Recognizing the signs and where to get the help children need.

More than 66,000 students in Miami-Dade County may be living with dyslexia – a learning disability caused by a neurological condition that affects their reading, writing and spelling. There is help out there, but less than one in three of those children and youth have been diagnosed with dyslexia, meaning that they are likely not aware of or getting the assistance needed that is available.

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month and parents and caregivers should take the time to learn about this learning disability that affects about 1 in 5 individuals across the country. By recognizing the signs of dyslexia and, more importantly, getting access to assistance to lessen its negative learning effects on their children, parents can avoid them unnecessarily struggling, becoming anxious and suffering through feelings ofdoubt that often come with the condition.

Parents of young children can be on the lookout for common warning signs that dyslexic children have, including difficulty learning letters, mispronouncing familiar words or reading much slower than their classmates. Children who show an unwillingness to read and try to avoid any activities that involve letters could also be dyslexic. Over time and if the situation is not corrected, dyslexic students have been shown to suffer high rates of low self-esteem, poor grades and are more likely to drop out of school.

For parents in Miami-Dade, identifying dyslexia early is key to unlocking the right treatment. The Children's Trust invests $39.5 million annually to support children and youth with disabilities and plays a vital role in connecting families with the necessary resources. Trust-funded summer and after-school are obligated to be fully inclusive and competent at serving these special populations, and numerous resources are available to assist providers to do so.

Families can turn to The Children's Trust and its funded providers for guidance on navigating the education system, advocating for their child's needs and accessing school and government programs specifically tailored to children with learning differences. Additionally, Trust-funded programs ensure that staff are equipped with the skills to support special populations, offering respite care, legal advice and health services to ease the burden on parents.

To search for Trust-funded programs that provide support for children with disabilities, visit TheChildrensTrust.org/Find-A-Program and click “Special Needs” in the “Category” tab in the column on the left side of the page.

To lessen the effects of dyslexia, it is important that screening and diagnosis occur early so that effective interventions can be implemented. Structured Literacy programs, grounded in the Science of Reading (SoR), are evidence-based approaches proven to improve reading performance significantly. The Children’s Trust provides an annual $1.5 million grant to Florida International University (FIU) to support reading enhancement services intended to increase the number of children in grades K-5 who read at or above grade level. As part of these services, The Lucy Project - the leading Miami-Dade organization focused on dyslexia - helps to screen, diagnose and provide intervention.

The Lucy Project advocates for children who struggle to read and provides full and fair access to evidence-based literacy intervention, both with in-school and out-of-school programs.

“At The Lucy Project, we believe that every child deserves the chance to succeed in reading, regardless of their challenges. Early diagnosis and intervention for dyslexia can be life-changing, allowing children to build the confidence and skills they need to thrive, said Sandra Bermudez, founder and CEO of The Lucy Project. “Not only do we provide direct services for students, but we also offer professional development for teachers and learning opportunities for parents, ensuring that everyone involved has the tools to support children on their literacy journey. Together with The Children’s Trust and other dedicated partners, we are helping to create a future where all children can reach their full potential.”

With the help of organizations like The Lucy Project and Trust-funded programs like reading enhancement services, Books for Free and the Book Club, parents can ensure that children with dyslexia have access to the services they need to thrive academically and beyond.