We do not expect the blind student to see, the deaf student to hear, or the physically disabled student to to run. Why, then, do we require students with reading disabilities to read? Isn't the true objective, the student's ability to digest and make sense of the material?
In this millennium, there are many ways for the disabled reader to demonstrate his or her mastery of challenging concepts and text. Technological advancements make the delivery of auditory text instead of (or in addition to) written text a viable solution. Does the mechanism through which students' access content supersede the students ability to master the standard or learning objective in question?
Reading disabilities have yet to be acknowledged and treated in the same manner as any other human disability. Though measures should always be taken to strengthen reading, when testing, students should be allowed to hear and read the subject matter. This is not providing an unfair advantage, it is simply leveling the playing field and actually measuring student performance.
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