Dyslexia Duo Podcast Episode 90 - Dr. Maria Murray of The Reading League

The Dyslexia Duo: Dr. Maria Murray on The Reading League, the Science of Reading, and Dyslexia as an Equity Issue   On the Dyslexia Duo podcast, hosts Melissa Dean and Aimee Rodenroth interview Dr. Maria Murray, founder and CEO of The Reading League, about its origins in 2015 and its growth to 46 state chapters (including DC) with a goal of reaching all states by year’s end.   Dr. Murray explains the science of reading as a vast, interdisciplinary body of scientifically based reading research and clarifies common misconceptions about dyslexia and ineffective approaches that waste time. She highlights The Reading League’s free “Science of Reading: Defining Guide” (also in Spanish and French), the organization’s resources (newsletter, Compass for families, journal, vetted shop, conferences, virtual courses on understanding and assessing dyslexia, and school/district professional learning), and argues literacy is a fundamental human right and civil rights issue tied to equity, poverty, and life outcomes. She emphasizes that most people who can’t read haven’t been taught and calls for better teacher preparation, implementation support, and broader public understanding.   00:42 Introducing Dr. Maria Murray 03:17 Building the Reading League 05:45 How Chapters and Membership Work 09:16 What Science of Reading Means 11:39 Dyslexia Myths and Misconceptions 15:48 Literacy as Equity and Public Health 24:49 Why Kids Aren’t Taught to Read 31:24 What Counts as Reading Science 34:46 TRL Resources for Dyslexia Families 37:14 Parent Compass and Chapters 37:48 Explicit Reading Instruction 40:08 Teacher Training and Coaching 42:21 Dyslexia Courses and Assessment 43:52 Literacy as Civil Rights 47:44 Beyond Test Scores 50:32 Finding Support and Resources 52:42 Research Stories and TRL Origins 56:53 Growing National Networks 59:53 Love of Reading Story 01:02:36 Final Advice and Policy 01:06:26 Rapid Fire and Wrap Up