Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part B (2025)

Dyslexia is one among the Specific Learning Disabilities which the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - 5 defines as "an alternative term used to refer to a pattern of learning difficulties characterized by problems with accurate or fluent word recognition, poor decoding, and poor spelling abilities”. Though there isn’t much contestation regarding the neurobiological origin of dyslexia, there exists diverse theories that try to explain its genesis. Before the wake of the present century, the lay man was largely ignorant of dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia and any inability of a child to meet the academic demands was perceived as inertia or disinterest in studies. The enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016 which recognised SLD as one among the 21 disabilities was instrumental in creating awareness about this neuro-biological condition and its co- morbidities.
Imbibing the sense that the life of an individual begins from the time of conception, Specific Learning Disability can be managed effectively through early intervention that has to be made ideally between 0 to 3 years of age, extendable up to six years to the maximum. The study is based on an interaction with a 28 year old male who was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 8. The provision of timely intervention and support has helped him live a dignified life despite the marginalization he faced all through his life. Considering the delayed awareness on SLDs engendered in the Indian society, myths and false perceptions on the part of society about learning disabilities should be busted in order to render the legislative and policy safeguards in this regard more effective.