An Interview With Dr. Nicole Patton Terry: Discussing Disproportionalities in Reading Disabilities Identification

When discussing the racial and ethnic divide in identifying reading disabilities, it is impossible to overlook the contributions of Dr. Nicole Patton Terry, a distinguished professor, director, and researcher. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Patton Terry has collaborated with community partners, families, and schools to improve student reading outcomes. In this interview, she shared her background and personal experiences in reading education, her perspectives on identifying reading disabilities (dyslexia) in diverse learners, particularly Black children and children from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, and how these identification processes influence access to effective reading instruction and interventions for these populations. She also discussed her strategies and future research ideas for working with students identified with reading disabilities. Dr. Patton Terry emphasized the importance of the science of reading inquiry, the application of implementation science, and advocacy for all children to continue improving their reading and literacy outcomes.