Texas Insider Report: DALLAS Texas State Board of Education member for District 12 Geraldine Tincy" Miller participated on a Dyslexia Task Force to update the states Dyslexia Handbook. The meeting which took place at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas culminated with recommended changes to the Handbook that serves as a guide for teachers of dyslexic students.
Miller was formerly a reading specialist in the Reading Laboratory at the
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital where children with dyslexia could learn to read write and spell.
The proposed changes will be discussed and voted on at the September meeting of the
State Board of Education (SBOE) .
While great strides have been made to identify and properly teach students with dyslexia I want to ensure that we do everything possible to make their path through education successful" Miller said.
These proposed changes bring us one step closer to a time when all of Texas dyslexic students have a chance at educational achievement" Miller said.
While a more thorough revision of
the Dyslexia Handbook will be made after the 82nd Legislature the recommendations made today were all based on changes to existing or the creation of new laws.
The proposed changes also incorporate new information related to recent scientific studies and best practices for diagnosing and teaching students with dyslexia.
The committee was composed of 14 members including some of the states
leading experts in the field of dyslexia and speech-language pathology.
Miller who will not be returning to the SBOE after November has been instrumental in
making dyslexia a recognized disability in Texas.
She has distinguished herself by promoting better curricula and programs for dyslexic children by facilitating the
passage of the first dyslexia legislation in the state and by creating the Dyslexia Handbook as a guide for teachers of dyslexic students.
There she saw the difficulties dyslexic children faced because their disability was ignored by the public school system.
This along with her personal experience with a son who was identified at age 19 with dysgraphia led her to get involved as an active member of the SBOE.
