Thank you for taking the DYSLEXIA SURVEY to help us learn more about your learning needs and to add important strategies/resources to this website created for students with dyslexia at Austin High School.  
 
​What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a term describing a specific type of reading difficulty. People with dyslexia may have struggled when they were learning to read, especially with decoding, which is the process of quickly matching graphemes (letters) with phonemes (sounds) to recognize syllables and words.  When students move from "learning to read" in elementary school to "reading to learn" in middle and high school, students with dyslexia may read more slowly, experience confusion about what they have read, or have trouble retaining information.

Dyslexia is NOT:
  • Dyslexia is not about seeing things backwards or reversing letters. Many children reverse letters when learning to write or spell, but dyslexia is not an issue related to eyesight.
  • Dyslexia is not related to intelligence. School can be a difficult journey for students with dyslexia as they discover strategies that best help them learn, but studies show that many adults with dyslexia are bright, creative, and accomplished. 
  • Dyslexia is not something that people outgrow. Many people find strategies and helpful tips, but dyslexia does not just go away. Adults with dyslexia often read more slowly or struggle to read things out of context. Still, many adults with dyslexia are known for their creativity, leadership, and success.  Steven Spielberg, Pablo Picasso, Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, John F. Kennedy, Magic Johnson, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightly and many other famous innovators all struggled with dyslexia. Even famous writers like Agatha Christie, Lewis Carroll, and F. Scott Fitzgerald were dyslexic.
  • Dyslexia is not rare.  According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 10% of the U.S. population has dyslexia, and other studies show that up to 17% of the population may be dyslexic. Many students are screened and diagnosed in early grades, but some people do not realize they have dyslexia until adolescence or adulthood.

Do I have dyslexia?
The only way to know if you have dyslexia is to undergo testing with a qualified diagnostician.  Contact Jessica Mitchell, our 504 coordinator, to learn more about the screening and testing process.  
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 512-414-7225

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There are online screening tests linked below that might help you decide if you want to pursue further screening, but remember that these online quizzes do not mean that you have dyslexia. Contact our 504 Coordinator if you would like to pursue more in-depth testing.
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Click on the button above to go to an online screening created by Davis Dyslexia Association International.
Click on the Learning Ally button to take an online quiz that screens for the signs of dyslexia.