Disability Rights Organization’s Statement in Response to the Committee Vote on the 21st Century Dyslexia Act

WASHINGTON, DC — July 31, 2026 — The undersigned organizations are profoundly disheartened that the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) advanced the 21st Century Dyslexia Act out of Committee.

As mentioned in our previous statement, we share the goal of ensuring that every student with dyslexia receives timely identification, effective instruction, and appropriate supports. However, the definition of dyslexia included in the 21st Century Dyslexia Act is inconsistent with current scientific understanding and evidence-based practice. 

Rather than strengthening services for students, this legislation will undermine existing supports and force states and school districts to upend existing approaches that align with current research and are already better aimed at helping to identify and support students with dyslexia and other reading disabilities. Twenty states already have policies that discourage or reject the approaches this bill would promote for determining eligibility for a Specific Learning Disability.

Instead of working with the disability community, the majority of the Senate HELP Committee chose to advance a proposal that is not supported by any leading dyslexia, learning disability, or disability organization. We call on Congress not to advance the 21st Century Dyslexia Act further and instead collaborate directly with the disability community, students, families, and experts on a proposal that will actually benefit and improve outcomes for students with dyslexia. 

Organizations:

Autism Society of America

Council for Exceptional Children

Council for Learning Disabilities

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates

Division for Learning Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children

International Dyslexia Association

LDA of Wisconsin

Learning Disabilities Association of America

Learning Disabilities Association of Alabama

Learning Disabilities Association of Florida

Learning Disabilities Association of Illinois

Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa

Learning Disabilities Association of Louisiana

Learning Disabilities Association of New Hampshire

Learning Disabilities Association of New Jersey

Learning Disabilities Association of Ohio

Learning Disabilities Association of South Carolina

Learning Disabilities Association of Virginia

National Center for Learning Disabilities

PACER Center

The Advocacy Institute

The Arc of the United States 

The Center for Learner Equity

The Reading League