[131]FREE DYSLEXIA INFORMATION FORUM SET FOR OCT. 21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 1, 2008
CONTACT: Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia, 615-494-8880

FREE DYSLEXIA INFORMATION FORUM SET FOR OCT. 21 AT LINEBAUGH LIBRARY
Dyslexia Affects 6,500-Plus in Local City and County School Systems, Experts Estimate

(MURFREESBORO)—Professors from MTSU and the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia will take part in an open Dyslexia Information Forum at 6:25-8 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Linebaugh Public Library, 105 W. Vine St., in Murfreesboro.
Designed for parents, teachers and others interested individuals learning about dyslexia, the free event also will feature local teachers from Murfreesboro City Schools and school psychologists on the forum’s panel to help answer questions.
According to information from the Tennessee branch of the International Dyslexia Association, dyslexia is a reading disability that affects as many as 15 percent of the population and it causes difficulty that lies primarily with decoding the print.
Per the association, a person with dyslexia has at least average intelligence and good language comprehension skills, but needs special instruction to learn how to read and spell words and to put thoughts into writing. Dyslexia is inheritable and can range from very mild to severe. Using an incidence rate of 15 percent, about 6,600 of the 44,000 students in the Rutherford County and Murfreesboro City Schools systems have some degree of dyslexia.
Janet Camp, supervisor of dyslexia services at MTSU and vice president of the North Middle Tennessee Region of the state’s International Dyslexia Association, said the forum coincides with Dyslexia Awareness Month in the state, a new proclamation that Gov. Phil Bredesen signed on Sept. 25.
“The Tennessee IDA board members are excited to hold events during October, Dyslexia Awareness Month, to help communities, parents and teachers recognize and understand dyslexia,” Camp said. “We are anxious to let others know about the exciting developments in teaching materials and techniques to help people with dyslexia to read and spell."
Co-sponsored by Linebaugh Library, Read to Succeed, the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia at MTSU and the Tennessee-based IDA, the upcoming forum is free of charge, but organizers ask that those who wish to attend RSVP to Grace James at 615-494-8880 or e-mail dyslexia@mtsu.edu.
Free parking will be available under the library and may be accessed from Vine, Broad or Church Street entrances. Linebaugh Library staff also will provide a story hour for children ages 3 to 8 who might accompany parents to the event. Also, light refreshments and printed information will be available during the forum.



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