Dyslexia On Demand was brought about for one glaring reason: the educational experience for dyslexic students countrywide is simply not equal.
Our founder was trained and practiced exclusively in Austin, Texas. In that region, due to advanced education on learning differences, many local public schools are equipped with Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALTs). In case you are new to the world of reading intervention, a CALT is an individual who has the specialized training needed to serve students with dyslexia. They are the only professionals permitted to deliver a formal treatment course of dyslexia therapy.
The certification process requires a master’s degree, two years of rigorous coursework, 700 clinical hours of documented practicum, and passing a comprehensive national examination. In Austin, and in many metropolitan areas of Texas, families are fortunate enough to have training facilities locally.
Texas has the highest concentration of CALTs countrywide, with nearly 2,000 registered with the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA). Because Texas is home to almost 30 million people, this number is still technically low to serve the absolute need of the one in five estimated to have dyslexia. Either way, the more educated dyslexia professionals concentrated in an area, the more folks are interested in pushing education efforts. This concentration creates a standard where public schools are more naturally equipped to properly handle dyslexia therapy efforts.
Sadly, Texas is an outlier when it comes to these numbers. The next heaviest hitting state is Mississippi with just over 200 therapists. This is followed by Ohio, Colorado, and Arkansas. Let these statistics remind you that estimates show roughly 20% of the population consists of individuals who would greatly benefit from access to dyslexia therapy, yet the vast majority of the country faces a severe lack of qualified professionals.
When looking across the United States, several of the most populated states have little to no local support. For example, New York state has fewer than 30 registered therapists for its entire population.
The numbers drop even lower in other high-population areas:
Do you see the reason for concern? This enormous underrepresentation exists, in part, because educators and parents are simply not aware of the training and caliber variations in literacy programs.
Not all Orton-Gillingham programs are made equal. It is a huge platform of Dyslexia On Demand to not only educate individuals countrywide on the difference between dyslexia intervention levels, but to be a resource for parents searching for the highest level of change accessible to their students.
When local availability limits your access to qualified help, parents are often forced to take matters into their own hands. Navigating school districts that lack trained staff frequently results in school pushback when you request intensive reading services.
This is where virtual access changes the game. By utilizing specialized dyslexia tutoring, your physical location no longer dictates the quality of your child’s education. We can place a highly qualified CALT directly into your home virtually, ensuring your child receives a proper program through our customized services, regardless of your state’s local therapist numbers.
Knowledge is power, and we hope to spread the seed of change one family and child at a time!
Megan Pinchback is the founder and owner of Dyslexia on Demand and a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT). She is also the co-host of the Don’t Call on Me Podcast, a national speaker on dyslexia, social media educator and advocate, mom of five, and grandma to one. Through her work, she is passionate about helping families better understand dyslexia, access evidence-based support, and feel less alone in the journey.
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