EducationNews.org -- Saturday, August 27 2005


Reading Advocate Honored by the International Dyslexia Association

Washington, D.C., July 22, 2005 – What began as a mother’s personal mission to help her dyslexic son has become a national effort with far-reaching results for all children. 

The mother behind this effort is Cinthia Haan, chairman of The Haan Foundation for Children, and Friday she was honored by the International Dyslexic Association for her significant contributions to advances in reading instruction that include programs throughout the nation with funding of more than $9.6 million from individuals,  fellow foundations, and the U.S. Institute of Education Sciences.  Haan’s recognition came during the International Dyslexic Association’s “Research-to-Practice” conference held in Washington, D.C. July 21 to 23. 

“We are pleased to recognize Cinthia for the work she has done through the Haan foundation to ensure that children with dyslexia and other learning disabilities would grow up to lead productive and fulfilling lives,” said Dr. Guinevere Eden, associate professor of pediatrics at Georgetown University and conference co-chair for the “Research-to-Practice” conference.

Haan is the first to receive the International Dyslexic Association’s Special Recognition Award.  The award was created this year to recognize individuals who have made unique and outstanding contributions in the field of learning disabilities, specifically dyslexia. 

“It is an honor to be recognized by the International Dyslexic Association,” said Cinthia Haan.  “They, like the Haan Foundation, believe that the consequences of not using effective reading interventions early in a child's academic career can be devastating for individuals and for society at large.” 

The Haan Foundation’s mission is to unite scientific research, education practice and technology toward the goal of improving education for all children.  To that end, Haan has spearheaded efforts to unite the best practices and professional development in reading instruction, the best minds in the field, and millions of dollars to fund the Foundation’s programs and research.

Her efforts have resulted in the Power4Kids Initiative, a landmark study designed to provide conclusive evidence of the merit in remedial reading programs.  It is the second largest study of its kind conducted in public schools and includes more than 800 children in 23 school districts and 50 schools. “This study is profoundly important,” states Haan. “It illuminates the strengths, the limits, and the critical conditions necessary to close the reading gap. In the process the study both sets the standards for rigorous evaluation of reading interventions for years to come, and it points the way to key directions of future research in theory and in practice.”

When Haan was struggling with her son’s difficulty in learning to read, she realized that hers was not the only family facing that challenge.  There are more than 10 million children reading below grade level and Haan realized they are facing a variety of challenges.  The Power4Kids Initiative focuses on three primary causes of reading failure in students: educational oversight, physiological differences, and the effects of an impoverished environment.      

"Cinthia’s efforts recognize that rigorous scientific review is needed before we decide which reading programs work best for America's children," said Dr. G. Reid Lyon, former Chief of the Child Development and Behavior Branch within the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and founding board member of the Power4Kids Initiative.  "When we give our children medicine to improve their health, we make sure that it is scientifically proved; should we ask anything less regarding their educational development?"

Relying on a sampling of remedial reading programs that have been identified as highly effective, the initiative purports to identify what programs work best for which children, regardless of the reason a child might struggle with reading.

“All children have the right to read,” said Haan.  “Power4Kids sets out to determine whether or not we have the tools to virtually eradicate reading failure in public schools. We entered this research keeping in mind that it is as important for us to know what works in helping children become proficient readers, as it is to know what does not work. We cannot afford to waste their valuable developmental years on programs that do not target their areas of weakness.”

Results from the Power4Kids initiative will be used to make recommendations to local policy makers, superintendents, principals and teachers nationwide regarding successful practices and programs for remedial reading instruction.

For more information please visit the following websites:

The Haan Foundation for Children:  www.haan4kids.org

The International Dyslexic Association:  www.interdys.org