“But they don't look like they have a disability.” Serving People with Dyslexia - Best Practices from the United States

Abstract

Dyslexia is the “hidden disability.” Unlike other disabilities, it cannot be identified easily after minimal interaction. Many children do not know that they are dyslexic; just that they can’t succeed in school. It takes a teacher or a parent noticing the problem and asking for testing that can make the diagnosis. Most adults learn ways to adapt to their disability with varying degrees of success. You may know an adult for years and not realize the person has dyslexia unless he/she self-discloses. This paper focuses on library services to people with dyslexia in the United States. It will cover three topics. • Issues in serving people with dyslexia • National programs in the United States that focus on serving people with dyslexia • Examples of some local libraries that intentionally serve people with dyslexia