Everyone Reading Illinois

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Everyone Reading Illinois Dyslexia support for Illinois families. About Dyslexia
An estimated one in five people have characteristics of dyslexia. Make an impact. Make a difference.

Dyslexia is a language processing disorder with a neurological basis. It affects people’s ability to recognize and match sounds with written letters and words. It may affect not only reading, but also writing, spelling, word recall and the ability to solve mathematical word problems. Dyslexia is characterized by unexpected reading difficulties in children and adults who otherwise possess the intelligence, motivation and education to develop accurate and fluent reading skills. About Everyone Reading Illinois
Everyone Reading Illinois (ERI) is one of the state’s leading organization’s in dyslexia awareness and education. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1978, ERI partners with schools, teachers, parents and other experts to eliminate educational inequities and promote research-based instructional approaches. ERI’s programs include conferences, workshops and training for educators and parents. ERI also provides informational resources and referrals to diagnosticians, tutors and more. Members of ERI’s board of directors are available for teacher training, parent conferences and media interviews. We’re the go-to resource for parents who suspect their children have dyslexia or who want to know how to secure effective IEPs for their students. We’re an ally for teachers who strive to support struggling students who otherwise possess the intelligence, motivation and education to develop accurate and fluent reading skills. With your help, we can eliminate the “research-practice gap” between what science tells us is effective and what many schools use to teach struggling readers. This gap has created a culture of “haves and have-nots” in Illinois. Not all parents can afford to hire private diagnosticians, tutors and advocates to help their students succeed. These children become part of the 66% of Illinois students who the NAEP reports can’t read proficiently at the fourth grade level. Research and clinical literature show that children who struggle to read in third grade often still are struggling to read in middle school and high school. These children have a higher risk of dropping out of school, less success in college and markedly less occupational success. The well-documented emotional toll on children who struggle to read begins well before third grade. When you support ERI, you’re changing the course of Illinois children’s lives. Please join or donate today via our website, everyonereadingillinois.org.

📚🎉 WIN A FREE COPY OF DYSLEXIA EXPLAINED! 🎉📚Join Everyone Reading Illinois for an exciting FREE Virtual Book Club featur...
10/12/2026

📚🎉 WIN A FREE COPY OF DYSLEXIA EXPLAINED! 🎉📚

Join Everyone Reading Illinois for an exciting FREE Virtual Book Club featuring author Dr. Jacob Santhouse!

📖 We’ll explore Dyslexia Explained: Your Toolkit to Understanding and Thriving and learn together about dyslexia, understanding learning differences, and helping individuals thrive.

🎁 HERE’S THE EXCITING PART! Everyone who registers by November 7th will be entered into a random drawing to WIN a FREE copy of the book! 🥳 The winner will be contacted on November 8, so don’t wait to register!

🗓️ December 1 at 7:00 p.m. Central
💻 Free virtual event
🎁 Register by October 26 for your chance to win!

Scan the QR code on the flyer to register. Join us for an engaging evening of learning, conversation, and insights straight from the author!

📚 October is Dyslexia Awareness Month — and the learning continues in November!Join Everyone Reading Illinois for our 20...
10/09/2026

📚 October is Dyslexia Awareness Month — and the learning continues in November!

Join Everyone Reading Illinois for our 2026 Annual Fall Conference: Dynamics of Dyslexia, November 4–5, at the NIU Conference Center in Naperville!

🌟 Featured Keynote Speakers

🎤 Dr. Hugh Catts | November 4
A nationally recognized researcher in language and literacy, Dr. Catts has more than four decades of experience advancing our understanding of reading development and reading disabilities. A past president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading and recipient of the International Dyslexia Association’s Samuel T. Orton Award, he will present Rethinking Reading Comprehension: The Role of Language, Knowledge, and Thinking.

🎤 Dr. Carol Tolman | November 5
An internationally recognized literacy consultant, experienced educator, and co-author of the LETRS professional learning materials, Dr. Tolman is a leading voice in effective reading and spelling instruction. Her keynote, Foundational Skills Development: Students Can’t Comprehend What They Can’t Read, and Writing Matters a Lot!, will explore the importance of foundational skills and writing.

✨ Plus: A workshop with Nanci Shepardson on AI and literacy, 12 breakout sessions each day, and up to 12 professional development credit hours!

📅 November 4–5, 2026
📍 NIU Conference Center | Naperville, IL

👉 Register today: https://www.everyonereadingillinois.org/conference

Thank you to our partners: Slant System Orton-Gillingham Structured Literacy Hyde Park Day School The Cove School

TONIGHT!!! DON'T MISS THIS FREE virtual presentation with Ameer Baraka as he shares his inspirational journey with dysle...
10/06/2026

TONIGHT!!! DON'T MISS THIS FREE virtual presentation with Ameer Baraka as he shares his inspirational journey with dyslexia that is being made into a biopic!

ERI Book Club: Undiagnosed: The Ugly Side of Dyslexia by Ameer Baraka – Zoom, Tue Oct 6, 2026 - Before he was an Emmy-nominated actor, Ameer Baraka was a teenager on the streets of 1980s New Orleans, incarcerated for manslaughter at just fourteen — and living with an undiagnosed learning disabil...

⭐️ Auxiliary Board Spotlight: Masha Berardi  ⭐️Meet Masha, one of the dedicated people helping advance the work of Every...
10/02/2026

⭐️ Auxiliary Board Spotlight: Masha Berardi ⭐️

Meet Masha, one of the dedicated people helping advance the work of Everyone Reading Illinois!

As both a school psychologist and a parent, Masha brings a unique perspective to literacy advocacy—one that bridges professional expertise with lived experience. As she puts it:

“When a learning disability begins to shape a child’s identity rather than simply describing an area in which they need specialized instruction, we have waited too long.”

She also offers an important reminder: telling a struggling reader to simply “read more” or “try harder” is not an intervention. Students need explicit, evidence-based instruction that directly targets the specific skills they are struggling to develop. Please advocate for your kids fiercely—they deserve instruction that meets their actual learning needs.

A little more about Masha: she’s an adoring pet lover—especially when it comes to Chihuahuas—a devoted listener of podcasts and NPR, and a lifelong science fiction fan.

Thank you, Masha, for bringing your insight, advocacy, and commitment to the Everyone Reading Illinois community! 💜

Address

4415 W. Harrison Street Ste. 318
Hillside, IL
60162

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