Top 5 Takeaways from DyslexiaCon 2025
- Melissa Minnick
- Nov 10
- 4 min read
We just got back from the International Dyslexia Association Conference in Atlanta, and it was filled with research, reflection, and renewed energy for what’s next in the field of dyslexia and literacy.
From the latest studies on oral language to the evolving conversations about inclusion, instruction, and advocacy, here are our Top 5 Takeaways from DyslexiaCon 2025, and what they mean for families.
Be sure to join us for our upcoming IDA Conference Tell-All Live Event, where we’ll unpack each of these takeaways in more detail and share what it all means for your child’s education.
1. Words Matter: Language Struggles Can Signal Dyslexia
One of the biggest takeaways from this year’s conference was the focus on the powerful link between oral language and dyslexia.
Dr. Charles Hulme from Oxford University shared findings showing that children with weaknesses in oral language, such as difficulty understanding or expressing ideas, or trouble with grammar and syntax, are far more likely to struggle with reading later on and be diagnosed with dyslexia.
For parents, this means that if you notice persistent language difficulties, it’s worth investigating early.
These challenges are not “just speech issues.” They can be early signs of dyslexia. Identifying these language delays and testing early for dyslexia opens the door to targeted intervention that can change your child’s reading trajectory.
2. Good Laws, Risky Gaps: When Structured Literacy Misses Special Education Students
Structured literacy and dyslexia legislation have transformed the landscape for struggling readers. But as new laws take effect, some students with disabilities are slipping through the cracks.
Many districts are adopting general education structured literacy programs as a blanket solution for all students. While these approaches benefit many children, they often fall short for students with more severe disabilities who need specially designed instruction, not just extra doses of the general language arts curriculum.
For parents, this is an important reminder: If your child has an IEP, their reading plan must be individualized and based on their unique learning profile, not just what’s available and being taught to everyone else.
3. Reading Isn’t a Solo Skill: It’s Language in Action
Another key theme throughout DyslexiaCon 2025 was that reading cannot be taught in isolation. While learning phonemic awareness skills, decoding, and accurate and efficient fluency are critical, they are only part of the story.
True literacy instruction weaves together reading, writing, and language. Children must learn not only to sound out words but to understand how words are built (morphology), how sentences are structured (syntax), and what those words and sentences mean (semantics).
When instruction connects these layers, students gain the tools not only to read words accurately but to comprehend deeply and write meaningfully. Literacy, in essence, is language in action.
4. Rethinking Inclusion: Let the “How” Drive the “Where”
The inclusion movement has created wonderful opportunities for many students to learn alongside their peers. However, research from Dr. Doug Fuchs at Vanderbilt University challenges us to look beyond placement alone.
After reviewing fifty years of research on students with disabilities, Dr. Fuchs concluded that the evidence about where students are taught, general education versus pullout settings, is weak and inconclusive. In contrast, the research about how students learn best is strong and consistent.
For parents, this means that the “least restrictive environment” decision should be guided by how a student learns, not simply where instruction takes place. So if a child has multi-year literacy gaps, small-group or pullout instruction using a direct, explicit, multisensory approach that requires mastery of foundational skills often provides the individualized, intensive teaching necessary to help them catch up. Even if it means the student will have to spend some instructional time in a more restrictive setting. The goal is meaningful academic progress, not just physical inclusion with their peers.
5. A Clearer Definition, A Stronger Voice for Parents
The International Dyslexia Association’s 2025 definition of dyslexia reflects a more complete understanding of this complex learning difference. It describes dyslexia as difficulties in word reading and spelling that persist even with effective instruction. These difficulties can vary in severity and often stem from a mix of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors.
The new definition also emphasizes that early oral language challenges often foreshadow literacy struggles, and that weaknesses in phonological or morphological processing are common but not universal. For parents, this broader view matters. It validates that dyslexia can look different for every child and that the path to support must address reading, language, and writing together.
This clarity gives parents firmer ground to stand on. It helps guide them to ask better questions, recognize early warning signs, and advocate for the kind of instruction their child truly needs.
Parents, we hope our DyslexiaCon 2025 takeaways gave you new insights! If you want to learn more, you don’t want to miss this!
🎉 We’re going live for our FREE IDA Tell-All Event, and you’re invited!
Come hang out with us as we share what we’ve discovered, what it all means for your child, and how you can use these insights to advocate differently (and more effectively!) in the real world.
You’ll walk away with fresh ideas, practical tips, and the confidence to make a real difference for your child.
Save your free spot today. Space is limited!
If you’re feeling unsure about what to do next, you’re not alone. We’ve walked alongside many families facing the same questions, and we know how helpful it can be to have someone listen and guide you.
That’s why we offer Free Discovery Calls. A no-pressure conversation where parents of children with dyslexia can talk through their child’s needs & discover their next best steps.
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