Dyslexia Therapist Training Program
2024 Application
Austin Cohort
Introductory Summer Course: June 3-21, 2024
Class Minimum: 10
Letters of Recommendation
Please provide two (2) professional letters of recommendation. If working in a school, one must be from your current Principal. Email all letters of recommendation to Kelly O’Mullan at kelly@dyslexiacenterofaustin.org.
Official College Transcript
Please have your university send an official copy of your college transcript—highest degree attained—directly to Kelly O’Mullan at kelly@dyslexiacenterofaustin.org.
Dyslexia Therapist Training Program
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).
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 for 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 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 Therapist Level to become Certified Academic Language Therapists. Graduates have up to five (5) years upon completing 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. Graduates have five (5) years upon completing 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 Instruction, 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
Graduate-Level Credit
Graduates may receive up to fifteen (15) hours of graduate-level credit toward a Master of Education degree in Special Education, Specializing in Dyslexia, with an optional Educational Diagnostician Certification through MSU Texas in Wichita Falls, TX (online program). Click here to learn more about the M.Ed. program details. For more information, please contact April Crutcher, Special Education Program Coordinator.
1st Year
Introductory Training Course
Cost—$3,200 for Training and Introductory Materials Kit
The Introductory Kit includes most, but not all, materials required to teach one (1) group of 6 students.
Academic Requirements
Introductory Summer Course
June 3-21, 2024
Monday through Friday for three (3) consecutive weeks from 8:00 am—5:00 pmHomework Assignments
Trainees will receive a list of required homework assignments upon notification of acceptance into the program. Trainees will be expected to read academic articles and chapters and write one-page reports summarizing each article or chapter. Reports must be submitted to Canvas by the due date.
Introductory Seminars
Attend four (4) one-day seminars throughout the school year from 8:00 am—5:00 pm.
Introductory Year—Book Reports
Trainee must read five (5) academic books from an approved list and write a one-page report on each book.
One book report will be due per seminar. Book report 5 will be due at the Advanced Summer Course.
Introductory Year—Dyslexia-Related Conference
Attend one (1) professional conference related to dyslexia (5-6 hours of professional development)
Clinical Teaching Requirements
Demonstration of Teaching Competency
Submit five (5) videotaped demonstration lessons of a Take Flight group
Submit self-critiques of the demonstration lessons
Demonstration lessons are observed and evaluated by a Qualified Instructor with accompanying suggestions, critique, and evaluation for therapist-in-training
One-on-one consultations with a Qualified Instructor
All five (5) introductory year demonstration lessons must be completed and passed before May 31st to qualify for Advanced Training
Supervised Teaching Requirements
Teaching Experience Using Take Flight
Trainees must implement and maintain at least three (3) Take Flight classes consisting of 1-5 students per group. They must reach Take Flight Lesson 67 before May 31st with at least one group to qualify for Advanced Training.
Option 1: A minimum of 60-minutes per group, four (4) days/week (Recommended option during training)
Option 2: A minimum of 45-minutes per group, five (5) days/week
Student Progress Monitoring
Periodically progress-monitor students. Prepare and submit progress monitoring data in the required format.
Trainee Progress Reports
Prepare and submit periodic Progress Reports documenting supervised teaching situations and clinical training hours.
2nd Year
Advanced Training Course
Cost—$2,000 for Training and Advanced Materials Kit
The Advanced Kit includes most, but not all, materials required to teach one (1) group of 6 students.
Academic Requirements
Advanced Summer Course
Monday through Friday for one (1) week from 8:00 am—5:00 pm
Homework Assignments
Trainees will receive a list of required homework assignments at Seminar 4. Trainees will be expected to read academic articles and chapters and write one-page reports summarizing each article or chapter. Reports must be submitted to Canvas by the due date.
Advanced Seminars
Attend four (4) one-day seminars throughout the school year from 8:00 am—5:00 pm.
Advanced Year—Dyslexia-Related Conference
Attend one (1) professional conference related to dyslexia (5-6 hours of professional development).
Clinical Teaching Requirements
Demonstration of Teaching Competency
Submit five (5) videotaped demonstration lessons of a 2nd year Take Flight group
Submit self-critiques of the demonstration lessons
Demonstration lessons are observed and evaluated by a Qualified Instructor with accompanying suggestions, critique, and evaluation for therapist-in-training
One-on-one consultations with a Qualified Instructor
Supervised Teaching Requirements
Teaching Experience Using Take Flight
Continue to maintain at least three (3) Take Flight classes consisting of 1-5 students per group.
Option 1: A minimum of 60-minutes per group, four (4) days/week (Recommended option during training)
Option 2: A minimum of 45-minutes per group, five (5) days/week
Student Progress Monitoring
Periodically progress-monitor students. Prepare and submit progress monitoring data in the required format.
Trainee Progress Reports
Prepare and submit periodic Progress Reports documenting supervised teaching situations and clinical training hours.
Additional Training Information
Demonstration Lessons
Ten (10) demonstration lessons are required for certification, five (5) completed during the first year and five (5) completed in the second year. These lessons should be videotaped and sent along with your lesson plans and self-evaluation to a Qualified Instructor (QI). A score of 85 or above is needed to pass.
A demo with a score of 85 or below must be redone. A demo over 65 minutes will not be accepted. Demonstration lessons must be received on or before the due date. You must communicate with the instructional team should there be a delay.
One (1) point will be taken off the demonstration score for each day late. Trainees will have two opportunities to pass a demonstration lesson. Should a third complete demonstration lesson be required, trainees will be charged $100/additional demonstration lesson.
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory. Attendance requirements are based on the standards set forth by the accrediting organization. You MUST make arrangements in advance with the training staff for absence approval and procedures for making up the instruction. You will be responsible for videotaping the class or seminar and completing a full write-up on the training content. You may be exited from the program if you do not obtain absence approval.
Homework/Class Expectations
Dyslexia Therapist Training is equivalent to fifteen (15) hours of graduate-level coursework; therefore, graduate-level writing is expected. Trainees will be expected to read academic articles and chapters and write one-page reports summarizing each article or chapter during the Introductory Summer Course and Advanced Summer Course. Throughout the Introductory Training year, trainees must read five (5) academic books from an approved list and write a one-page report on each book. Reports must be submitted to Canvas by the due date.
Extended Training
At the completion of all coursework, if you have not met the criteria of 700 clinical teaching hours, you will be required to continue supervised teaching and recording clinical teaching hours until this requirement is satisfied. If you have not received a score of 85 or higher in demonstration lessons, additional demonstrations may be required, and attendance in additional seminars and lectures may also be required. Dyslexia Center of Austin reserves the right to charge trainees an additional fee in such circumstances. Progress will be monitored regularly until all requirements are complete.
Accommodations
If any accommodations (under ADA) are needed for you to be successful in the two-year training program, you must submit them in writing with appropriate documentation at least two (2) weeks prior to the beginning of the Introductory Course.
Photo Release
I grant to Dyslexia Center of Austin the right to take photographs, videotape, or digital recordings of me and my property, and I authorize Dyslexia Center of Austin, its assigns, and transferees to copyright, use, and publish such photos in print and/or electronically. I agree that Dyslexia Center of Austin may edit, alter, copy, exhibit, publish, or distribute the photographs and may use such photographs of me with or without my name and for any lawful purpose, including, for example, such purposes as publicity, illustration, advertising, and Web content and I waive any right to financial or other remuneration arising or related to the use of the photographs.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Dyslexia Center of Austin does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.
Acknowledgment Form & Application
I acknowledge that I have received and have read the policies contained in this packet, and I agree to comply with such policies and practices as a condition of my participation in the Dyslexia Therapist Training Program at the Dyslexia Center of Austin.
Upon submission of this form, you will receive the following:
Email confirmation from the Dyslexia Center of Austin acknowledging the receipt of your application
Email invitation from Sign-up Genius asking that you select an interview date/time
Should you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to email Kelly O’Mullan.