256-653-3432
Ashley Wells, MA
Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT)
Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist
Board Certified Educational Therapist (BCET)
Huntsville-Madison-Decatur AL
Dyslexia Testing and Therapy
Ashley Wells, MA, CALT
Over twenty years' experience providing professional testing and therapy in public schools, non-profits, and private practice.
Expertise in evaluating and teaching the dyslexic child to read and spell.
Does your child have dyslexic tendencies?
Dyslexia is difficulty reading and spelling at the sound/word level of language. Specifically, the difficulty is in identifying and manipulating individual sounds in words, in spite of good classroom instruction, normal cognitive and spoken language skills. This weakness hinders accurate decoding of printed words, which impedes the ability to increase vocabulary and comprehend text.
Dyslexic tendencies include difficulties with
identifying letters of the alphabet
identifying sounds that go with letters
reading aloud
spelling
reading words accurately
pronouncing words correctly
reading small commonly used words-that, and , or
reading smoothly and fluently
handwriting
memorizing
rhyming
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**International Dyslexia Association (IDA) definition of dyslexia
Dyslexia is a specific learning challenge that is neurological 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.
Comprehensive Evaluations for Dyslexic Tendencies
For this evaluation, your child will be administered a battery of standardized educational assessments to determine if your child has a dyslexic profile. The assessments unveil what may hinder the ability to read and spell accurately and fluently with good comprehension.
Results, impressions and recommendations in the report are for the purpose of identifying dyslexia based on the International Dyslexia Association’s definition of dyslexia. The assessment results may suggest the need for providing Orton-Gillingham based (multisensory, structured, sequential) language education, also known as dyslexia-specific intervention, to improve at-risk skills in an academic setting.
Bio
MY STORY
Ashley Wells, MA has over twenty years’ experience as a dyslexia evaluator and therapist. She has worked in private practice, in public schools, in group homes, and for the non-profit Alabama Scottish Rite Foundation Learning Centers. Her certifications include Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist, Board Certified Educational Therapist, and Certified Academic Language Therapist. More information about Ms. Wells and her specific training and qualifications is located in LinkedIn.
RESOURCES
The International Dyslexia Association
The International Dyslexia Association https://dyslexiaida.org/
The Academic Language Therapy Association
ALTA Academic Language Therapy Association https://altaread.org/
Alabama Dyslexia Resource Guide
The Alabama State Department of Education Dyslexia Resource Guide
https://www.alabamaachieves.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/DRG-10-16-2020.pdf
The Center for Effective Reading Instruction
CERI The Center for Effective Reading Instruction
Overcoming Dyslexia
Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz, M.D. ISBN 0-375-40012-5
Learning Ally: Recorded Books
https://learningally.org/
