Other Reading and Reading Disorders FAQs

Basic information for topics, such as “What is it?” is available in the About Reading and Reading Disorders section. Answers to other Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) specific to reading and reading disorders are in this section.

Many organizations for people with reading and other learning disorders provide a wealth of resources.

A few places to start are:

  • ED, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). OSEP offers services and assistance to support people with dyslexia and specific learning disabilities.
  • Center for Parent Information & Resources external link, also supported by OSEP. The center maintains a directory of Parent Centers in each state external link that can help parents learn about their children’s reading or other disabilities, assist parents with connecting with and talking to professionals about their children’s disabilities, and help parents understand the laws and policies related to education for a child with a disability, such as dyslexia.
  • Special Education Services external link, maintained by the Learning Disabilities Association of America. These resources help parents understand the process of getting special education for their child and help them make sure the child is getting all the help he or she needs.
  •  Support and Resources for Parents external link, also maintained by the Learning Disabilities Association of America, has information for parents just discovering their child has a learning disability, descriptions of dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities, and other parent resources.
  • The Understood.org external link site, maintained by 15 partner organizations, has a section on the evaluation process external link and a toolkit for parents.

The More Information page of this website has other helpful resources as well.

Adults with reading disorders and other learning disabilities can navigate university and work life by developing the skill of advocating for themselves and taking advantage of tools to assist them. NICHD’s Learning Disabilities topic offers tips for managing a learning disability in adulthood.

Find more resources from the following organizations:

In 1997, Congress asked NICHD, along with the U.S. Department of Education (ED), to form the National Reading Panel. The panel reviewed research on how children learn to read and determined which teaching methods are most effective based on the evidence.

Visit the National Reading Panel webpage for more information about the panel and its findings.

You can also review reports from the panel and information for parents and educators based on the panel’s findings.