Madras Dyslexia Association unveils toolkit to make math accessible for all

Recognizing the growing need to address learning challenges among Indian children, the Madras Dyslexia Association (MDA) has launched a new remedial toolkit to make mathematics more accessible.

The initiative comes at a time when education experts highlight that nearly 10–15% of schoolchildren in India may have dyslexia, a neurodevelopmental condition that affects reading, writing, and spelling skills.

Studies also suggest that around 6–7% of children face dyscalculia, a related learning difficulty in mathematics.

Founded in 1992 by parents, educators, and philanthropists, MDA has been at the forefront of providing structured support to children with dyslexia.

Its latest innovation, “Count on Me,” is now being used in 50 schools across Chennai.

While designed for children with developmental dyscalculia, the toolkit has shown promise for a wider range of students by turning abstract math concepts into clear, hands-on learning experiences.

The effort is spearheaded by MDA President D. Chandrasekhar, an IIT Madras alumnus and recipient of the institute’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2009.

He explained that the toolkit emerged from persistent queries by teachers. “How do I help this child learn in a way that works for them?” he said, describing the kit as a bridge “from confusion to clarity and from exclusion to inclusion.”

The toolkit features four components: 64 graded booklets color-coded by difficulty levels, evaluation checklists to track progress, manipulatives with instructional guides and videos, and a digital teacher’s manual that outlines strategies for planning sessions.

Together, these elements allow instructors to identify learning gaps, adapt their teaching, and give children practical tools to understand numbers.

Experts stress that early intervention is vital. According to the Dyslexia Trust of India, dyslexia often goes undiagnosed in the country, leading many children to be wrongly labeled as inattentive or slow learners.

With resources like “Count on Me,” MDA aims to push schools toward a more inclusive system where students with learning differences are supported rather than sidelined.

For MDA, this release is not just about a teaching aid but also about shaping policy conversations.

It reminds schools and parents that children struggling with reading or mathematics are not less capable; they simply need the right methods to learn.