Welcome to the
Easier-to-Read Version
of the World’s Hardest-
to-Read Website
As you scroll through the site, you’ll experience what it might be like to have the condition known as dyslexia. A condition that makes it hard to read. The purpose of this experience is to learn more about the condition and help you understand challenges faced by people with dyslexia.
Dyslexia isn’t just about jumbled letters or words jumping around on a page, it’s a neurological condition. It’s also the most common learning disability, making it difficult to read accurately and fluently.
A person with dyslexia may also have trouble with
- reading comprehension
- spelling and writing
Individuals with dyslexia must learn coping strategies. There is no cure.
Source: Dyslexia Canada, International Dyslexia Association
HARD TO
READ FACTS
If you're reading this now, you probably already know why reading is important. Reading and comprehension are fundamental life necessities. Without these skills, it’s hard to navigate our educational systems, find fulfilling work, or even make friends. Between two and five students in every Canadian classroom struggle with reading because of dyslexia.
- 1 in 5 people worldwide have dyslexia
- 750,000 Canadian students are dyslexic
- 40% of children with learning disabilities experience mental health issues
- 50% of adults with low literacy levels live below the poverty line
- 60% of adolescents in rehab programs for drugs and/or alcohol have a learning disability
Source: Dyslexia Canada, International Dyslexia Association
The Good
in Dyslexia
While there are considerable drawbacks for those with dyslexia, there is hope and there can be advantages. Individuals with dyslexia are neither more nor less intelligent than the general population.
Many people with dyslexia have gone on to accomplish great things. Keanu Reeves, Dav Pilkey, Keira Knightley, and Richard Branson are counted among many other dyslexia success stories.
Source: Dyslexia Canada, International Dyslexia Association
- Dyslexia is heritable, up to 50% of first-degree relatives
- Dyslexia can be identified as early as kindergarten
- If discovered early, children with dyslexia can learn to read with their peers
- 1% increase in the national literacy rate = $32 billion in economic growth annually
- 35% of entrepreneurs have dyslexia
Identifying
Dyslexia
Although all children learn at their own pace, a child who has been struggling with reading and spelling may actually be struggling with dyslexia. Sadly, and all too often, these children are dismissed as slow learners, unmotivated, or lazy. It’s important to recognize the signs of dyslexia early. If your child is showing multiple indicators, it might be good to have them assessed.
Source: Understood.org
- Mispronounces words, like saying beddy tear instead of teddy bear
- Sometimes confuses letters that look similar (b, d, p, q)
- Sometimes confuses letters that sound similar (d/t; b/p; f/v)
- Struggles to read familiar words (like cat or the), especially if there aren’t pictures
- Has difficulty remembering and following directions
- Has a hard time with stories or lyrics that rhyme
- Tells stories that are hard to follow
The Next Chapter
The Next Chapter
The Next Chapter
The Next Chapter
The Next Chapter
The Next Chapter
Dyslexia is one of the most researched learning disabilities. Unfortunately, in many circles, Canada does not even use the word dyslexia, lacks a compulsory identification process, or proven techniques to teach dyslexic children.
The evidence is clear and we need to take action. We need to recognize dyslexia in our schools. We need to identify it early. And we need proper reading instruction to help children with dyslexia get up to speed with their classmates.
When you’re dyslexic, no story is simple.
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