Staff Report
Parents, teachers, and community members are invited to join a discussion about dyslexia and the new state guidelines for schools on Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Faulkner Gallery, Central Library in Santa Barbara. “Dyslexia in Our Schools: What a Parent Needs to Know” will introduce parents to a variety of topics, including recent legislation; special education vs. general education; 504s; IEPs; accommodations; and parents as informed advocates. Participants at the Oct. 4 meeting will include Santa Barbara Unified School District Superintendent Cary Matsuoka.
Parents and community members asked to hear from representatives from local schools to provide them with information and direction about how the new dyslexia guidelines will be implemented and addressed. Meeting organizers have invited school representatives from local public and independent schools to join in an informative and thoughtful discussion about how to best support students with dyslexia in our local schools, in the community and at home.
For several years, the Santa Barbara Public Library and Dyslexia Santa Barbara have worked together to increase community awareness about dyslexia. During the current school year, the groups have teamed to develop a series of monthly Dyslexia Workshops to continue to develop understanding about this common learning difference, and to provide access to resources to the 1 in 5 students and adults who struggle to read, write and spell.
The first meeting was held on Wednesday, Sept. 6; it was a well-attended introductory discussion that touched on many current issues, including the new California State Department of Education dyslexia guidelines now in effect.
All library programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.sbplibrary.org.
