Championing the Right to Read
Advocacy is how change begins. Every major step forward in dyslexia awareness and literacy reform across Canada has started with families, educators, and community members speaking up.
Across the country, advocacy has driven meaningful progress:
- Ontario’s Right to Read Inquiry (2022) was launched by the Ontario Human Rights Commission in response to persistent calls for equitable access to evidence-based reading instruction from families and community organizations.
- The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission’s inquiry into literacy outcomes and reading instruction practices was prompted by similar advocacy from parents and educators concerned about student achievement.
- The Manitoba Human Rights Commission’s inquiry into the right to read continues this momentum, showing that collective voices can influence systems and policy.
These efforts have one thing in common: people who cared enough to take action.
Make your voice heard
You can help strengthen literacy and dyslexia supports in your province by reaching out to your MLA or MPP. Sharing your story makes a difference. You don’t need to be an expert, just someone who believes every child deserves the chance to learn to read.
When writing your message, you might include:
- Why literacy and early reading instruction matter to you personally.
- How dyslexia or reading challenges have affected your child, students, or community.
- What evidence-based practices or policies you’d like to see implemented in your province or territory.
- A request for your elected representative to prioritize literacy reform and dyslexia supports.
Stay tuned for letter templates to support you in this important work!