About us: Individualized

The heart of our practice

Our purpose

Designs for Literacy was born out of a desire to serve the ever-expanding population of students with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities. We provide effective virtual, one on one therapy in reading, spelling, handwriting and written expression to students using an online platform. Individualized instruction is provided to students with dyslexia, and to struggling readers, who may or may not have a diagnosis of dyslexia.

Therapists have specialized training in the use of Orton-Gillingham; a Structured Literacy Approach that is individualized and unique to the specific learner. Therapy is tailored as per the needs of the students utilizing the Pre-Flight curriculum/Take Flight intervention and supplemented by the Multisensory Teaching Approach (MTA) program. Lexercise, an online reading and writing therapy, is another curriculum used to address language processing difficulties such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and specific language impairment.

Research into practice

How we teach

Instructions are based on programs that support the research-proven Components of Effective Reading Instruction identified by the National Reading Panel; phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Instructional delivery involves using a Multisensory Structured Language Approach that utilizes all modalities (visual, auditory, kinesthetic-tactile) simultaneously in order to enhance memory and learning. The lessons begin from the most basic concepts and progress to more difficult material. Each concept is based on those already learned and is taught directly. Previously taught concepts are reviewed systematically in order to strengthen memory.

Teaching is planned based on careful and continuous assessment of the individual’s needs. Each lesson addresses all levels of language including sounds, symbols, meaningful word parts(prefix, suffix, and root words), word and phrase meanings, sentences and longer passages, and the social uses of language.

The lessons focus on phonological awareness, phonics and decoding, spelling, vocabulary development, and comprehension skills. Lessons are designed to meet the unique needs of each student. Teaching is interactive and engaging and keeps the students’ motivated to learn.