Dyslexic Positive Libraries Initiative

Display Kit

Library signage and infographics.

DPLI Display Kit Signs & InfographicsDownload

Text Version of Display Kit

Title: Display Toolkit, Dyslexic Positive Libraries Initiative

Front Cover

Creators

  • Emily Carley, M.Ed., Lic. PK-12 Literacy Specialist
  • Nicole Westbom, M.L.I.S., Child & Youth Librarian Specialist
  • Susan Whitehead, M.L.S., Academic Librarian, Dyslexic

A photograph of the ceiling of the Sagrada Família basilica by dyslexic architect Antoni Gaudí, a majestic masterpiece of carved stonework that is almost organic in form.

Dyslexic Positive Libraries Initiative Logo.  Black background includes a brain icon with branching leaves in shades of green surrounded by a ring of flowers.

Title Page

Frontmatter

Bookmark Toolkit, Dyslexic Positive Libraries Initiative

Third Edition February 2026

Please Share Creative Commons BY-NC-SA-NC 4.0

Printing Guide

Pages 1-4, frontmatter, printing optional

Pages 5-9, signs & infographics

  • In color
  • single-sided
  • Letter size, 8.5×11 inches
  • Cardstock

Cover Art

Ceiling of the Sagrada Família basilica by dyslexic architect Antoni Gaudí

  • cosmicenema. 2011. Sagrada Familia Ceiling. Deviant Art, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
  • Eide, Brock, and Fernette Eide. Dyslexia WOW Poster. Dyslexic Advantage. Used with permission.

Acknowledgments

A debt of gratitude is owed to the following people and organizations for generously allowing use of their images and content:

  • Brock Eide & Fernette Eide. Dyslexia WOW Poster. Ceiling of the Sagrada Família by Dyslexic Architect Antonin Gaudi.
  • Brock Eide & Fernette Eide. Strengths of Dyslexia.
  • Kate Griggs. Strengths of Dyslexia.
  • Marion Waldman & Beth Bevars. Indoor and Outdoor Literacy Hubs. Teach My Kid to Read.
  • Sally Shaywitz. Signs of Dyslexia.
  • Women of Rubies. Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock photograph.

Mission

To make every United States library dyslexic positive by removing barriers to literacy for neurodiverse patrons and building the cultural competency in libraries. Empower library workers to think like reading scientists and develop programming through a neurodiverse lens while providing free, easy, library-ready resources through collaborative relationships adaptable to meet every community’s needs. DPLI is explicitly dyslexic and neurodiverse positive and believes all can learn to read.

Forward

Purpose:

Dyslexia is neurobiologically based. It is not due to a lack of intelligence or desire to learn or apathy. With effective instruction and access to technology tools, and support such as extra time or note- taking, students with dyslexia can learn to read and write well. Dyslexic learners require step-by-step instruction in foundational skills, such as phonemic awareness, decoding, and spelling, with each concept mastered before moving on. Emily’s contributions to The Dyslexia Positive Libraries Toolkit provide expert perspective of instructional materials specific to instruction for dyslexic learners, which benefit all learners in a classroom, small group or 1:1 setting. Many people who have dyslexia and received appropriate instruction say the condition has made them more resourceful, creative and willing to persevere through challenges (International Dyslexia Association IDA 2025). Dyslexics possess many strengths that make them high value thinkers, doers and key teammates in life.

Experience:

Emily Carley, M.Ed. is a highly skilled educator. An Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator, Associate level Dyslexic Therapist and state licensed professional literacy specialist, Emily has 20 years experience in education, 15 as a dedicated early elementary classroom educator in Vermont public schools. She has served as a literacy consultant for private schools (K-12), and homeschool groups. She is the founder of, The Literacy Spark, LLC. and is currently a specialized literacy instructor (K-12) with a Vermont Public school district teaching 1:1, small group and leading a high school level Core Literacy courses. Emily teaches graduate courses for educators, coaching for educators and families. Emily’s literacy instruction is scientifically-based, systematic, explicit, multi-sensory and emotionally sound for students of all ages. When she’s not teaching, you can find Emily seeking her own adventure. She’s quick to take watercolors out of her pack to paint dawns and dusks or venture off to sift through tidepools at the ocean. She frequently challenges herself with new experiences as a writer and content creator, and giving to others in her community. Most recently she’s been learning yo-galates, trying to prune an untamable pear tree and seeking new flavors at coffee shop hot spots when traveling, always enjoying conversations around the family table. Emily lives in Montpelier, Vermont.

Headshot of Emily Carley. The Literacy Spark logo.  A flowering medallion of greens and turquois.

Written by Emily Carley, M.Ed OGCE A/OGA @theliteracyspark for downloadable use as a component of the Dyslexic Positive Libraries Initiative Toolkit 2025.  Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 

Display Inspiration

Image: audiobooks & ebooks can be promoted with signs containing a QR code to their catalog record. Smaller versions of these signs can be attached to bookshelves. (middle) Fatigue-resistance reading strips (right) BARD braille and audiobook app available from the Library of Congress.  Librarians are certifying authorities, so please sign up your patrons.  Expand access at no budgetary cost. 

Materials

  • Signs, infographics, and bookmarks from the Dyslexic Positive Libraries Initiative 
  • Guides from the Teach My Kid to Read organization
  • Stuffies such as Louie the Dyslexic Squashmellow and the Phonics Readaloud Characters
  • Giveaways such as brochures, spare infographics, stickers, and buttons
  • BARD audiobook library applications 
  • Books from the Dyslexic Goodreads Listopia 
  • Audiobooks and ebooks shared with a QR code 
  • Graphic novels, illustrated guides, and Hi-Lo books 
  • Decodable books and evidence-based literacy handbooks

Images: (1) Louie, the dyslexic mango Squashmellow who wants to become guy-brarian when he grows up. (2) BARD braille and audiobook app applications. (3) Bookmarks, brochures, literacy handbooks, and empowering infographics. 

Outstanding Book Lists

Curated dyslexia, neurodiversity, and literacy book lists.

  • Dyslexia & Neurodiversity 3+
  • Dyslexia & Neurodiversity 9+
  • Dyslexia & Neurodiversity YA+
  • Dyslexia & Neurodiversity Adult
  • Effective literacy Handbooks
  • Weed or Repurpose List (Discrimination & Ineffective Literacy Methods)

Book Cover Images: Preparing Children for Reading Success, Dyslexic Advantage (2nd edition), How Your Brain Learns to Read!, and Xtrodinary People: Made by Dyslexia.

Printable Sign: Dyslexic Positive Library

Text reads, Dyslexic Positive Library.  In smaller letters is the text, Welcome!  This is a Dyslexic Positive Library.  Neurodiversity makes our world work!

Image of two rainbow infinity signs

Printable Sign: Spelling Bullying

Having strong spelling skills does not make you smarter or better educated than other people. It means you have a brain that is good at phonological processing.

Likely there are other cognitive tasks you find challenging, such as gestalt processing, lateral thinking, or 3D visual-spatial ability.

The world needs all types of thinkers. Let’s treat each other with kindness and respect.

How you can help: avoid making jokes and assumptions, about spelling, grammar, accents, stuttering, word retrieval, or social skills. If you witness bullying, speak up respectfully. E.g. I’m curious, what makes you say that?

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Dyslexic Positive Libraries Initiative. Please Share. Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-SA

Printable Sign: Signs of Dyslexia (side 1)

Preschool

  • Trouble learning common nursery rhymes, such as “Jack and Jill”
  • Difficulty learning (and remembering) the names of letters in the alphabet
  • Seems unable to recognize letters in his/her own name
  • Mispronounces familiar words; persistent “baby talk”
  • Doesn’t recognize rhyming patterns like cat, bat, rat
  • A family history of reading and/or spelling difficulties (dyslexia often runs in families)

Kindergarten and 1st Grade Strengths

  • Curiosity
  • Great imagination
  • Ability to figure things out; gets the gist of things
  • Eager embrace of new ideas
  • A good understanding of new concepts
  • Surprising maturity
  • A larger vocabulary than typical for age group
  • Enjoys solving puzzles
  • Talent for building models
  • Excellent comprehension of stories read or told to him

Kindergarten and 1st Grade Challenges

  • Reading errors that show no connection to the sounds of the letters on the page—will say “puppy” instead of the written word “dog” on an illustrated page with a picture of a dog
  • Does not understand that words come apart
  • Complains about how hard reading is; “disappears” when it is time to read
  • A history of reading problems in parents or siblings
  • Cannot sound out even simple words like cat, map, nap
  • Does not associate letters with sounds, such as the letter b with the “b” sound

Source & Reuse Conditions

Image of the Cover of Overcoming Dyslexia (2nd Edition).

Text from Overcoming Dyslexia © Sally Shaywitz. Used with permission.

This infographic should be used with an accompanying print copy of Overcoming Dyslexia, 2nd edition.

Printable Sign: Signs of Dyslexia (side 2)

Second Grade through High School: Strengths

  • Excellent thinking skills: conceptualization, reasoning, imagination, abstraction
  • Learning that is accomplished best through meaning rather than rote memorization
  • Ability to get the “big picture”
  • A high level of understanding of what is read to him
  • The ability to read and to understand at a high level overlearned (or highly practiced) words in a special area of interest; for example, if he or she loves cooking they may be able to read food magazines and cookbooks.
  • Improvement as an area of interest becomes more specialized and focused—and a miniature vocabulary is developed that allows for reading in that subject area
  • A surprisingly sophisticated listening vocabulary.
  • Excels in areas not dependent on reading, such as math, computers and visual arts, or in more.

Reading

  • Very slow in acquiring reading skills.
  • Reading is slow and awkward
  • Trouble reading unfamiliar words, often making wild guesses because he cannot sound out the word
  • Doesn’t seem to have a strategy for reading new words
  • Avoids reading out loud.
  • Conceptual (versus fact-driven) subjects, including philosophy, biology, social studies, neuroscience and creative writing

Speaking

  • Searches for a specific word and ends up using vague language, such as “stuff” or “thing,” without naming the object
  • Pauses, hesitates, and/or uses lots of “um’s” when speaking
  • Confuses words that sound alike, such as saying “tornado” for “volcano,” substituting “lotion” for “ocean”
  • Mispronunciation of long, unfamiliar or complicated words
  • Seems to need extra time to respond to questions

School & Life

  • Trouble remembering dates, names, telephone numbers, random lists
  • Struggles to finish tests on time
  • Extreme difficulty learning a foreign language
  • Poor spelling
  • Messy handwriting
  • Low self-esteem that may not be immediately visible

Double-Sided Infographic

A “flip” arrow indicates content is on the other side.

Printable Sign: Famous Dyslexics (side 1)

Text reads, “Dyslexia” in large font with a quote from Ben Foss: “Dyslexia isn’t a disease. It’s a community.”

Image of Maggie Aderin-Pocock with a moon background.  Beside her is a barbie doll version of her with accompanying telescope. 

Image of Albert Einstein in front of a blackboard.

Historical Figures Note

Although dyslexia research did not begin in earnest until recently, a review of these individuals’ lives and work indicates a strong likelihood of dyslexic thinking strengths.

Entertainers

  • Robin Williams
  • Whoopi Goldberg
  • Keanu Reeves
  • Jennifer Aniston

Athletes

  • Caitlyn Jenner
  • Muhammad Ali
  • Magic Johnson

Scientists

  • Carol Greider
  • Leonardo Da Vinci
  • Maggie Aderin-Pocock
  • Albert Einstein

Explorers

  • Ann Bancroft
  • Robbert Ballard
  • Jack Horner

Entrepreneurs

  • Steve Jobs
  • Nancy Brinker
  • Charles Schwab
  • Richard Branson
  • Ingvar Kamprad
  • Ted Turner
  • Tom Cavanaugh
  • Ari Emanuel Daymond John
  • Steve Mariotti
  • Douglas Merrill
  • Patrick Whaley
  • Adam Norris
  • Barbara Corcoran
  • Craig McCaw
  • David Neeleman
  • John Reed

Musicians

  • John Lennon
  • Florence Welch
  • Cher
  • Gwen Stefani
  • Alyssa Milano
  • Andrae Crouch

Writers

  • Agatha Christie
  • John Irving
  • Dav Pilkey
  • Avi
  • Octavia Butler
  • F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • Patricia Polacco
  • Philip Schultz
  • Krista Weltner

Inventors

  • Henry Ford
  • Thomas Edison
  • Alexander G. Bell
  • Ben Foss
  • Bill Hewlett

Athletes

  • Meryl Davis
  • Brent Sopel
  • Sir Jackie Stewart
  • Joe Whitt, Jr.
  • Tim Tebow
  • Scott Sonnon
  • Alex Green
  • Billy Blanks
  • Billy Blanks Duncan Goodhew Frank Gore

Doctors

  • Blake Charlton
  • Fred Epstein
  • Beryl Benacerraf
  • Tyler Lucas
  • Karen Santucci
  • Stuart Yudofsky

Leaders

  • David Flink
  • Keith L. Magee
  • Carol Moseley Braun
  • John Hickenlooper
  • Michael Bennet
  • Gavin Newsom
  • Erna Solberg
  • Gaston Caperton
  • Dannel Malloy

Entertainers

  • Nelsan Ellis
  • Jay Leno
  • Danny Glover
  • Henry Winkler
  • Octavia Spencer
  • Brian Grazer
  • Keanu Reeves
  • Jenifer Austen
  • Fred Newman
  • Orlando Bloom
  • Tom Cruse
  • Edward James Olmos
  • Keira Knightley
  • Salma Hayek
  • Anthony Andrews
  • Anthony Hopkins
  • Bella Thorne
  • Channing Tatum
  • David Arquette
  • George Burns

Producers

  • Brian Grazer
  • Steven Spielberg
  • Henry Winkler
  • John Behrens
  • Abhishek Bachcha

Artists & Architects

  • Ansel Adams
  • Pablo Picasso
  • Richard Rogers
  • Jerry Pinkney
  • Willard Wigan
  • Aakash Odedra
  • Chuck Close

Scientists

  • Jacques Dubochet
  • Baruj Benacerraf
  • Michael Faraday

Chefs

  • Jamie Oliver
  • Danny Boome
  • Andrew Dornenburg
  • Marco Pierre White

Journalists

  • Gareth Cook
  • Richard Engel Anderson Cooper
  • Byron Pitts
  • Christine Finn

Teachers

  • David Schenck
  • Liz Ball
  • Claudenia Williams

Designers

  • Henry Franks
  • Samuel Botero Rebekah Cox
  • Tommy Hilfiger

And Many More!

  • Princess Beatrice
  • Erin Brockovich
  • Pete Conrad
  • Alexander Faludy
  • Dominic O’Brien Chuck Lotta
  • Anne M. Burke

Infographic: Fun Facts About Dyslexia (side 1)

Dyslexia is just a different way of learning–and that’s totally okay!

📘Quick Facts About Dyslexia for Library Workers

Understanding dyslexia can empower you to change lives in your library.

🧠1. Dyslexia Affects 1 in 5 Students

Roughly 20% of the population has some form of dyslexia, making it one of the most common learning differences. That means many library users–children and adults–may be navigating reading challenges silently

📚2. It’s Not About Intelligence

Students with dyslexia often have average to above-average intelligence. Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference, not a cognitive deficit.

🔍3. Early Signs Can Appear Before Kindergarten

Trouble rhyming, delayed speech, or difficulty learning the alphabet are early clues. Early intervention makes a big difference!

📈4. Structured Literacy Works Best

Multisensory, explicit, and systematic instruction (like Orton-Gillingham) is proven to help dyslexic learners thrive.

📦5. Curated Collections Help

Offer hi-lo books, graphic novels, large-print editions, and audiobooks prominently. Clear labeling and displays can guide readers easily.

🎨6. Dyslexic Students Often Excel in Nonlinear Thinking

Many have strengths in spatial reasoning, problem solving, creativity, and out-of-the-box thinking—great assets in STEM and the arts. People with dyslexia are great problem solvers and love figuring out how things work. That’s a superpower!

Infographic: Fun Facts About Dyslexia (side 2)

💬7. Representation Matters

Books with dyslexic characters or stories by dyslexic authors help readers feel seen. (Try: Fish in a Tree, Percy Jackson, or books by Henry Winkler!)

📚8. Accommodations Aren’t Shortcuts

Tools like audiobooks, speech-to-text, and extra time aren’t shortcuts–they level the playing field. They also help dyslexic readers enjoy literature without struggling through decoding. And yes–they do count as real reading!

🌟9. Many Innovators and Leaders Are Dyslexic

Think: Steve Jobs, Agatha Christie, Richard Branson, and Steven Spielberg. With the right support, dyslexic learners often become remarkable adults.

🔗10. Dyslexia Often Comes with Other Learning Differences

It can co-occur with ADHD, dysgraphia, or math challenges (dyscalculia). Holistic support is key.

🎯 11. Dyslexic Students Thrive with Encouragement

Confidence plays a huge role in success. A teacher who believes in them can change everything.

📖12. Fonts Matter!

Dyslexia-friendly fonts (like OpenDyslexic or Lexend) can make reading easier by reducing visual stress.

🌈13. You Don’t Need to Be an Expert—Be an Ally

A welcoming attitude, flexible policies, and a bit of knowledge go a long way in making libraries inclusive for all learners.

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Dyslexic Positive Libraries Initiative. Please Share Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Infographic: Outstanding Dyslexic Stories

Text reads: Visit the Dyslexic Positive Libraries for more selections. DPLI Book Lists page.

Age 3+

  • A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott
  • Abdul’s Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
  • Xtraordinary People: Made by Dyslexia by Kate Griggs
  • Ben & Emma’s Big Hit by Gavin Newsom
  • Molly’s Great Discovery: A Book about Dslexia and Self-Advocacy

Age 9+

  • Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
  • May B. by Caroline Starr Rose
  • The Wild Book by Margarita Engle
  • The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor
  • Niagara Falls, Or Does It? (Hank Zipzer, #1) by Henry Winkler
  • Hacking the Code by Gea Meijering
  • The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel by Riordan, Venditti, Villarrubia, Futaki, & Collar

Age YA – Adult

  • Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
  • Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
  • A Dragonbird in the Fern by Laura Rueckert
  • Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
  • Normal Sucks by Jonathan Mooney

Adult and Nonfiction

  • The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett
  • An Elegant Façade by Kristi Ann Hunter
  • My Dyslexia by Philip Schultz
  • Black, Brilliant, and Dyslexic edited by Marcia Brissett-Bailey
  • The Dyslexic Advantage (2nd edition) by Brock L. Eide and Fernette Eide
  • This is Dyslexia by Kate Griggs
  • Overcoming Dyslexia (2nd edition) by Sally E. Shaywitz
  • Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain by Maryanne Wolf
  • Different, Not Less: A Neurodivergent’s Guide to Embracing your True Self and Finding Your Happily Ever After by Chloe Hayden