opinion: dyslexia and other reading difficulties can be aided with better screening
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over 95 per cent of reading difficulties, including those associated with dyslexia, can be prevented when schools screen children to accurately identify those at risk.
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literacy is a well-known social determinant of health. low literacy puts people at increased risk of experiencing mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression and issues with addiction. it limits life opportunities and makes it more likely that a person will experience poverty and homelessness. low literacy levels can also result in limited access to health-related information and services.
this not only impacts immediate health outcomes but also perpetuates broader societal inequities in healthcare access and outcomes.
dyslexia is the most common cause of reading problems, affecting between 10 and 20 per cent of all people. when dyslexia is identified and supported early, reading difficulties can be prevented, and children with dyslexia can thrive. however, when dyslexia is not identified and supported early, the impacts on both social and academic outcomes are dire.
studies have shown that undiagnosed and unaddressed dyslexia is strongly correlated with heightened levels of stress and anxiety, contributing to long-term mental health challenges. the frustration and feelings of inadequacy stemming from dyslexia can lead to decreased self-esteem and a higher likelihood of developing depression.
in canada, dyslexia is often dismissed or overlooked, and most children are pushed through the system without ever receiving appropriate identification or support.
but the issue is bigger than dyslexia. across canada, over one-third of young adults are currently not attaining the level of literacy that statistics canada considers necessary to fully participate in the modern economy. to put that in real terms, over 800,000 canadians between the ages of 19 and 24 are at increased risk for negative life and health outcomes due to low literacy. we should not accept this rate of failure in canada.
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over 95 per cent of reading difficulties, including those associated with dyslexia, can be prevented when schools screen children to accurately identify those at risk for experiencing difficulties and provide effective intervention starting in kindergarten. the information and tools necessary to prevent reading difficulties for most children have been readily available for over twenty years, yet provinces have been very slow to implement evidence-based policies and practices, and children are suffering as a result.
this was a key conclusion of the ontario human rights commission’s (ohrc) right to read public inquiry, which found that ontario was systematically failing students with dyslexia and many others.
the ohrc recommended sweeping changes to ontario’s education system including adopting universal early screening. due to the efforts of the ohrc and advocates nationally, we are reaching a pivotal moment in canadian education. alberta, ontario, and new brunswick have taken the lead in working to prevent reading difficulties through early screening and evidence-based reading instruction. british columbia and nova scotia have recently also committed to work towards similar updates.
while there is much left to do, there is reason for optimism as collaborative efforts gain momentum nationwide. recent initiatives have highlighted the impacts of effective early screening and evidence-based reading instruction, even in regions without provincially mandated changes.
to recognize and celebrate the tireless efforts of individuals driving this movement, we established the 2024 dyslexia canada educational excellence awards. these awards honour literacy leaders nationwide who are driving transformative changes. canadians can explore their innovative initiatives on the dyslexia canada website.
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many school boards across the country have already implemented early screening and intervention, even in provinces without official government direction. for example, the cowichan valley school district on vancouver island, the evergreen school division in manitoba, and saskatchewan public schools have proactively introduced screening and implemented evidence-based reading instruction ahead of any provincial requirement to do so.
now, just over half of canadian children live in provinces that have publicly committed to implementing screening and evidence-based early reading instruction —a substantial step forward. for the other half of children, too much of their future is being left up to chance. in these provinces, many children will continue to slip through the cracks. we need a national universal early literacy screening program to ensure that every child, regardless of postal code, gets off to a good start with reading and life.
alicia smith, dyslexia canada’s executive director, champions its mandate to ensure that every child in canada with dyslexia has access to fair and equitable education. she has served as the international dyslexia association – ontario branch’s president, helped create the literacy alliance, provided guidance to the ontario human rights commission’s right to read inquiry, released ‘lifting the curtain on eqao scores’, and organized a multitude of webinars and workshops, including the literacy leaders series, among others.
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