The Arizona Branch of the
International Dyslexia Association is a non-profit organization
dedicated to educating the public about the specific learning
disability, dyslexia.
The International Dyslexia Association
(IDA) was founded in 1949 in memory of Dr. Samuel T. Orton, a
distinguished neurologist who did pioneering work in identfying and
treating dyslexia. The IDA is the oldest learning disabilities
organization in the nation.
"Official"
Definition
The International Dyslexia Association adopted the following definition
of dyslexia in 2002. This definition has also been adopted by the National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD):
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
Just the Facts
There is a wealth of information in the "Just the Facts" sheets
published by the International Dyslexia Association®. Selected facts
sheets are included on this web site under the "Just the Facts"
button.
Online Resources
The National IDA website,
www.interdys.org , has
a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) about dyslexia with answers
to the following questions ( as of August, 2003):
The National website also includes information about the signs of dyslexia broken down by age groups: