THE CASE
Why it matters
01
What dyslexia is
Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects reading and spelling. It is not linked to intelligence. Dyslexic people often show strengths in big-picture thinking, problem solving, storytelling and building, the very skills Canada needs more of.
02
The scale, in numbers
Up to 750,000
Canadian school-aged children have dyslexia
35%
of US entrepreneurs surveyed said they were dyslexic
72.4%
of Canadian K-2 students are covered by universal reading screening (Sept 2026)
19%
of Canadian adults scored at the two lowest literacy levels
03
Without early support
When dyslexia goes unrecognized, children fall behind in reading, lose confidence, and too often leave school believing they are not smart. The cost shows up later as lost potential, lost talent and lost productivity. With early screening and structured literacy, the same students thrive.
04
The workforce angle
Dyslexic thinkers are over-represented among entrepreneurs, engineers, designers and builders. Employers that learn to recognize and support dyslexic talent gain people who see problems, and solutions, differently. That is an economic advantage Canada cannot afford to waste.