11 Things You Should Know About the Dyslexia Curriculum at Dyslexia on Demand

Parents want the best for their kids. As a parent of a child with dyslexia, you’ll want to find the best help for your child’s specific learning disability. You’ll want to focus on finding evidence-based programs with proven track records. It is also important to consider your child’s needs; choosing a dyslexia curriculum that addresses your child’s needs is essential. The best dyslexia program for your child can empower them both academically and in the real world. Many parents will rely on research, reviews, and recommendations to find the best programs for their dyslexic children. Know that by discovering Dyslexia on Demand, you have found a provider that can empower your student with dyslexia. Read on to learn 11 things you should know about the dyslexia curriculum at Dyslexia on Demand.

1. Get to know the program. At Dyslexia on Demand, the primary program we use is a therapeutic curriculum called Take Flight. This curriculum was developed by the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in 2006. It is considered a therapeutic grade curriculum.
2. Take Flight is based on years of research. It is a program that was specifically created for students with dyslexia and other written language disorders. The curriculum writers actively continue to update their research on this program and its effectiveness.
3. Our dyslexia therapy program is different from dyslexia tutoring.  The curriculum for dyslexia therapy is individualized and uses trusted, evidence-based language interventions. Rather than just helping with school assignments, homework, and reading, our high repetition therapy sessions help to create new neural pathways in students, and it remediates underlying language processing skills.
4. Only the most qualified dyslexia experts can implement our dyslexia curriculum.  At Dyslexia on Demand, we exclusively use Certified Academic Language Therapists, known as CALTs, to implement our curriculum. They are highly trained therapists who have completed rigorous training in structured literacy approaches and research-based methodologies. 
5. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Because CALTs are so skilled at implementing this therapeutic program, they know how to use individual data from students to adjust and make changes for its implementation. We individualize our plans according to each student’s level or ability, and we can make prescriptive adjustments to the curriculum based on the student. 
6. The typical Take Flight curriculum may take about 2 years to complete. The fidelity standard for this curriculum is 4 full hours per week, which takes place in one-hour sessions with students. This adds up to about 132 lessons and 232 hours. While we estimate it can take about 2 years to complete the Take Flight program, with prescriptive adjustments, it can take a bit longer for some students. 
7. We use the gold standard for dyslexia therapy. Take Flight is an Orton-Gillingham program, which is the best kind of program for multisensory and structured literacy. The curriculum addresses all 5 areas of need in effective reading instruction, including: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. 
8. We offer a comprehensive solution. Take Flight encompasses all areas of dyslexia and the weaknesses that students may have. Together, we work on all the language components of dyslexia.
9. We make the most of virtual sessions. For convenience and consistency, our sessions take place online. Throughout our virtual lessons, we use tactile materials (provided to students), and we employ different camera angles as well as an interactive whiteboard. This helps to maximize the efficiency of teaching this curriculum. 
10.  Age is just a number. While the Take Flight curriculum research is based on students with dyslexia who are ages 7 to 13, Dyslexia on Demand is able to implement it from mid-first grade through adult. In fact, our oldest client to date was 77 years old. If a student is too young to start the Take Flight program, we are able to use an early intervention program called Build that is developmentally suited for younger learners. 
11.  This is about more than grades. When you do the Take Flight program, your fluency, word recognition, and reading comprehension will all improve. However, Dyslexia on Demand also works to aid clients in the transition from a therapy setting to real world settings. We want our students to be able to advocate for themselves as they navigate the world beyond the classroom; In addition to our powerful curriculum, we work to educate parents and students on what it means to be dyslexic, on state and federal rights, and on meeting needs in the home and school environment. We incorporate the social-emotional aspects of dyslexia in our work, and we offer mental health support groups.

Are you ready to learn more about Dyslexia on Demand? At Dyslexia on Demand, you and your child will learn the value of a one-on-one approach to dyslexia therapy. Our data-driven instruction—led by CALTs—is delivered with the highest standards. Reach out today to find out more, or book a free consultation.