TABLE 7:What’s Holding Readers Back? New Tools for Overlooked Obstacles that Sabotage Reading Success

Research shows that nearly half of K–3 students have underdeveloped visual skills, making learning to read more difficult and frustrating. By Grade 4, over 50% of students are not proficient readers, and 70% of them develop inefficient reading habits that persist despite intervention. This session examines how visual skills affect reading development and fluency. Most school vision screenings assess only distance acuity (20/20 vision), overlooking the critical visual skills required for reading and close work (eye coordination, tracking, etc.). More than a dozen visual skills are essential for recognizing letters and words, navigating text, and sustaining attention. Even students with 20/20 vision—or corrective lenses—may struggle if these skills are underdeveloped. The good news: we can identify students with underdeveloped visual skills and help them become efficient readers. Attendees will gain a foundational understanding of visual skill development, learn to recognize signs of struggle, and explore new practical digital screening tools and activities that can be integrated into classroom routines. Participants will be introduced to digital tools developed for research and educational use, available at no cost. They will also be invited to join a co-creation community for continued tool development and their classroom integration.