If you are able to easily read and comprehend the words on this page, feel grateful. Currently, 2.4 million students are diagnosed with learning disorders – mostly ones that affect a child’s ability to read. Low literacy has a negative impact on learning and is often seen in kids who are sent to juvenile detention, as well as adults in prison. At UTMB Health, Suzanne LaForte, M.D. and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, helps children who struggle with reading become better readers and increase their chances for a lifetime of learning and success. “There are several types of underlying reasons why a child may not be reading well,” Dr. LaForte says. “Some may have dyslexia. Others simply may not have access to books to read.” For both of these problems there is one solution: Read. Dr. LaForte is a huge advocate for improving children’s literacy. She is the director of the UTMB Pediatric Literacy Program, which participates in Reach Out and Read, a national organization supporting doctors and nurses in promoting early literacy and school readiness. She also started the Book Club at UTMB – a program that provides books for children of all ages.