What NYC public school is like for a student with dyslexia

Also, after NJ reparations bill failed, private citizens initiated their own discussions. [View this email in a browser.]( Gothamist relies on your support to make local news available to all. Not yet a member? [Consider donating and join today.]( [An NYC student’s yearslong struggle to get proper instruction for dyslexia]( [first image]( [Today's newsletter curated by Emily Nadal]( Weather: ☔ Welcome to another gloomy, rainy morning where we're [still dealing with remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia](. Expect to use your umbrella all day, and bring a jacket because temps will only reach about 60 degrees. It’s Monday morning in New York City, [where navigating the city’s public school system with a child who has dyslexia is a challenge.]( Mayor Eric Adams has been open about his struggles with dyslexia and has even made it a priority to ensure the city’s public school students with the same learning disability receive adequate services. But, for the family of 9-year-old Matthew Green, getting help hasn’t been easy. City schools have historically been unable to identify students with dyslexia or offer the support they need, while families who have the means often resort to pricey alternatives, including private schools or hiring an attorney to fight for accommodations. But for Matthew’s grandmother, Trenace, those weren’t sustainable options. Gothamist has been following Matthew’s story for the past seven months and documenting his grandmother’s efforts to compel the city to comply with federal laws requiring that all students receive a “free, appropriate education.” It’s part of our yearlong project exploring the rollout of promised reforms aimed at helping kids like Matthew. You can also [listen to the story on NYC Now,]( our daily podcast. If Matthew’s troubles sound familiar, and you think your own child may have dyslexia, [we’ve developed a guide to help you figure out next steps.]( Here’s what else is happening: - Some New Jersey residents are moving forward with their own effort to study reparations for the state’s Black residents, [after state lawmakers failed to advance a bill that would do so](. Starting tomorrow, nine public hearings focusing on the state's history of slavery will be held over the next two years. - City lawmakers are planning to [begin discussions today about legislation to address the ongoing hostility]( against Drag Story Hours in NYC after a false bomb threat forced people to abandon one of the events at a public library in Brooklyn on Saturday. - Home sellers in New York will now be required to [disclose whether their properties have been flooded]( or are at risk for flooding, thanks to legislation Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law Friday. - The 18th annual Brooklyn Book Festival, where booksellers and authors meet readers and fans at the plaza in front of Brooklyn Borough Hall, [kicked off Sunday with virtual programming]( and will move to in-person events across the city this week. - Yeah! Usher will [headline the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show]( on Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. - The MTA started [offering free bus service with one route in each borough]( yesterday. Digital displays on the front and sides of the buses will indicate whether they are free. - An air conditioner belonging to the Kingdom of Bhutan at the United Nations building is allegedly [so loud that residents of the apartments across the street can’t open their windows.]( - New Jersey authorities released body camera footage Friday that shows video of [last month’s fatal police shooting of Andrew Washington]( in Jersey City. The move came following weeks of public calls for police to be more transparent about the shooting. - A 49-year-old NYC schools employee was [arrested for allegedly grabbing a 6-year-old by the collar and throwing him against the wall]( after the child kicked a ball into her face. She was the fourth NYC schools employee to be arrested last week over allegations of abuse. - The 191st Street station on the 1 train line in Washington Heights just got a massive makeover. Several [artists brightened up the tunnel with unique pieces]( after the MTA painted over years of graffiti in 2022. - New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim [announced that he’s running to unseat]( Sen. Robert Menendez, [who faces federal bribery and corruption charges](. Gov. Phil Murphy [urged Menendez to step down]( but the senator said he isn’t going anywhere. - [This guide will help you understand]( who’s who in the 39-page indictment against Menendez. - Concerned [neighbors called the police after witnessing]( what they thought was a kidnapping of a 6-year-old girl in the Bronx. It turns out that she was just fighting with her dad about going to a family event. - The New Jersey Attorney General’s office is [investigating the death of a motorized scooter driver]( who crashed while being chased by Totowa police Wednesday night. - According to a new [Wall Street Journal/College Pulse survey,]( the U.S. college offering the best bang for your buck is New York’s very own Baruch College. - Brooklyn’s Elsewhere was the [most traveled-to nightlife destination via Lyft]( for New Yorkers over the past year. Other hotspots included Chelsea’s Eagle and Ridgewood’s Nowadays. - The Lower East Side Tenement Museum just [reopened to the public with enhanced tours and exhibits]( after being closed for a year for historical preservation work. “You have to hire an attorney just to get your children educated. How is this possible?” - Trenace green, grandmother of 9-year-old matthew green, [DISCUSSING WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GET HELP FOR HER GRANDSON WITH DYSLEXIA.]( More from Gothamist [second image]( [Lawyer says woman charged in Bronx day care death is 'paying for somebody else's crime']( Many knew Grei Mendez as a hardworking mom trying to make ends meet. But prosecutors and police paint a different portrait. [NYC reduces shelter stay limit to 30 days for adult migrants]( The plan cuts in half a prior 60-day notice rule affecting adult migrants, which was announced in August amid criticism from many elected officials and homeless advocates. [We Rely On Your Support]( [NYC further rolls back plans to revamp Fordham Road bus infrastructure]( The city’s Department of Transportation is backing away from plans to revamp bus infrastructure on Fordham Road in the Bronx, angering some transit advocates. [Rutgers University votes 'no confidence' in school president]( The news follows months of controversy and a faculty strike. [Instagram]( [Instagram]( [Facebook]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Twitter]( [New York Public Radio] [WNYC]( | [WQXR]( | [NJPR]( | [GOTHAMIST]( [WNYC STUDIOS]( | [THE GREENE SPACE]( Copyright © New York Public Radio. All rights reserved. 160 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013 [TERMS OF USE]( You can update your [PREFERENCES]( or [UNSUBSCRIBE]( from this list.