Dyslexia Therapist Training Program
The 2024 application
Application Deadline—May 1, 2024
What You Will Learn
The Dyslexia Therapist Training Program is a two-year multimodal, structured language training curriculum for individuals interested in being Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALT) and Texas Licensed Dyslexia Therapists (LDT). All training sessions are in person.
This comprehensive program uses Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia (Take Flight), a curriculum written by the staff of Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders at Scottish Rite Children. Take Flight addresses the five components of effective reading instruction identified by the National Reading Panel’s research and is a comprehensive Tier III intervention for students with dyslexia ages seven (7) and up.
Dyslexia Center of Austin adheres to the high professional and ethical standards established by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC), with therapist certification conferred by the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA).
The Dyslexia Therapist Training Program is accredited by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC), meets the requirements for Texas licensure, and meets the criteria for membership in the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA).
degree requirement
Completion of a 4-year Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is required to start the training program. A Master’s degree from an accredited university is required before eligibility to sit for the ALTA Competency Exam at the Therapy Level in order to be conferred as a Certified Academic Language Therapist.
Certification and Licensing
Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT)
Graduates of the Dyslexia Therapist Training Program with a Master’s degree from an accredited university are eligible to sit for the ALTA Competency Exam at the Therapy Level to become Certified Academic Language Therapists. Graduates have up to five (5) years upon completion of Dyslexia Therapist Training to take the ALTA Competency Exam at the Therapy Level.
Certified Academic Language Therapist—Candidate
Graduates of the Dyslexia Therapist Training Program with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university are eligible to sit for the ALTA Competency Exam at the Therapy Level to become a Certified Academic Language Therapist—Candidate. Certified Academic Language Therapist—Candidates have up to five (5) years upon completion of Dyslexia Therapist Training to obtain a Master’s degree from an accredited university. If a Master’s degree is not obtained within the allotted time, individuals will become Certified Academic Language Practitioners (CALP).
Texas Licensed Dyslexia Therapist (LDT)
Certified Academic Language Therapists in good standing may be eligible to apply to become Licensed Dyslexia Therapists, as defined by Texas HB 461. For more information, visit the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation.
Graduate-Level Credit
Graduates may receive up to fifteen (15) hours of graduate-level credit toward a Master of Education degree in Special Education with a Dyslexia Emphasis, with an optional Educational Diagnostician Certification through MSU Texas (online program). Click here to learn more about the M.Ed. program details.
For more information, please contact April Crutcher, Special Education Program Coordinator.
Graduate-Level Clinical Training and Supervised Instruction in:
Oral and written language development
Knowledge of structural linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, alphabetic principle, syllabification, orthography, etc.
Knowledge of dyslexia and related disorders
Diagnostic, prescriptive, multimodal, structured language education approach to teach reading, fluency, comprehension, spelling, and written expression
Knowledge of psychoeducational tests and interpretation of report data
Administration of informal assessment tools
Federal and state laws guiding professional conduct and advocacy for students
Ethical standards of the profession
Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia, a multimodal, structured approach to teaching developed by Scottish Rite for Children
Classroom strategies and techniques used for students with dyslexia
Effective communication strategies with students, parents, colleagues, etc.
How to conduct parent and teacher information seminars
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS and COST
1st Year—Introductory Training Course—$3,200
Cost includes professional development and an introductory materials kit.Introductory Summer Course—Three (3) weeks
Four (4) Introductory Seminars throughout the school year
Attend one (1) approved dyslexia-related conference
Submit five (5) recorded introductory demonstration lessons
Teach three (3) groups using the Take Flight curriculum
2nd Year—Advanced Training Course—$2,000
Cost includes professional development and an advanced materials kit.Advanced Summer Course—One (1) week
Four (4) Advanced Seminars throughout the school year
Attend one (1) approved dyslexia-related conference
Submit five (5) recorded advanced demonstration lessons
Continue teaching three (3) groups using the Take Flight curriculum
Additional Dyslexia Training Courses
Build: A k-1 Early reading intervention
Friday—April 19, 2024
8:00 AM—3:00 PM CST
Virtual via Zoom
Registration Deadline: April 14, 2024
$150 for Professional Development—Dyslexia Center of Austin
$750 for BUILD Kit & Downloadable Materials—Scottish Rite for Children
To meet the needs of the K-1 students identified as at-risk for dyslexia or identified with dyslexia, the Scottish Rite for Children developed a 100-lesson, small group early reading intervention that addresses all five components of effective reading intervention: alphabet, letter/sound knowledge, phonological awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension. Each component is taught developmentally using a direct, systematic, cumulative, multimodal method of introduction and practice to meet the specific needs of K-1 students struggling with reading.
The curriculum is designed to be taught by interventionists, special education teachers, dyslexia therapists, CALTs/trainees, etc. Training is required.
6 ALTA CE/Educator CPE Hours
Minimum Class Size: 10
Click here to download the registration form.
For more information on the BUILD curriculum, download a white paper or handout, authored by the Scottish Rite for Children.
Please email Kelly O’Mullan with any questions.
turbo start: a dyslexia curriculum for newly identified Students
August/September 2024
Training Dates and Cost—TBD
Virtual via Zoom
Turbo Start, a 9-week evidence-based dyslexia intervention, provides a jump start for newly identified students of all ages who need comprehensive dyslexia intervention while awaiting placement in an intervention group. This one-year, evidenced-based dyslexia intervention may be taught by a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) in a one-on-one or small group setting. Click here to download a Turbo Start flier.
Please email Kelly O’Mullan with any questions.
jet: a fast-paced reading intervention
Therapist Level
August/September 2024
Training Dates and Cost—TBD
Virtual via Zoom
Jet was designed by the Scottish Rite for Children for individuals with dyslexia fourteen years and older. It is a one-year, evidence-based dyslexia intervention curriculum taught by a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) in a small group setting (1-6 students). Jet may be taught four days/week for 60 minutes a day or five days/week for 45 minutes a day. Click here to download a Jet flier.
Please email Kelly O’Mullan with any questions.
Add take flight to your calt toolbelt
Therapist Level
TBD
8:00 AM—3:00 PM CST
Virtual via Zoom
$1,750/person
Cost includes five (5) days of professional development, an Introductory Kit, an Advanced Kit, access to support materials, and one (1) optional demonstration video with a 1:1 feedback session with the Qualified Instructor.
This multimodal, structured language training course is for individuals who are Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALT). This comprehensive course uses Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia (Take Flight), a two-year curriculum written by the staff of the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders at Scottish Rite for Children. Cost includes professional development, an Introductory Materials Kit, and an Advanced Materials Kit.
35 ALTA CE Hours
Minimum Class Size: 8
Please email Kelly O’Mullan with any questions.