protocols that LEAs may use to identify students who are at risk of 55
reading difficulties; and (4) provide guidance on specialized, multi-tiered remediation and 56
intervention instruction which is aligned to a science-based reading program; and 57
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WHEREAS, Dyslexia Awareness Month is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate 59
the many achievements of children, adolescents, and adults with dyslexia, to foster awareness 60
across the District of Columbia with the goal of empowering families and educators who are aiding 61
students with dyslexia, and to continue to advocate for academic support in the District’s public 62
schools so students with dyslexia can achieve overall success. 63
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RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this 65
resolution may be cited as the “October is Dyslexia Awareness Month Recognition Resolution of 66
2023.” 67
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Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia honors those working to provide education 69
and treatment to individuals affected by dyslexia in the District of Columbia, recognizes the month 70
of October as International Dyslexia Awareness Month, and declares October 2023 as “Dyslexia 71
Awareness Month” in the District of Columbia. 72
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Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately. 74