State College of Florida Supports 70 Students With Reading Disorders Through the Strauss Literacy Initiative

The State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota Disability Resource Center has provided support and services to 70 State College of Florida students facing reading challenges and learning disabilities through the Strauss Literacy Initiative.

The late Patricia Strauss was diagnosed with dyslexia after years of struggling with reading and writing. She and her husband, Ira, established the Ira and Patricia Strauss Fund for Children’s Literacy. The grant program was established in 2018 in partnership with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, and helps young learners receive early diagnosis and support to improve their reading proficiency, education, and lives. The fund’s services later broadened to include adult learners.

“Originally designed to support children with reading challenges, I proposed expanding the grant to include State College of Florida students, and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County enthusiastically embraced the idea,” said Patricia Lakey, Disability Resource Center coordinator. “Many students have lacked a clear diagnosis or full understanding of their learning differences. To empower these students academically and personally, the grant emphasizes the importance of evaluation and understanding how their reading disorder impacts them educationally.”

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