Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that especially affects reading. People with dyslexia usually also experience difficulties with spelling, writing, and pronunciation.

Most people with dyslexia have to attend private schools that specialize in teaching students with such learning difficulties, or work with certified structured literacy tutors. Students with dyslexia need a multi-sensory (sight, sound, and movement) and structured learning method, often one-on-one, so that they can go at their own pace. In public schools, a student with dyslexia needs to be evaluated and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) must be developed for them to receive special education services such as assistive technology tools or structured literacy instruction.

Dyslexia affects 17% - 20% of the U.S. school population. Additionally, according to data from the NAEP, 66% of 4th-8th grade students struggle with reading. This is an important issue, as illiteracy can have severe impacts on life, including lower academic outcomes, dropout, low wages, poor health, and higher likelihood of unemployment and incarceration. Most students with learning disabilities in U.S. public schools spend 80% of their time without specialized instruction, a major contributor to this lack of support being cost.

IRIS Reads is a reading intervention in Virtual Reality (VR) that follows the standard scope and sequence of a structured literacy program to teach students how to learn letters, build words, acquire spelling rules, connect sight and sound, and ultimately achieve reading comprehension. What makes IRIS Reads unique is the fact that it puts students at the center of their reality, making use of various modalities (sight, sound, and movement). It can be used by students independently and offers an individualized program that supplements classroom instruction.

IRIS Reads was developed by a team of neuroscientists and special education experts with over 2 decades of experience in neurocognitive research and the science of reading in children. The solution was tested with struggling readers at schools that specialize in teaching kids with reading disabilities, and a 13%-22% increase in standard reading assessments was measured (depending on the assessment). Additionally, VR games have been shown to result in a 10% increase in learning and memory performance and have an effectiveness that goes beyond the 2D screen since kids cannot get distracted by other things in the classroom. It is important to note that 40-60% of people with dyslexia also have ADHD.

IRIS Reads is currently focusing on school implementation, but will soon be available for at-home use.