WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?
“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability characterized by difficulties in word reading and/or spelling that involve accuracy, speed, or both and vary depending on the orthography. These difficulties occur along a continuum of severity and persist even with instruction that is effective for the individual’s peers. The causes of dyslexia are complex and involve combinations of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental influences that interact throughout development. Underlying difficulties with phonological and morphological processing are common but not universal, and early oral language weaknesses often foreshadow literacy challenges. Secondary consequences include reading comprehension problems and reduced reading and writing experience that can impede growth in language, knowledge, written expression, and overall academic achievement. Psychological well-being and employment opportunities also may be affected. Although identification and targeted instruction are important at any age, language and literacy support before and during the early years of education is particularly effective.”
-This definition was updated by the IDA Board of Directors, 2025
WHAT IS THE ORTON-GILLINGHAM APPROACH?
The Orton-Gillingham Approach (OG) is a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, cumulative, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach literacy when reading, writing, and spelling does not come easily to individuals, such as those with dyslexia.
OG practitioners focus on the individual needs of each student. Students with dyslexia need to be taught the rules of the English language in a direct and systematic, multisensorial approach to build upon their strengths and remediate their weaknesses.
Orton-Gillingham is an instructional approach that is evidence-based, and a scientifically-proven way to remediate dyslexia. The Orton-Gillingham approach allows students to make connections and create neural pathways to improve the brain's neuroplasticity.
As dyslexia is neurobiological in nature, it comes with many benefits. Individuals with dyslexia may exhibit many of the following traits:
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The ability to problem-solve in novel ways
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Improved pattern recognition
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Immense creativity
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Improved spatial knowledge and reasoning
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Visual thinking
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Heightened interconnected reasoning
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Substantial listening comprehension skills
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Ability to astutely analyze stories
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Entrepreneurial qualities
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Excellent long-term memory from experiences, locations, and faces
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Persistent and hardworking