Bill recognizing dyslexia gets to house floor in Pierre

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - A bill recognizing dyslexia as a learning disability was forwarded to the South Dakota House today.

Representative Lynne DiSanto of Rapid City criticized the Department of Education’s handling of dyslexia.

Disanto says the issue has been put under the rug for too long and says she's embarrassed by the department's lack of action.  She says some South Dakota parents have spent $30 to $40 thousand dollars of private money and the Education Department acts as if that were their choice.              

The Department of Education opposed the bill and Staff Attorney Bobbi Rank says the issue should go to a work group.

Rank says the department would consider input from that working group and tailor some training, professional development opportunities to address the needs of struggling readers.

There is a dyslexia handbook for parents and school districts with basic information that Education is planning on updating.