A group of moms hope to start a school for dyslexic children in Manhattan.

They applied to the Department of Education (DOE) to open a school for kids with the learning disability in November. They made it through the early steps and last week were among several groups who participated in a DOE workshop to help them develop their plans.

“It was really an exciting day all around for all of the teams,” said Emily Hellstrom, who serves on the board of Community Education Council District 2 and is chair of the Students with Disabilities Committee. “It was really about supporting all the groups equally.” More DOE workshops are planned for February and March.

Working with Hellstrom on the dyslexia proposal are Akeela Azcuy, a psychologist, Ruth Genn, an education leader and nonprofit executive, Jeannine Kiely, chair of Community Board 2 Schools and Education Committee and Democratic District Leader, and Freya Sakamoto, who tutors children with literacy issues.

All but Sakamoto have children with dyslexia, and all agree that there is a need for a school dedicated to students with dyslexia. “I feel pretty strongly that the New York City public school system is not providing the instruction that dyslexic students need,” said Sakamoto, who has tutored children for many years and has seen firsthand how kids with dyslexia struggle in school. Read the full article here