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ERIC Number: EJ1367606
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Sep
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0159
EISSN: EISSN-0740-2708
Available Date: N/A
Dyslexia in Incarcerated Men and Women: A New Perspective on Reading Disability in the Prison Population
Cassidy, Laura; Reggio, Kayla; Shaywitz, Bennett A.; Holahan, John M.; Shaywitz, Sally E.
Journal of Correctional Education, v72 n2 p61-81 Sep 2021
The authors report findings on reading and IQ from a contemporary study of 145 individually tested incarcerated men and women in two maximum-security prisons in Louisiana. To their knowledge this study is the first to use the definition of dyslexia from the First Step Act (FSA) and the first to incorporate an IQ measure to differentiate those with dyslexia from individuals with cognitive impairment. The authors' findings indicate that almost half (47%) of the participants are classified as having dyslexia, 36% proficient, and 17% cognitive impairment. Both dyslexic prisoners and nondyslexic prisoners reported academic and behavioral problems in school that led to decreased years in school and decreased high school graduation rates, with 87% reporting dropping out of school with many inmates dropping out in middle school (mean age of completion of 9.6 years of school), 97% reporting having been in special education or received accommodations, and 59% having failed to receive a high school diploma or equivalency. The authors note that although the FSA calls for the Bureau of Prisons to screen prisoners for dyslexia using a screener that is evidence-based, with proven psychometrics for validity, efficiency and low cost, as well as readily available, a screener is not a diagnostic instrument and we discuss the next steps after inmates are screened as being dyslexic.
Correctional Education Association. 8182 Lark Brown Road Suite 202, Elkridge, MD 21075. Tel: 443-459-3080; Fax: 443-459-3088; e-mail: ceaoffice@aol.com; Web site: http://www.ceanational.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Louisiana
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test; Test of Word Reading Efficiency
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A