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.

Formed in 1984, the Arizona Branch of the IDA is a very active organization with diverse membership. Our ninth annual conference will be held in the Phoenix area in February 2006. Through our website and a quarterly newsletter, Code Breaker, we provide up to date information about dyslexia research, conferences, local service providers, training opportunities and other events. We maintain a telephone hotline as an immediate resource for those who need it.

Membership in the local branch is included in the cost of IDA membership. If you are one of the many people affected by dyslexia - recent estimates place the dyslexic population at one in five - or if you have a family involvement or service involvement, we urge you to join the IDA and the Arizona Branch and become an active participant.

"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):

• What is Dyslexia?
• Are there other learning disabilities besides dyslexia?
• Are Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) learning disabilities?
• How common are language-based learning disabilities?
• Can individuals who are dyslexic learn to read?
• How do people get dyslexia?
• Is there a cure for dyslexia?
• Are there specific professions people with dyslexia should pursue?
• How do I know if a person is dyslexic?
• is Dyslexia Identified?

The National website also includes information about the signs of dyslexia broken down by age groups:

• Preschool
• K through 4
• Gades 5 through 8
• High school and college
• Adult