The mayor previously spoke of his desire to address educational barriers like dyslexia when he first ran for office in 2021, including during a visit to Tracey Towers in Norwood, as reported. Adams spoke about the need for more investment in education and social programs at the time, saying, “You know, if we don’t educate, people incarcerate. That’s why we have 80 percent of the men and women on Rikers Island who don’t have a high school diploma or an equivalency diploma – 30 percent are dyslexic, 55 percent have learning disabilities.”

 

According to an article, Understanding Dyslexia, on the website, kidshealth.org [reviewed by Dr. Cynthia M. Zettler-Greeley], dyslexia is a language processing disorder, so it can affect all forms of language, spoken or written. It’s a condition a person is born with, and it often runs in families.

 

The article goes on to say that dyslexia happens because of a difference in the way the brain processes information. Pictures of the brain show that when people with dyslexia read, they use different parts of the brain than people without dyslexia. These pictures also show that the brains of people with dyslexia don’t work efficiently during reading and that’s why reading seems like such slow, hard work for people affected by the condition.

 

According to the same article, though it’s not a definitive test for diagnosis, teens’ parents or teachers might suspect dyslexia if they notice many of these problems:

• poor reading skills, despite having normal intelligence;
• poor spelling and writing skills;
• trouble finishing assignments and tests within time limits;
• difficulty remembering the right names for things;
• trouble memorizing written lists and phone numbers;
• problems with directions (telling right from left or up from down) or reading maps; or
• trouble getting through foreign language classes.

 

In addition to City Hall in Lower Manhattan, and Bronx Borough Hall, located at 851 Grand Concourse in The Bronx, The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building, located 1 Centre Street in Manhattan, will be lit up starting tonight at sundown.

 

For her part, Kate Griggs, founder and CEO, Made By Dyslexia, said “New York City is leading the way in empowering dyslexic thinking in its schools. By holding the World Dyslexia Assembly here in the city, we are celebrating what has been achieved and the limitless power of dyslexic thinking for all.”