I am pleased to share that House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1108 was ceremonially signed into law yesterday by the governor. This legislation will provide aspiring educators the skills they need to recognize dyslexia and other reading disorders in their students. Once identified, teachers will be able to teach their students more effectively according to their needs.
I was prompted to author HEA 1108 after meeting Cheryl Clemens whose son, Josh, has dyslexia. I met Cheryl back in 2013 when she spoke to me about Indiana’s Decoding Dyslexia organization. At the time, the organization was just starting out. Since then, they have continued to grow, positively impact countless Hoosiers statewide.
Last week, I had the distinct honor of witnessing students graduate from middle and high school at the Pinnacle School, an institution devoted to teaching students with dyslexia and other information processing differences. At the ceremony, Cheryl received the Chief Mobilizer Award for her efforts to raise awareness for dyslexia. I was humbled to be named a Dyslexia Champion along with Senator Rodric Bray.
I have learned so much from the students and families that this legislation impacts and have enjoyed working with Indiana’s Decoding Dyslexia organization in an effort to bring greater awareness to the needs of these students. I am confident that this new law will allow more students to receive the quality education they deserve, and I am proud to have been a part of it.
