Dyslexia Resources by State
Every state does it differently. Pick yours.
- 51state guides
- 53county guides
- 1,311places to get help
- 183schools
Map of state guides
Checked by people. Last checked October 2026.
Find your state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Your rights in every state
Federal law is on your side.
IDEA
Ages 3–21
Special education and an IEP at no cost; schools must find and evaluate students who may need it
Individuals with Disabilities Education ActSection 504
All ages
Accommodations and services at public schools and at colleges that receive federal funds
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973ADA
All ages
Protection from disability discrimination at work, at public and private schools, and in public places
Americans with Disabilities ActADA testing rights
Students and adults
Accommodations such as extra time on exams like the SAT, ACT, GED, LSAT, and the bar exam
ADA Section 309, testing accommodations (42 U.S.C. 12189)
IEP or 504?
Changes the teaching
- Specialized reading instruction
- Written goals, tracked progress
- Under IDEA, a federal law
Removes the barriers
- Extra time on tests
- Audiobooks and text-to-speech
- Under Section 504, a civil rights law
Both are free. Both start with a request in writing.
How school help starts
The same four steps work in every state. Tap a step.
Put it in writing
Email the principal and ask for a free evaluation for dyslexia. Keep a copy.
Say yes to testing
Sign the consent form. The school then tests reading, spelling, and more.
- Time limit: 60 days
Testing is done
Federal law gives schools 60 days after your consent, unless your state sets its own deadline.
Get a plan
Meet the team. An IEP or a 504 plan lists the help your child will get.
Compare every state
Laws, reading scores, and schools, side by side.
- Dyslexia laws by stateScreening, help after screening, and teacher training, side by side.
- Literacy rates and reading scores by state30% of U.S. 4th graders read at Proficient (NAEP 2024). See every state.
- Schools for dyslexia by state183 schools and 197 districts with dyslexia programs.
- Reading programs, explainedOrton-Gillingham, Wilson, Fundations, and more, in plain words.
- Words schools use, explainedIEP, 504 plan, IDEA, and more, in plain words.
Help that works in every state
National groups, free libraries, and directories.
Official help
What your state says schools must do.
U.S. Department of Education IDEA Website (opens in a new tab)
Official U.S. guide to IDEA rights, IEPs, and the ways to settle a disagreement with your school.
ADA Requirements: Testing Accommodations (U.S. Department of Justice) (opens in a new tab)
Know your right to test accommodations, like extra time, on the SAT, ACT, GED, and licensing exams.
U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (opens in a new tab)
File a complaint if a school or college denies Section 504 or ADA rights, usually within 180 days.
Help with IEPs and 504 plans
Free experts who know the rules.
Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) (opens in a new tab)
Find your state's federally funded parent center for help with special education.
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) (opens in a new tab)
Find special education attorneys and advocates who work for families. Fees may apply.
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) (opens in a new tab)
Find your state's protection and advocacy agency for legal help with disability rights.
Wrightslaw (opens in a new tab)
Free articles on special education law and reading, including dyslexia, IEPs, and court cases.
Get tested
School testing is free. Clinics add detail.
International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Provider Directory (opens in a new tab)
Search IDA's directory for dyslexia testing, tutoring, therapy, and advocacy near you.
Tutoring and programs
Explicit, structured reading help.
Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA) (opens in a new tab)
Search a map of certified academic language therapists who help people with dyslexia.
Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators (OGA) (opens in a new tab)
Email the Academy for a list of its Orton-Gillingham practitioners near you.
Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI) (opens in a new tab)
Search by state for CERI-certified structured literacy teachers and dyslexia specialists.
Wilson Language Training (opens in a new tab)
Find Wilson Reading System certified dyslexia practitioners and therapists near you.
Audiobooks and tech
Keep learning while reading catches up.
Bookshare (opens in a new tab)
Ebooks read aloud with highlighting, free for U.S. students with dyslexia; adults pay a yearly fee.
Learning Ally (opens in a new tab)
Human-read audiobooks for students with dyslexia. Families pay yearly; your school may already offer it.
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) (opens in a new tab)
Free audiobooks by mail or app for children and adults with a reading disability like dyslexia.
AT3 Center (National Assistive Technology Act Technical Assistance and Training Center) (opens in a new tab)
Find your state's assistive technology program to try out and borrow devices.
Parent groups
Families who have been there.
Decoding Dyslexia (opens in a new tab)
Find your state's parent-led Decoding Dyslexia group to connect with other families.
International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Branches (opens in a new tab)
Find the IDA branch for your state for local dyslexia events and workshops.
Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) (opens in a new tab)
Find your state LDA affiliate for support groups, meetings, and help with advocacy.
Learn about dyslexia
Plain guides from trusted experts.
Understood.org (opens in a new tab)
Free, plain guides on dyslexia, IEPs, and 504 plans for families, in English and Spanish.
Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity (opens in a new tab)
Tips for parents on spotting dyslexia, school meetings, and helping a child who struggles to read.
National Center on Improving Literacy (NCIL) (opens in a new tab)
Free research-based guides on dyslexia, screening, and helping your child read, some in Spanish.
For adults
It is never too late to get help.
Job Accommodation Network (JAN) (opens in a new tab)
Free, confidential advice on job accommodations for adults with dyslexia, by phone or email.
National Literacy Directory (opens in a new tab)
Find free or low-cost adult reading, GED, and English classes near you, or call 877-389-6874.
State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies (Rehabilitation Services Administration) (opens in a new tab)
Find your state's vocational rehabilitation agency for career counseling and job training.
For teachers
Orton-Gillingham and structured literacy training.
International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC) (opens in a new tab)
Find IMSLEC-accredited training courses for dyslexia teachers and therapists.
The Reading League (opens in a new tab)
Free guides on evidence-aligned reading instruction for teachers and reading specialists.
Questions parents ask
Is dyslexia covered under IDEA?
Yes. IDEA names dyslexia as an example of a specific learning disability, and a student qualifies for an IEP when they also need special education.
SourceDo public schools have to test for dyslexia?
Schools must evaluate a student they suspect has a disability, such as dyslexia, and needs special education. You can ask for an evaluation at any time, and programs like RTI cannot be used to delay it.
SourceWhat is the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan?
An IEP, under IDEA, is for students who need special education. Section 504 covers more students: a student with dyslexia who does not need special education may still get supports such as classroom adjustments.
SourceCan schools use the word dyslexia in evaluations and IEPs?
Yes. The U.S. Department of Education says nothing in IDEA stops schools from using the word dyslexia in evaluations, eligibility decisions, or IEPs.
SourceWhat if I disagree with the school's evaluation?
You can ask for an independent educational evaluation at public expense. The school must pay for it or ask for a hearing to show its own evaluation was appropriate.
SourceKnow something we missed?
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