Proposal for Educational Therapy Service to be offered at Learn Beyond the Book
What is Educational Therapy?
Educational therapy is more than just tutoring. Educational therapy is provided by a highly trained professional who combines educational and therapeutic approaches to teaching students with learning and/or behavioral difficulties such as dyslexia, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders. An educational therapist goes beyond teaching content and creates an individualized teaching plan to address the root causes of learning difficulties and helps build a foundation based on the child’s strengths. The therapist addresses the underlying learning abilities particular to the child, such as visual, and auditory processing, attention and focus, and memory skills. Educational therapists use information from a variety of sources, including informal assessments, psycho-educational testing, and social and emotional history. For more information, please visit the Association of Educational Therapists website at www.aetonline.org.
About Cindy
Cindy Dominguez is a student member of the Association of Educational Therapists and an intern in the Educational Therapy master’s program at California State University Northridge. She previously worked as a classroom teacher, literacy coach, and reading specialist for the Los Angeles Unified School District for over 20 years. Cindy has been working in the homeschooling community for the past two years at Learn Beyond the Book and SCVi Charter School and is tailoring her practice to the specific needs of students with learning difficulties in the homeschooling setting. She specializes in working with students with reading difficulties in kindergarten through 12th grade.
What to Expect at an Educational Therapy Session
Hourly sessions include 50 minutes working with the child, and 10 minutes for consulting with parents, record keeping, and planning. The first session is an intake session with the parent(s) where information is gathered about the child’s learning difficulties, and family, educational, and social environments. If parents have previous psycho-educational assessments, informal assessments, an IEP, or other pertinent educational information about the child, it is shared with the therapist at this time. An appointment schedule is also arranged.
The second session is an intake session with the child. The therapist and child get to know each other and rapport begins to be established. The session may include questions about the child’s likes, dislikes, favorite activities, or friends. Informal assessments may be given, and observations about the child’s temperament, memory, and focus are noted.
By the third session, goals have been set and an intervention plan is underway. The therapist works with the child on a regular basis and school or home observations may occur. The work continues until goals have been met and everyone feels that the child has gained sufficient skills and strategies to function on his or her own and achieve academic success.
Fees
$60 per hour