What We Do

What We Do

IDA is the oldest such organization in the U.S. serving individuals with dyslexia, their families, and professionals in the field. We number some 8,500 members – 68% in the field of education and 30% are individuals with dyslexia or parents of children who are dyslexic.

We operate 42 branches throughout the U.S. and Canada, and have 21 Global Partners in 18 countries including the countries of Brazil, Czech Republic, Israel, and The Philippines.

Our annual budget is funded by private donations, membership dues, foundation grants, sale of publications, conferences, and other development efforts. IDA receives no government funding. IDA has an all-volunteer Board of Directors.

IDA focuses resources in four essential areas:

• Information & Referral Services
• Research
• Advocacy & Public Policy
• Professional Development

IDA as an information provider:

• 30,000-40,000 direct inquiries to our headquarters office and 42 branches
• 1.5 million website visitors annually
• 42 Branches conducting local conferences, workshops and support groups
• An annual conference bringing 200-300 experts in the field together with approximately 3,000 individuals who are concerned with the issue of dyslexia and other learning disabilities
• A content distributor to Global Partners for dissemination in their countries.

IDA as a world-wide publisher:

• Our peer-reviewed journal, Annals of Dyslexia , is available both in print and online for all members. In addition, archived issues of Annals are available online.
• Our subject-related quarterly publication–Perspectives on Language and Literacy, is distributed to members quarterly (past topics have included: teacher training, legal issues, parent issues, etc.) View the article: needs name and link to article.
• Other topic-related publications are available for purchase by the public.
• Fact Sheets are IDA’s topic-related publications which are free to the public and can be found under the “Resources” section of this website.

In addition, we fund research on neurological, educational and developmental issues as they relate to dyslexia. We advocate for the rights of individuals with dyslexia both through the legal and Federal legislative systems. And based upon models in place in our New Jersey Branch, we are developing programs to provide services (testing, tutoring, remedial instruction, etc.) throughout our branch network directly to individuals with dyslexia.

Partners