October is recognized worldwide as Dyslexia Awareness Month, and the Huntington Beach City School District (HBCSD) is committed to fostering awareness and strengthening our efforts in shedding light on this topic. 

Since 2016, the HBCSD Board of Trustees has approved a resolution recognizing Dyslexia Awareness. At the September HBCSD Board of Trustees meeting, Resolution 08-23/24 was approved, recognizing October 2023 as Dyslexia Awareness Month.

Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that causes difficulty with reading, writing, and spelling and can be mild or severe. Dyslexia, like other learning disabilities, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. Dyslexia is not due to problems with intelligence, hearing, or vision. 

Fact and statistics:

• It is estimated that 1 in 10 people have dyslexia

• Dyslexia is the most common of all learning disabilities

• People with dyslexia may struggle with organizational skills, planning and prioritizing, keeping time, and concentrating with background noise

• People with dyslexia can be slow readers; however, they often are very fast and creative thinkers

With early screening, early diagnosis, early evidence-based reading intervention, and appropriate accommodations, individuals with dyslexia can become highly successful students and adults. HBCSD makes intentional efforts to help identify and support students’ learning abilities. Some of the resources and initiatives that our District offers include establishing a District Literacy Coach Team, adopting Marzano’s framework for effective teaching strategies, sharing information on all District communication platforms, ongoing professional staff development, and the West Orange County Consortium for Special Education Community Advisory Committee. Additional statewide and national resources are listed below. 

Statewide and National Dyslexia Resources:

• Decoding Dyslexia CA Website

• International Dyslexia Association

• CA Department of Education - California Dyslexia Guidelines