Studies indicate that as many as 1 in 5 students have dyslexia and related learning disabilities. With a number that high, it is likely that every teacher will have one or more students with dyslexia in his or her classroom. Helping these students to learn and succeed requires at least some basic knowledge about dyslexia. Thursday’s #ILAchat will cover what dyslexia is and how to help, in addition to providing an understanding of the most effective accommodations for those who struggle with reading and spelling.

Kelli Sandman-Hurley is the cofounder of the Dyslexia Training Institute (DTI), where she provides professional development for education professionals in the area of interventions for students with dyslexia. Sandman-Hurley has a doctorate in literacy and a specialization in reading and dyslexia. She and her team at DTI also provide one-on-one reading and spelling therapy at their centers in San Diego, California.

Learning Ally is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that supports students with dyslexia and other reading-based disabilities such as blindness and visual impairment. The organization provides the world’s largest library of accessible human-narrated audiobooks for students with disabilities, along with extensive community support for parents and professional training for teachers. 

Join @ILAToday on Thursday, October 8 at 8 p.m. ET. Remember to hashtag #ILAchat to keep the conversation rolling.