ASK

There are many professionals out there, providing support in various capacities.

Dyslexia Now What is not a referral source for specific institutions or individuals.

PEDIATRICIAN: Can evaluate developmental delays and other conditions that may be contributing to learning differences. They can also be a referral source for specialists.

DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICIAN: Highly trained subset of doctors who identify and recommend treatment for a range of developmental and behavioral differences.

NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST: A professional with a Ph. D. who evaluates, diagnoses and provides recommendations around relationships between the brain and behavior. Learning differences and co-morbid conditions (anxiety/ADHD) are in their realm. They are often associated with an institution (a big hospital) or are part of a private practice — sometimes both.

TUTOR: The three prominent language-based tutor methodologies are Orton-Gillingham (OG), Wilson and Lindamood-Bell (LMB). The first two involve intensive training and certification. You can look up a tutor/teacher’s completion level on their websites. LMB is privatized and tutors are out there with “letters of completion” as they do not offer certification. 

OG TUTOR: The Orton-Gillingham (OG) Approach in particular is a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach literacy when reading, writing, and spelling does not come easily to individuals, such as those with dyslexia. It is most properly understood and practiced as an approach, not a method, program, or system. In the hands of a well-trained and experienced instructor, it is a powerful tool of exceptional breadth, depth, and flexibility. Qualified OG Tutors are not “trained,” they are “certified.”

Find a certified teacher/tutor (Orton-Gillingham)

Find a certified tutor (Wilson)

Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes: Link takes you to the corporate site/centers but tutors are out there with “letters of completion”. LMB does not offer certification.

SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (SPED) TEACHER: Provide instruction to special education students on IEPs, either in pull out capacity or within the general ed classroom (or both). Having SPED credentials does not inherently mean an instructor is certified in language-based programming (like Orton-Gillingham).

THERAPIST: Services can be direct to a child, parent or family. May specialize in a range of traditional, CBT/DBT or other.

INTENSIVE ANXIETY THERAPY PROGRAM: Typically offered by a specialty practice or program.

CHILD CBT PROVIDER: A professional specializing in Cognitive Behavior Therapy tailored for children.

SPEECH & LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST (SLP):  A field of expertise practiced by a clinician known as a speech–language pathologist or a speech and language therapist, both who may be called a “speech therapist.” When it comes to dyslexia, SLPs often work on speech sound development and oral language understanding.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST (OT): Health care professionals specializing in promoting a child’s ability to fulfill their daily routines and roles — from holding a pencil to helping regulate through movement.

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING (EF) COACH: EF refers to a set of cognitive processes necessary for the cognitive control of behavior. Dyslexic children often experience a range of EF challenges from needing support organizing themselves and materials to organizing ideas to write out a paragraph. EF coaches help with strategies to gradually develop and improve stills over time.

ADVOCATE: Help families with a child (or children) with learning differences make sense of a student’s needs and navigate educational system processes and procedures.

EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT: Provide a varying degree of roles based on experience. Some are qualified to provide educational testing, observations as well as guidance to a school's teaching faculty on curriculum, teaching styles and resource recommendations.

EDUCATIONAL ATTORNEY: Versed in educational law, these professionals span the entire litigation spectrum from basic administrative proceedings to complex state and federal litigation.