Dyslexia Awareness Collaborative
The Connecticut State Department of Education’s Office of Dyslexia and Reading Disabilities has partnered with agencies from across Connecticut to advance a year-long Dyslexia Awareness Campaign featuring a series of coordinated activities designed to promote awareness and a shared understanding of dyslexia, with the goal of ensuring equitable student identification and support. On this page you will find information about the various activities, training and resources that are being highlighted as part of this collaborative work.
Upcoming CT- Dyslexia Awareness Collaborative Events
The Connecticut State Department of Education Office of Dyslexia and Reading Disabilities, in partnership with the Bureau of Special Education, invites students, parents and educators to participate in the following events:
Strength in Learning Differences: Featuring Mat Heagerty
Join us on Tuesday, December 15, 2026, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. for a virtual presentation featuring Mat Heagerty, an award-winning author who will share his personal journey growing up with dyslexia. Through storytelling and live illustration, Mat will explore how learning differences can become strengths, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy, perseverance, and accepting support along the way. This engaging and inspiring session is especially appropriate for elementary and middle school students, although educators, families, and all interested participants are welcome. See flyer for details and registration information.
What Literacy Screening Data Tells Us and What It Doesn’t
Join the Connecticut State Department of Education and SERC for a virtual session with Fumiko Hoeft, M.D., Ph.D., on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. This session will examine the purpose and limitations of literacy screening and its relationship to the identification of Specific Learning Disabilities SLD/Dyslexia. Participants will explore how screening data can help identify students who may be at risk for reading difficulties, while also considering what screening data cannot determine. The session will address the role of professional judgment, the balance between over- and under-referral, and the connection between screening outcomes and timely, targeted instructional response. The session is open to K–12 educators, students, caregivers, and other interested professionals.
Dyslexia Awareness Library Campaign: Materials Available
The Connecticut State Department of Education's Office of Dyslexia and Reading Disabilities (ODRD), through the Connecticut Dyslexia Awareness Collaborative (CT-DAC) and in partnership with Decoding Dyslexia Connecticut and the Connecticut State Library, is excited to share the Connecticut Dyslexia Awareness Library Campaign materials.
The campaign encourages school and public libraries across Connecticut to create displays that increase awareness and understanding of dyslexia while connecting students, families, and community members with helpful resources.
The printable materials include information about dyslexia, common indicators and misconceptions, recommended films and podcasts, and additional resources. Libraries are encouraged to display the materials alongside books about dyslexia and reading.
While the primary goal is to have these materials displayed in school and public libraries, they may also be used in classrooms, at school and community events, and in other settings. The resources can be shared throughout the year, beyond Dyslexia Awareness Month.
Please consider sharing the attached materials with your school or public library and encouraging participation in this statewide campaign.
Thank you for helping build awareness and understanding of dyslexia across Connecticut!
Photos from our Events:
There were many other photos captured for the Light It Up Red event!