Columbia Gorge Chapter of Decoding Dyslexia attended the Senate Committee Hearing on Education regarding Senate Bill 612 on March 17. Parents, teachers, students, professionals and elected officials testified at the legislative hearing and supporters of the bill packed hearing room C as well as two overflow rooms.

Writes Julie Rocha Buel, “Those who testified gave heartfelt and educated testimony to their experience with dyslexia as educators, students, parents and elected officials. Chief sponsor of Bill 612, House Majority Leader Val Hoyle, moved the room with her very personal dyslexia story. She helped legislators understand dyslexia by debunking myth and acknowledging the life-long effects of shame a person with dyslexia endures because of their experience in the school setting.”