Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia
Resources for Tennessee Families
The links below can be helpful to Tennessee families seeking information about dyslexia screening, identification, and instructional support through response to instruction and intervention (RTI^2) or special education.
Please note: The following resources are linked below for your convenience but were not authored or published by the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia at MTSU. If you have questions or concerns about information presented in these publications, please contact the appropriate organization, indicated in parentheses following the name of each publication.
- Characteristics of Dyslexia and Dyslexia: Differences and Implications (TN Department of Education, TDOE)
- Dyslexia and Section 504: Evaluation and Eligibility (TDOE)
- Dyslexia Overview for Parents: Identification and Support for Students with Characteristics of Dyslexia (TNSTEP)
- Family Guide for RTI2 (TDOE)
- IEP vs 504: Understanding the Differences and Similarities (TNSTEP, TN-TAN, and Family Engagement in Special Education-TN)
- Individualized Learning Plans for Characteristics of Dyslexia (ILP-D): Family Information (TDOE)
- Quick Guide to Parent Rights and Responsibilities in Special Education (TDOE)
- Tennessee Special Education Eligibility Fact Sheet (TNSTEP)
- Understanding Evaluations: Educational vs. Medical Disability (The Arc-TN, TN-TAN, and Family Engagement in Special Education-TN)
In 2024-2025, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) produced a family engagement series around dyslexia in Tennessee schools. Recordings of the first two installments of that series can be found below.
- Dyslexia and Characteristics of Dyslexia: A Guide for Parents: September 24, 2024 (TDOE)
- Data-Based Decision Making and Student Support Plans: February 4, 2025 (TDOE)
The following resource, co-authored by several organizations and available from the Learning Disabilities Association of Texas, is not specific to Tennessee but contains helpful information about terms such as dyslexia, learning disability, and comprehensive evaluation as defined in federal legislation.
- 5 Questions Parents and Educators Can Ask to Start Conversations About Using Terms Like Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia (AIM Institute, Council of Administrators of Special Education, Council for Exceptional Children, Council for Learning Disabilities, Division for Learning Disabilities, Eye to Eye, Learning Disabilities Association of American, National Association of State Directors of Special Education, National Association of School Psychologists, National Center for Learning Disabilities, Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center, Understood)
How Can I Help My Child Develop Their Reading Skills?
Check out the resources below for ideas on how to support your child’s reading at home.
Supporting Your Child’s Reading at Home: A Resource for Parents and Caring Adults of Children in Grades K-3
This resource from the Regional Education Laboratory Southeast of the Institute of Education Sciences offers practical, research-based activities and videos that help families support foundational reading skills at home. Activities are organized by grade level and focus on key components of reading development, including phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, and comprehension. Access the free guide here.
Resources from the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia
The Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia has created infographics, e-books and planning guides, and several video resources to help families understand dyslexia and identify ways to support their children’s reading development. You can also search for therapist or tutor who is trained in providing dyslexia-specific intervention.