Ontario Human Rights Commission
Right to Read Inquiry Report

The Right to Read inquiry report highlights how learning to read is not a privilege but a basic and essential human right. The report includes 157 recommendations to the Ministry of Education, school boards and faculties of education on how to address systemic issues that affect the right to learn to read. The report combines research, human rights expertise and lived experience of students, parents and educators to provide recommendations on curriculum and instruction, early screening, reading interventions, accommodation, professional assessments and systemic issues. Implementing the OHRC’s recommendations will ensure more equitable opportunities and outcomes for students in Ontario’s public education system.

On Friday March 25th, 2022, the Ontario Branch of the International Dyslexia Association hosted an jam-packed, inspiring and energizing symposium - the Right to Read Symposium - to investigate and unpack the issues proposed by the Right to Read Inquiry. Click Here for the Padlet.

This R2R Symposium was FREE and can still be accessed by registering HERE.

The Ontario Branch of the International Dyslexia Association has and extremely comprehensive collection of knowledge about learning to read. 

CLICK HERE to access.

Many terrific explainer videos on YouTube.

Click on the image above to view - Word Chains

Decoding Dyslexia Ontario is a grassroots movement (almost every US state has a Decoding Dyslexia chapter as well) led by parents who are concerned with the limited access to interventions for children with dyslexia in schools. They are parents, tutors, teachers & students who believe that all children should learn to read in the Province of Ontario (and in each state).

CLICK HERE for the Advocacy Toolkit for Children Struggling to Read 7.0

We can learn a lot from students. They have ways of knowing and ways of being that are unique, and they have insights that could help us support them. Ask them.

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In the videos below, these students (despite well above average intelligence) share what it felt like to struggle with reading in the classroom, and how it felt when they learned that there is a way to make sense of reading and spelling that doesn't depend upon guessing or memorizing.

mangpor2004 (Photographer). (2004). Child Reading at Desk at School. [digital image]. Shutterstock Royalty Free purchase.

Kovack, M. (2022). Structured Literacy Success. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdNhPSswmG0

In just over 18 months, this 11 year old non-reader went from feeling deeply distressed - thinking he was incapable of learning - to being able to read at grade level with ease, speed, and fluency. His mother noted that structured literacy lessons with me had been "truly transformational for him".

Kovack, M. (2018). Gloria: Feelings About Learning to Read. [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3loD7gunlhE

The following list contains a few leaders that I have come to trust over the past 20-30 years due to the quality and complexity and integrity of their research and insights. I have also tested out this research in my practice, and have seen the benefits. There are many other researchers that also have wonderful things to add to the conversation about beginning reading instruction, and I appreciate the dedication and wisdom that these researchers bring to the conversation. This is an ongoing list - will update as I go along.

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• Dr. Kenn Apel

• Dr. Virginia Berninger 

• Dr. Todd Cunningham (Founder - Bright Lights Psychology Clinic in Toronto)

• Dr. Steve Dykstra (has a practical & fun way of explaining things through analogy)

• Dr. Nadine Gaab (Principal Investigator, Gaab Lab - Early ID/Screening)

• Dr. Barbara Foorman

• Dr. Deb Glaser (author of the Reading Teachers Top Ten Tools - I have taken this training and it was excellent - Deb is approachable and easy to listen to. RTTTT is thorough, and easy to understand. I highly recommend this as a place to begin!)

• Dr. Jan Hasbrouck

• Dr. Jeannine Herron

• Nancy Hennessy, MEd (author of The Reading Comprehension Blueprint - just released! I have listened to a webinar with Nancy Hennessy and felt truly inspired by her wisdom and knowledge about reading comprehension)

• Dr. Marcia Henry

• Dr. Tiffany Hogan (specializes in the genetic, neurologic, and behavioural links between oral and written language development, with a focus on co-morbid speech, language and literacy disorders. I attended one of her webinars about Developmental Language Disorders and it was outstanding!)

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• Dr. Laura Justice (specializes in early childhood education language development. I have attended her keynote addresses and read much of her research - SO engaging & knowledgeable)

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• Dr. David Kilpatrick (author of Reading Development and Difficulties, 2109, and so much more!)

• Dr. Jamie Metsala

• Dr. Louisa Moats (author of LETRS training, Speech to Print, and much research)

• Dr. Mark Seidenberg (terrific blog!) (author of Language at the Speed of Sight)

• Dr. Linda Siegel (author of the book Understanding Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities)

• Dr. Timothy Shanahan (great blog)

• Dr. Sally Shaywitz, (author of Overcoming Dyslexia, and prominent neurobiological researcher) 

• Dr. Pamela Snow (great blog)

• Dr. Louise Spear-Swerling

• Dr. Jan Wasowicz (manages the SPELLTalk Listserv, which is extremely informative)

• Dr. Maryanne Wolf (listen to her book, Proust and the Squid, on Audible!)

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