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Massachusetts - Central Massachusetts * Children's Dyslexia Centers

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The Children's Dyslexia Centers, Inc. takes your privacy very seriously. We will not sell or share your information with anyone organization outside of the Children's Dyslexia Centers, Inc. Emails are strictly for program updates, opportunities and resources. By clicking submit, you agree to be contacted by the Central Massachusetts Children's Dyslexia Centers staff.

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Discover effective teaching strategies to support students with Dyslexia in the classroom. From reading techniques to organizational aids, learn how to create an inclusive learning environment.

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Adults with low-literacy or limited English proficiency and the teachers who support them are often overlooked by traditional education systems. At First Literacy, we see you. Through our program grants, free professional development workshops, and student scholarships, First Literacy reaches approximately 6000 adult learners and 200 educators in 100 programs across Massachusetts every year.

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Adult Literacy | Creating life-changing educational opportunities for adults

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First Literacy's mission is to improve adult literacy through high-quality educational opportunities that enable adults to thrive.

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Get inspired! Many successful individuals have thrived despite their Dyslexia. This post highlights stories of famous personalities who have overcome challenges and achieved remarkable success.

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Technology can be a great enabler for students with Dyslexia. Explore this comprehensive list of apps and software designed to support reading, writing, and organization.

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Peer support plays a crucial role in the wellbeing and academic success of students with Dyslexia. Learn about established peer support programs and how they can benefit your students.

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Definitions

The International Dyslexia Association defines dyslexia in their comprehensive " IDA Dyslexia Handbook: What Every Family Should Know" as:

"Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge."

Special Education Definitions
Specific Learning Disability:

Legislation

Federal

In September 2016, the United States Senate passed the Senate Resolution 576 which "designates October 2016 as National Dyslexia Awareness Month, and calls on Congress, schools, and educational agencies to recognize that dyslexia has significant educational implications that must be addressed."

State

The Legislature approved Chapter 272 of the Acts of 2018 on October 19, 2018. The new law requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in consultation with the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) to "issue guidelines to assist districts in developing screening procedures or protocols for students that demonstrate one or more potential indicators of a neurological learning disability, including, but not limited to, dyslexia."

Dyslexia-Related Resources:
Please note that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not endorse the use of any product. The resources below are not intended to be comprehensive but rather serve as suggestions of tools that professionals may wish to consider using when working with students with dyslexia.
General Resources

Screening

Intervention

IEP Related

Accommodations & Assistive Technology:

Specially Designed Instruction

Social Emotional Needs

State Dyslexia Guidelines

DESE Professional Development Opportunities:

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massachusetts department of elementary and secondary education

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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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The goal of the Massachusetts public K-12 education system is to prepare all students for success after high school. Massachusetts public school students are leading the nation in reading and math and are at the top internationally in reading, science, and math according to the national NAEP and international PISA assessments.

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Innovative Special Education Advocacy

We are leaders in the field of special educational advocacy in Massachusetts.

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Although we specialize in Dyslexia and reading impairments, we proudly represent children with emotional and learning disabilities, developmental delays, and other social or communication impairments.

Providing skilled counsel and advocacy, we will stand by your side from the first team meeting to Bureau of Special Education Appeals.

Practice Areas

School Discipline

We aggressively defend children who have been expelled, excluded, or dismissed from their schools, as well as those who wish to challenge a suspension or other disciplinary action. If you or your child is involved in a school discipline action and is facing possible dismissal, suspension, or expulsion from your school or program, please call us immediately.

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Special Education

Our Special Education team is dedicated to advocating for children with disabilities and their families. Our first priority is to assist the entire family, helping them understand the process, and make sense of the sometimes convoluted path the school has taken them down; understanding the process will help with the frustration you may be feeling. We read and then explain the testing that has been completed, and more often than not will suggest that the school conduct further evaluations. We continue to navigate the Individualized Education Programs (IEP's), review documents such as IEP's, attend Team meetings, protect Special Education students under the Massachusetts Anti-Bullying law, negotiate with the school district and/or school attorney, advocate for proper services and accommodations, and represent students and their families in front of the Bureau of Special Education Appeals.

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Bullying

The Massachusetts Anti-Bullying law is in effect and schools MUST implement their bullying prevention plans. Although the purpose of the Anti-Bullying law is to prevent bullying in schools, the law creates various problematic issues for all those involved. These issues not only affect the schools but extend to victims of bullying, the persons accused of bullying, and the respective parents. If your child is being bullied, being unfairly labeled as a bully, or you are in dispute with the school over an alleged bullying incident, contact our office.

William C. Peever, J.D.

Biography:
Bill Peever has 15 years of experience in field of education and over 20 years of experience in complex mediation and negotiation. In 2015 Bill graduated Cum Laude from New England Law, and opened The Massachusetts Advocacy Group.

Bill is a compassionate person who genuinely cares for his clients, he understands that at the end of the meeting these parents still must be able to look into the eyes of their child's teacher at pick up or a teacher conference, to this end he always attempts to collaborate with the school prior to resorting to more aggressive tactics. This collaborative and non-adversarial approach to the process has garnered him the trust and respect of both his clients as well as the school districts that he has worked with.

While Bill's approach may not be as initially aggressive as some advocates who believe in asking for more than the child's needs, and shouting over teachers in the team, his results are undeniable:

Successfully convinced school districts to fund placements in prominent private placements such as: Eagle Hill, Carrol School, and Landmark;

Successfully negotiated compensatory services at Lindamoon Bell Academy, Landmark summer programs, and Carrol summer programs;

Settling an education matter for a student by negotiating a significant settlement that included the district paying for four years at a highly regarded private school;

Convincing a highly regarded public school district to overturn a suspension because they violated the rights of their student;

Successfully representing students who have been suspended or expelled from their schools or programs;

Helping parents navigate the world of special education, including assisting with obtaining and implementing hundreds of individualized education plans or 504 plans, advocating for proper services and accommodations, and negotiating with school districts;

Educating schools about dyslexia and helped them implement programs for these students.

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Community Involvement:

Bill Peever has sat on the board of directors of SpAN (Special Needs Advocacy Network, and is a member of SpAN, COPPA (Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates), as well as an active member of the IDA (International Dyslexia Association). The Massachusetts Advocacy Group holds two to three educational seminars at their offices in Marblehead, where Bill helps families who are struggling with their children with Special Needs.

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Dyslexia | The Massachusetts Advocacy Group | United States

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We are an independent education advocacy group working to empower parents, support educators and forcefully advocate for students with special needs.

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Dyslexia is a reading and writing disorder. Learn more from Boston Children’s Hospital.

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Surprisingly, given its progressive, liberal reputation, Massachusetts has not yet taken proactive steps toward helping ensure early identification of students at risk for dyslexia, evidence based remediation in the classroom or professional development for teachers on reading disability. The state Decoding Dyslexia group is working to change that though! See link below.

Still, there are many good schools and tutoring centers for parents in need.

Schools for Students with Dyslexia in Massachusetts
School
Bancroft School

Carroll School

Carroll School

Carroll School

Dearborn Academy

Eagle Hill School

Landmark School

White Oak School

Willow Hill School
Location
Worcestor

Waltham

Lincoln

Wayland

Arlington

Hardwick

Prides Crossing

Westfield

Sudbury

Grades

1-8

1-5

6-8

8-9

1-12

8-12

2-12

4-12

6-12

Tutoring Centers for Students with Dyslexia in Massachusetts

Commonwealth Leaning Center

Lindamood-Bell

Children's Dyslexia Centers

Needham and Denvers

4 Locations

3 Locations

Massachusetts Dyslexia Legislation (2018)

While there is no dyslexia legislation or regulation pertaining to K-12 public schools in the state of Massachusetts, there is a law stipulating that no student (resident) "shall be required to take any standardized college entrance aptitude test to gain admittance to any public institution of higher education in the commonwealth. Admission shall be determined by all other relevant factors..." This law aside, as parent you will have to speak to your local school as to how they address reading difficulty.
Back to the top of Dyslexia in Massachusetts

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Information about dyslexia in Massachusetts for parents and teachers including schools, tutoring centers and legislation

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Instruction for Students with Dyslexia

Wilson Reading System ® (WRS) is the flagship program of Wilson Language Training ®and the foundation of all other Wilson ® programs. The Tier 3 Structured Literacy (SL) program is based on phonological-coding research and Orton-Gillingham principles.

Everyone Deserves To Learn To Read

By providing intensive WRS instruction in small groups or individually with a highly skilled teacher, reading and spelling success is achievable.

Based on more than three decades of data, WRS is designed for students in grades 2-12 and adults with word-level deficits who are not making sufficient progress through their current intervention; have been unable to learn with other teaching strategies; or who require more intensive structured literacy instruction due to a language-based learning disability, such as dyslexia.

Student focus

All students in grades 2-12 and adults who are not making sufficient progress in intervention or who may require more intensive instruction due to a language-based learning disability/dyslexia

Group Size

Small group (ideally up to 4 students), one-to-one

Lesson Length

One full lesson consists of all 3 Blocks of instruction (approximately 30 minutes to complete each Block); minimum of two complete lessons per week

Setting

Special education classroom, resource room, literacy center, adult education

Instructor

WRS Level I Certified Wilson ® Dyslexia Practitioner (W.D.P.) or WRS Level II Certified Wilson ® Dyslexia Therapist (W.D.T.)

Professional learning & support

● Wilson Academy ®/WRS Learning Community (online)

● Program workshops and instructor-led courses

● In-person and online courses on intensive instruction

● Basic and advanced word study

● WRS Level I and II Certification with practicum observations and implementation seminars

● Sustainability plans

Overview of Wilson Reading System

WRS supports college- and career-readiness standards by providing students who have a language-based learning disability with the foundational and language skills that are necessary to access grade-level text. This comprehensive program can follow students from grade to grade, as needed.

The principles of instruction have been identified by research as effective teaching principles found to increase student achievement. WRS also aligns with the International Dyslexia Association's (IDA) guidelines for working with students with dyslexia (IDA, 2008). Success is achieved through greater intensity, duration, and smaller group sizes.

Unique characteristics set WRS apart from other programs:

A systematic, explicit, cumulative, intensive, and focused approach is used to teach the structure of the English language/total word structure for decoding and encoding.

A systematic and integrated approach to decoding, morphology and the study of word elements, encoding and orthography (internalizing the rules that govern English), high frequency word instruction, oral reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Orton-Gillingham principles make all instruction direct, multisensory, and interactive. Consistent links are made between visual, auditory, and kinesthetic-tactile pathways to enhance memory and learning of written language.

Unique "sound-tapping system" attunes students to the separate phonemes in a word, develops the understanding that the sounds of spoken language work together to make words, and facilitates segmentation and blending of sounds.

Material is presented in 12 Steps, not corresponding to school grade levels, that are further divided into 63 incremental substeps, each building upon the previous one. Mastery of each substep is required before progressing to the next one, making the demands of the subsequent substep manageable and achievable.

A ten-part lesson plan that addresses the following in a sensible and logical fashion: decoding, morphology and the study of word elements, encoding and orthography (internalizing the rules that govern English), high frequency word instruction, oral reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

A penciling technique for scooping sentences and passages into meaningful phrases facilitates reading with prosody.

Concepts are taught through the manipulation of sound, syllable, and word element (prefix, base element, and suffix) cards.

One of the most extensive collections of controlled and readable text (wordlists, sentences, stories) for students beyond the primary grades provided.

Three levels of vocabulary offered.

Criterion-based assessments are built into the program to measure student progress and success.

To learn more about our approach, please visit Our Approach to Program Design page.

After feeling frustrated and unprepared to help my struggling students, I was beyond fortunate to receive a Wilson Reading System kit from an assistant principal. This gift started my journey into Wilson training and ultimately led to phenomenal success for countless students. I have learned so much during my practicum opportunities, and through these experiences with Wilson materials, I became empowered to confidently support struggling readers and writers. My students and their parents will tell you: Wilson works!
Renee Bernhardt, M.Ed., President, International Dyslexia Association, GA, Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner (W.D.P.)

WRS Level I and Level II Certification Accredited by the International Dyslexia Association

The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) focuses on the complex issues of dyslexia, promoting effective teacher preparation and intervention strategies for students with dyslexia as one of their goals. Following an independent review process, Wilson Language Training and Wilson® Accredited Partners received the AccreditationPlus designation by the IDA as an Independent Teacher Training Program, indicating our alignment to IDA's Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading (KPS). This recognition demonstrates that Wilson certified educators are well-qualified to provide instruction to students with dyslexia based on recognized best practices and standards in the field.

WRS Curriculum

Familiarize yourself with the skills and concepts of the Wilson Reading System ® (WRS).

WRS Implementation

Learn how to identify students appropriate for the WRS and how to implement it successfully in your classroom.

WRS Materials

WRS instructor and student materials make learning multisensory and explicit.

Implemented Across the Country

Wilson Reading System ® (WRS) effectively develops the reading skills of struggling readers, including individuals with a language-based learning disability.

See what states have recognized WRS

Wilson Reading System® Learning Community

With Wilson Reading System, you gain access to this membership-based companion site, which supports individuals teaching Wilson's programs. Gain access to reference and instructional materials, expert tips, and more.

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Wilson Reading System - Wilson Language Training Corporation

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Everyone Deserves To Learn To Read By providing intensive WRS instruction in small groups or individually with a highly skilled teacher, reading and spelling success is achievable.

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More Than Words - A non-profit youth run business.

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A nonprofit social enterprise empowering young adults in foster care, court, homeless, or out of school to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.