Born from a belief that every child can learn to read.
The Need to Read exists because of one woman who refused to accept that some children simply could not learn. Her name was Nancy Richardson Stevenson and her program is still changing lives today.
A nonprofit built on Nancy's legacy
The Need to Read is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting struggling readers through the Stevenson Language Skills Program, a revolutionary phonics-based curriculum developed by Nancy Richardson Stevenson.
Nancy was a visionary educator who saw potential where others saw limits. Long before dyslexia was widely recognized, she understood that many children simply needed a different approach, one that worked with the brain rather than against it.
Though she passed away in 2003, her legacy continues to change lives through the gift of reading. Her belief remains at the heart of everything we do.
Every child can learn to read when we teach in a way they can understand.
Nancy Richardson Stevenson
Three decades of helping readers find their way
Nancy Richardson Stevenson develops her phonics-based reading system after years of working with students who struggled where traditional methods had failed.
Nancy passes away, but her program lives on through the educators and families she trained. The Stevenson Language Skills Program continues to reach students across the country.
The Need to Read carries Nancy's mission forward, connecting families, teachers and schools with the Stevenson program and building a community around literacy for every kind of learner.
Help us continue Nancy's work
Your donation helps bring the Stevenson program to families and schools who need it most, regardless of budget.