Category Archives: Dyslexia

Sharing the Gift of Literacy

| May 12, 2020
https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/sharing-the-gift-of-literacy/

At age 9, Michelle D. set a goal for her future self. When she was old enough, she vowed, she would drop out of school and leave the frustration and anxiety associated with learning to read behind her. Fortunately, that didn’t happen. Instead, new dreams are coming true for the 20-year-old New Hampshire resident. Diagnosed with a speech impediment at age five and dyslexia at age eight, Michelle struggled in elementary school. “I had this constant fear that I would get picked to read in class or have to go up to the board and write words that I had no clue how to read, never mind write, [...]

Putting Policy into Practice

| April 16, 2020
https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/putting-policy-into-practice/

The First Step: Passing State Dyslexia Legislation State dyslexia legislation has the potential to provide much-needed support to help students with dyslexia. For example, such laws can mandate early screening to catch children before they experience failure in early grades. They can require teacher preparation and training to better support educators in their understanding of dyslexia and how to provide targeted instruction for their students. The good news is that in 2020, almost every state in the U.S. has either passed dyslexia legislation or has such legislation pending. Much of this leg [...]

Fairfield University Launches Online Dyslexia Interventionist Certificate

| April 2, 2020
https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/fairfield-university-launches-online-dyslexia-interventionist-certificate/

As states continue to enact laws requiring public schools to accommodate the learning needs of students with dyslexia, the importance of preparing new and veteran teachers in effective, multisensory structured literacy is gaining ground as well. During this academic year, Fairfield University’s Graduate School of Education & Allied Professions launched a fully online, 10-credit certificate program in multisensory structured literacy instruction in partnership with Wilson Language Training. This new program expands opportunities for educators to effectively help students with dyslexia [...]

Father, Son, and Dyslexia

| June 27, 2019
https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/father-son-and-dyslexia/

As a child growing up in Colorado, Steve G. found learning to read a struggle and tutoring lessons a bore. Decades later, given his history and the genetic nature of dyslexia, he wasn’t surprised when one of his three sons showed similar reading difficulties in school. What did amaze him was the “night and day” difference in his son Liam’s reading scores and confidence level following one year of multisensory structured literacy instruction with a Wilson Reading System® certified teacher. “Back in the 70s, the technique for correcting this was once a week I went to a lady’s house [...]

Teacher Appreciation

| June 11, 2019
https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/teacher-appreciation/

During Teacher Appreciation Month in May we asked educators, "What has been one of your proudest teaching moments while using a Wilson® program?" We were elated to receive responses from more than 2,000 enthusiastic teachers from across the country. Helping struggling readers overcome dyslexia, instilling an abiding love of reading, and buoying self-confidence were among the recurring themes. “I have been teaching the intensive Wilson Reading System for 14 years,” shared New Jersey teacher, Amy Z. “Every year, without fail, my students amaze me with the progress they have made with t [...]

Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning

| December 18, 2018
https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/accessibility-and-universal-design-for-learning/

Do you notice the differences between the three scenarios above? In the first scenario, each child gets exactly the same support. The second scenario demonstrates how each child gets what is needed to access the ball game. The third scenario presents a thought-provoking concept: Why don’t we make things accessible for all from the beginning? Herein lies the bedrock of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). According to the UDL guidelines from CAST, UDL diminishes barriers and amplifies learning for all students. Teachers that apply  UDL principles to their teaching provide multiple means of [...]

Texas District Enters Second Decade of Defying Dyslexia

| November 21, 2017
https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/texas-district-enters-second-decade-of-defying-dyslexia/

Eleven years ago, when the Ysleta Independent School District (YISD) in El Paso, TX, implemented the Wilson Reading System® (WRS) as its Tier 3 intervention program for students with dyslexia, it also created a new department in anticipation of the classroom and professional learning that would follow. Aptly named the Dyslexia Department, this team identifies, instructs, and serves more than 700 students each year, providing a high-quality education that includes effective, research-based instruction and best practices that meet the students’ academic and social needs. Wilson is proud to b [...]

Inspiring Peers & Educators

| November 1, 2017
https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/inspiring-peers-educators/

On his first day of fourth grade three years ago, Britton R. came home begging his mother for a tutor because he knew he wasn’t reading like everyone else. Despite trying many different programs and tutors in the past, he still struggled to make sense of the letters on a page. This changed, however, when he met Mollie Bolton, a Wilson® Credentialed Trainer, in November 2014. Through her tutoring and support, Britton learned to read using the Wilson Reading System®. “I really liked Mollie. She was teaching me how to read in a way that I had never learned before, and it started to make se [...]

2017 Parent Night

| October 18, 2017
https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/2017-parent-night/

Obtaining assistive technology (AT) for students with learning disabilities can seem overwhelming for parents or caregivers. Learning about what’s available, how AT can benefit students, who is eligible, and how to collaborate with public schools or districts to acquire services will help demystify and facilitate the process. During our annual Parent Night on October 3, Senior Educational Technologist Nanci Shepardson presented an overview of AT that included a review of students’ rights under federal laws, guidelines to follow when working with a child’s education team to determine app [...]