Dyslexia is one of the most common language-based learning differences. Dyslexia affects each person differently, but generally speaking, affects reading, spelling, and writing. Dyslexics are intelligent people who, with the right multi-sensory teaching methods, can be successful in school and beyond. Symptoms range from mild (poor spelling) to severe (inability to read). Children with dyslexia often feel different and suffer from low self-esteem. It is a common misconception that all dyslexics reverse letters and numbers. To learn more about indicators of dyslexia in children and adults, visit the International Dyslexia Association at www.interdys.org.

The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity is running a petition to legalize dyslexia and mandate that it is recognized as a real learning disability in public schools. In addition, they seek a DSM code for dyslexia making it a real medical diagnosis. To sign this petition, log on to http://dyslexia.yale.edu/LegalizeDyslexia.html .

Susan Barton, a leader in dyslexia research and remediation, wrote the following urging changes to the DSM codes:

"Psychologists use DSM codes to diagnose conditions.  Dyslexia is not in the current version, which is DSM-4.

The next version, DSM-5, had changed the definition and title of 315.00 Reading Disorder to 315.00 Dyslexia but within the last month, they changed it so that dyslexia no longer has a diagnostic code of its own.  

Here is what they are now proposing:

Learning Disorder has been changed to Specific Learning Disorder and the previous types of Learning Disorder (Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Disorder of Written Expression) are no longer being recommended.  

DSM-5 is open for public comment and feedback from now until June 15.  

So send an email today to DSM5@psych.org insisting they change 315.00 to Dyslexia as they had it listed in the fall.  

Here is the email I recently sent:

In the fall, the DSM-5 website showed that 315.00 Reading Disorder was going to be changed to 315.00 Dyslexia -- which I totally agree with.

But that has changed in the version you just made available for public comment. In the rationale, it states:
Learning Disorder has been changed to Specific Learning Disorder and the previous types of Learning Disorder (Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Disorder of Written Expression) are no longer being recommended.

Please restore 315.00 Dyslexia.

We have over 30 years of independent scientific replicated research to prove dyslexia is a real condition.

10 states have dyslexia laws (and 5 others are working on it), many governors have declared October to be Dyslexia Awareness Month, and state departments of education are (finally) creating Dyslexia Handbooks for their schools. 

The U.S. Congress now has a Dyslexia Caucus. Movies are coming out on dyslexia. 

Other countries have diagnostic codes for dyslexia.

In DSM-5, dyslexia needs a diagnostic code of its own."

 

Please sign the petition and let your voice be heard on behalf of dyslexics.