Sign language, especially fingerspelling, creates a powerful bridge to reading because it turns letters and words into visual, kinesthetic, and sequential patterns. Research shows that fingerspelling strengthens letter recognition, sequencing, visual memory, and decoding skills—all areas that many dyslexic learners struggle with. Instead of relying only on sound based decoding, fingerspelling gives the brain a visual‑manual pathway for understanding how letters form words. This is one reason sign language is often described as a “multisensory gateway” into literacy: the learner sees the handshape, feels the movement, and connects it to the printed letter at the same time. For someone with dyslexia, this can reduce frustration and create a more accessible route into reading. Because sign language helped me learn to read, I want to use it to help other children who struggle the way I did. Teaching fingerspelling can give dyslexic learners a tool that supports decoding, builds confidence, and helps them experience success in reading. Scholarly Sources on Fingerspelling & Reading Development 1. Stone et al. (2015) — Fingerspelling Predicts Reading Fluency https://youtu.be/33xca3TLHBY?si=AyFs2RqfEYoIkuvU https://gallaudet.edu/wp-content/uploads/gcloud/gal-media/Images/Clerc/pdf/Full%20Document%20of%20ASDC%20Sign%20Language%20for%20All-English.pdf

Experience subject

This was true in my own life, I have dyslexia. When I began learning sign language in junior high, fingerspelling helped me understand words in a way that finally made sense. Instead of trying to force my brain to process sounds the way other students did, . It gave me confidence, helped me learn to read, and showed me that my brain wasn’t broken—it just needed a different pathway. That experience shaped not only my literacy but also my identity and self-belief.