Dyslexia Solutions Center (DSC) has a proven track record for obtaining successful outcomes through seasoned advocacy for any and all stages of the special education process: eligibility determination, IEP development & monitoring, classroom and/or school placement and state complaint filings, mediation and due process hearings.
All advocacy services are available ONLINE nationally
& in person in the greater NY Metropolitcan area and New England!
Advocacy services can dramatically change a dyslexic student’s school experience.
1 in 5 students have dyslexia, yet many go undiagnosed. Even when diagnosed, many students do not receive the educational supports and individualized instruction required to succeed in school.
We can help!
Lynn Dalton, M.Ed., has been a successful advocate for over 20 years.
A winning combination!
It’s not enough to be an expert in education law and its applications, the best advocate for your child is also the one who is an expert in your child’s disability!
Most education advocates and attorneys do not have expertise in reading science and dyslexia. What makes Lynn uniquely effective as an advocate for dyslexic students is her training, extensive experience and success in both fields!
Dyslexia affects students at all grade levels, but some interventions change depending on when a student is diagnosed, as do the advocacy challenges.
What’s happening with your child in these grade levels? How can their educational needs be addressed?
Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Is it too early to screen for dyslexia? Many schools think it is, erroneously. Some states are starting to require screening for dyslexia in early elementary, but many still use a “wait and see” approach until 3rd grade. Schools typically offer Response to Intervention (RTI) programs to see if a student improves with pull-out reading instruction in a small group. These interventions are usually for insufficient time and typically do not utilize programs scientifically proven to be effective for students with dyslexia. Waiting to diagnose and obtain effective specialized instruction often results in undiagnosed dyslexic students entering 3rd grade still reading at kindergarten or first grade levels.
3rd – 6th grade
Third grade is an important transition year where in-class reading instruction stops and the instructional focus turns from learning to read to reading to learn. By third grade, many struggling readers and writers remain undiagnosed and over a year behind grade level in reading and writing. Without specialized instruction using a “structured literacy” approach (preferably OG) and classroom and instructional modifications and accommodations, the gap in current skills versus grade level widens. An IEP is needed for all but the mildest cases. 504 interventions are typcially insufficient.
Middle – High School
Older students who have not been diagnosed face the most difficult challenge when reading and writing demands increase dramatically across all subject areas in middle school and especially high school. Middle and high school schedules do not leave time for what would be necessary to resolve reading, writing and spelling deficits. Private tutoring or placement in a school for dyslexic students may become necessary. Important accommodations, like extra time on tests, becomes essential. Advocacy is often required to obtain the help your older student needs.
It is estimated that approximately 35% of students with dyslexia drop out of high school!
Dropping out is preventable with proper advocacy and intervention!
Advocacy Services Offered
Three levels of service are offered. The first two: Comprehensive Record Review and IEP Meeting Analysis can be stand alone services and can be accomplished fully online. These two can also be used in conjunction with Full Advocacy Services. Full Advocacy is required for due process and manifestation hearings. When using full advocacy services, Comprehensive Record Review is part of the service. All advocacy services are payable under a retainer.
Comprehensive Record Review
This service involves confidential review and analysis of your child’s academic records: current 504/IEP, psyco-education evaluation, any private evaluaitons, grades and progress reports, and any data on reading and writing level.
*A detailed and analytical written report will be provided with specific suggestions, such as recommendations for further testing, IEP revisions, placement, and reading/writing specialized instruction.
* Recommendations will include federal & state law and case law references to support the recommended changes to your child’s education program.
*Also included is a brief phone session to discuss recommendations and to answer any questions.
*Cost ranges from $300 to $500 and depends on the complexity of your child’s case & the amount of records to review.
This service is great preparation for annual reviews!
IEP Meeting Analysis
IEP meeting analysis is exactlyas it sounds – review of a recorded IEP meeting to make recommendations for improving outcomes at your next IEP meeting.
*Since IEP meetings are (or should be) based on data, this service is an add-on to the Record Review service. Academic records as well as the IEP meeting recording is required.
*Analysis is presented in a comprehensive written report with suggestions and comments regarding the IEP as well as the IEP meeting.
*This service is an additional $300.
Our recommendations can help you find the KEY to success!
Full Service Advocacy
Full advocacy services entails representation and guidance through the special education process:
– eligibility determination
– IEP development, implementation and monitoring
– classroom and school placement decisions
-manifestation hearings for behavior issues
-due process hearings for the District’s failure to provide a “Free and Appropriate Public Education” (FAPE)
*Full advocacy services begins with Comprehensive Record Review in order to lay the foundation for effective advocacy.
Advocate, Lynn Dalton (M.Ed.), would accompany you to IEP and other relevant meetings (in person or electronically) to advocate on your behalf. She also assists with correspondence with the school.
*Full advocacy services are billed at an hourly rate payable through a retainer. The amount of the retainer depends on the complexity of the case and stage in the special education process you are in. Contact for specific pricing.
Our Diagnostic Services and Comprehensive Record Review provide the foundation for effective advocacy.
In order to make education recommendations and to effectively advocate for your child, the starting point is identifying your child’s strengths and challenges, obtaining relevant diagnoses, determining academic and social/emotional needs, and assessing where your child is in the special education process. We offer two services which form the basis for full advocacy services, and though we believe a comprehensive, integrated approach works best, these two services can be used as stand alone services for you to advocate for your child yourself or in working with other professionals:
• Comprehensive, analytical record review
• Dyslexia screening assessments and standards based literacy evaluations
Comprehensive Record Review is part of Advocacy Services (described on this page), while additional information for Dyslexia Screening and Evaluations can be found in the “Diagnostic Evaluations” section.
Dyslexia Solutions Center is committed and dedicated to you and your child!
CONTACT FOR A FREE CONSULTATION!