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Redefining Dyslexia: What Every Educator Should Know About the 2025 IDA Update
Monday, November 10, 2025 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST
Presented by Donell Pons, Tutor, Advocate, Dyslexia Specialist, Workplace Literacy, Reading Horizons; and Robert Rogers, M.D., President, The Reading League Texas
Sponsored by Reading Horizons
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The definition of dyslexia is evolving—and the implications reach far beyond the classroom. In this edWebinar, dyslexia expert Donell Pons, M.Ed., M.A.T., joins Dr. Robert Rogers, pediatrician and President of The Reading League Texas, to explore what the 2025 International Dyslexia Association (IDA) definition means for policy, instruction, diagnosis, and student well-being.
Together, they unpack:
- The key changes from the 2002 to the proposed 2025 IDA definition
- How definitions influence identification, funding, and teacher training
- The growing recognition of emotional, psychological, and intergenerational impacts of dyslexia
- A physician’s perspective on the biological and environmental factors influencing literacy development
- Practical steps educators and families can take to align instruction and advocacy with the new understanding of dyslexia
You leave with a clear view of what’s changing—and why it matters—along with actionable steps to support students through evidence-based, structured literacy instruction and informed advocacy. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-12 teachers, school leaders, district leaders, and special education teachers. The presentation will include a live Q&A.
About the Presenters
Donell Pons is a dyslexia presenter, consultant, and reading tutor. She received the Teacher of Tomorrow award after earning dual M.Ed. and M.A.T. degrees from Westminster College and served on the task force that created the Utah Dyslexia Handbook. With a background in special education and secondary language arts, she has also taught at a charter school supporting students on the autism spectrum. Donell co-hosts the popular Literacy Talks and Dyslexia Talks podcasts and has published widely on dyslexia and reading instruction. She teaches adults seeking stronger reading skills and serves on the boards of Reading Horizons and the Joseph James Morelli Scholarship Foundation.
Robert J. Rogers, M.D., has been a physician in Fort Worth for over 40 years. He is a former President of the Tarrant County Medical Society. He became an early literacy advocate many years ago when he became aware of how many students in Fort Worth struggle to read. He helped bring Reading Partners, a structured volunteer tutoring program, to Fort Worth and has served as a tutor in that program for ten years. He also helped launch the Texas chapter of The Reading League, with the mission of ensuring that teachers and school leaders use the most effective, research-proven strategies for teaching reading. He loves spending time with his four grandchildren.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the Empowering Struggling Readers community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
For over 40 years, Reading Horizons® has equipped educators to eradicate illiteracy with innovative, tech-enabled reading instruction. Grounded in the latest Science of Reading research, Reading Horizons provides effective foundational and comprehensive Pre-K–12 literacy solutions that empower teachers to accelerate student success. Beyond classroom resources, Reading Horizons fosters professional growth and community through Literacy Talks, a leading podcast where literacy experts and practitioners share insights, strategies, and inspiration for transforming reading instruction.
