About
A Letter from our Presidents
Welcome to Everyone Reading Illinois!
Spring 2020
Everyone Reading Illinois (ERI), a non-profit organization, was founded over 40 years ago. Today, ERI is one of Illinois’ leading organizations in dyslexia awareness and education, serving the entire state of Illinois. ERI’s board of 18 directors and its 2 staff members passionately dedicate their time and talents to ERI’s mission—improving the lives of children and adults with dyslexia!
Why is ERI’s mission so important? Recent NAEP data indicates that only 1 in 3 fourth graders in Illinois is proficient in reading. The negative consequences for students who fail to learn to read are well-documented and profound; they include persistent feelings of frustration and failure, pervasive academic difficulties, higher high school drop-out rates, lack of college success, disproportionate imprisonment rates, self-esteem challenges, emotional problems, lower lifetime earnings, and higher unemployment.
To prevent reading failure for students with dyslexia, ERI partners with families, educators, and schools. Through these partnerships, ERI strives to increase public awareness about dyslexia, provide high quality professional development for teachers, support families with children with dyslexia, and promote effective instruction for dyslexia. Annually, ERI hosts two conferences: a two-day conference in the fall for both teachers and parents entitled “Dynamics of Dyslexia,” and a half-day conference in the spring uniquely for parents and families. Both of these conferences provide the latest information regarding best practices and educational strategies in the field of dyslexia and related learning disabilities. In addition to our conferences, ERI provides professional development seminars, training workshops, dyslexia simulations, and panel discussions. We also maintain an extensive referral list of diagnosticians and tutors to assist families in finding professionals to help them.
Like in past years, ERI has been actively advocating this year for legislative change in Illinois. Recent legislation proposed in Illinois would require school districts to provide early screening and intervention for students with dyslexia. Because early intervention is 4 times more effective than delayed intervention, waiting to intervene comes with too great of cost both in terms of its emotional toll on students and its financial impact on schools. Other states have already passed similar legislation requiring schools to screen students for dyslexia and to provide effective research-based instruction for students with dyslexia. We will continue to keep our members apprised of the status of this important legislation, so together we can work to secure its passage in Illinois.
Like many other organizations, the ongoing health crisis has forced ERI to evaluate different ways to further our mission. As we adjust to the “new normal,” our vision for the future now includes virtual learning opportunities for our members and those we support. Our goal is to reach even more people than we have in the past through offerings on virtual platforms, and we look forward to this new chapter in our organization.
Through early identification and proper academic support, all individuals with dyslexia can be successful in school, at work, and throughout their lives. With your support, either through membership or donations, we can continue to provide the important services that we do. We ask you to join us in our mission to improve the lives of children and adults with dyslexia!
Sincerely,
Jessica Douglas, Ed.D., NCSP
Sharon Kacmarcik, Esq.
Co-Presidents
Everyone Reading Illinois