The Atlantic Seaboard Dyslexia Education Center

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17 West Jefferson Street, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20850 www.asdec.org questions@asdec org The Atlantic Seaboard Dyslexia Education Center
301-762-2414 2024
Training and Advocacy in Structured Literacy Curricula

ASDEC

ASDEC’s training center stands out as a regional leader as the only nationally endorsed training academy in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia that prepares reading and math educators to deliver evidencebased instruction proven to prevent academic failure.

We are experts in teaching multisensory structured language programs, providing the gold standard in dyslexia remediation training.

"I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate ASDEC. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. Jake’s disability led me to MindWell Associates and Mindwell led me to you. ASDEC is at the forefront of making changes directly with the children (and parents!) What a difference you’re making so many lives. That is a hell of a legacy. Thank you!”

-Parent of 6th grade student

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Why Chose ASDEC?

The Power of Ongoing Coaching and Mentoring

At The Atlantic Seaboard Dyslexia Education Center, we stand out in the realm of literacy curriculum training and dyslexia advocacy through our unparalleled commitment to personalized support and mentorship.

What truly sets us apart is our robust coaching and mentoring program, boasting over 20 seasoned and highly qualified clinicians dedicated to nurturing the growth of our trainees.

Our mentors offer invaluable expertise, guidance, and support, ensuring that each individual embarking on our training receives tailored attention and resources to thrive in their journey toward literacy education and dyslexia advocacy. With this extensive network of mentors, we empower our trainees to not only excel in their professional endeavors but also to make meaningful impacts within their communities.

Teacher Coaching Improves Practice, Student Achievement

A study conducted by Kraft, Blazar, and Hogan (2018) found that teachers who participated in an intensive coaching program showed significant improvements in their instructional practices, which in turn led to higher student achievement in both math and English Language Arts. Additionally, Wynn, Carboni, and Patall (2007) found that instructional coaching was positively correlated with increased teacher selfefficacy and job satisfaction, further underscoring its potential to transform the teaching profession.

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ASDEC’s History

ASDEC was established in 2000 by Founders Emeriti, Claire Nissenbaum, F/OGA, M.A., CAT, and Dr. Betty Levinson, Clinical Psychologist. We are a non-profit training, support, and advocacy organization accredited by the International Structured Language Education Council, IMSLEC, certified by the Academic Language Therapy Association, ALTA, and endorsed by the International Dyslexia Education Association.

Ms. Nissenbaum had over 30 years experience working in the field of language-based learning differences. She was a principal in the TRIServices National Institute of Dyslexia for 15 years. She was a founding Board Member of the International Multisensory Structured Language Association (IMSLEC) and a member of the Professional Advisory Committee of the 32 Scottish Rite Masons Children's Learning Centers. Ms. Nissenbaum was a Fellow of the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators. We are all grateful for her vision and her leadership. She leaves behind a growing legacy of excellence in education.

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Our Work

“Reading felt like a locked door. And everybody else had a key to the door that just didn’t work for me. Thanks to the help of my tutors and mentors I’ve been able to make my own key.”

-8th grade student

Sounds In Syllables

As an IMSLEC accredited training center, ASDEC prepares educators for National Certification from the Academic Language Therapy Association at the therapy and practitioner levels. ASDEC qualified instructors teach Sounds In Syllables, a therapy level reading intervention developed by Sandra Dillon. Starting in 1972, Ms. Sandra Dillon integrated teaching methods learned directly from Patricia and Charles Lindamood, Beth Slingerland, and Aylett Royal Cox, the author of Alphabetic Phonics. For over 21 years, her collaboration with students and colleagues at the Albuquerque Public Schools' Language Clinic for dyslexic students played a pivotal role in shaping the SIS program.

Read more about Sounds In Syllables here:

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“ASDEC has been a huge asset to our comprehensive plan to upgrade our Multi-Tiered System of Supports by assisting us with strategically reviewing how to support our students in each tier. ASDEC has assisted us with hiring Academic Language Therapists who are able to provide intensive intervention to our most struggling learners.”

-Jennifer Bingman, Associate Superintendent Special Education and Student Services, Frederick County Public Schools

“Susan is an absolutely amazing supervisor! She is extremely knowledgeable about Language Foundations and providing instruction for students with dyslexia. Whenever I had a question or needed a suggestion for a student, she was always able to provide meaningful suggestions that I could implement with my students. She always provided me with useful recommendations to improve my instruction for my students. She helped me to ensure I was being diagnostic in my teaching and provide resources for monitoring student progress. I plan to keep in touch with her for any future questions or recommendations that I may have.”

-Practitioner trainee

Language Foundations

ASDEC has trained over 220 public school educators in Language Foundations.

Language Foundations offers a structured approach to teaching language skills through a variety of sensory techniques. Developed by Aylett Royall Cox, it draws substantially from the principles of Orton-Gillingham and Alphabetic Phonics.

The Orton-Gillingham method, renowned for its effectiveness in addressing dyslexia through multisensory teaching, has shown remarkable success in both individual and small group settings. However, the time-intensive nature of traditional remediation and the limited availability of trained therapists prompted the development of a program suitable for classroom teachers. This program, adaptable to fit within a 45minute class period and compatible with existing reading curricula, has proven equally effective across elementary, secondary, and adult learners struggling with reading and spelling.

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Read more about Kickstart Here!

Kickstart Literacy and Numeracy

Classroom-Based Reading Instruction

Proven to Identify and Remediate Reading Deficits for emerging readers.

Developed by Mona Iyer, CALT, AMS, CDT, an early childhood educator and Montessori specialist for over 25 years, KReading Kickstart integrates OrtonGillingham methods and Montessori techniques.

The objective of Kickstart (K-Reading and Numeracy) is to provide a strong foundation in reading, writing, and comprehension to young learners, and identify learners with reading difficulties and other comprehension issues. Kickstart enhances reading skills by identifying different learning paths for groups with different learning abilities.

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Multisensory Math

ASDEC is one of the very few IMSLEC-accredited training centers that deliver training and a full supervision practicum in Orton-Gillingham-based Multisensory Math. Developed by Marilyn Zecher, MA, CALT, ASDEC’s math program educates over 200 educators per year with about 20 educators completing an intensive practicum each year.

Based on Orton-Gillingham methods, Multisensory Mathematics applies the research-based Concrete-Representation-Abstract (CRA) approach to teaching mathematics as advocated by the National Math Panel and the NCTM. Participants guide students from foundation skills and numeracy to place value, operations, fractions, and decimals. Participants learn to use manipulatives effectively to reinforce concepts, aid memory and enhance performance for all students. Strategies for helping students learn and retrieve math facts are stressed as well as structured procedures for computational accuracy. The approach is effective for initial instruction and multi-lingual learning as well as remedial work at all levels and is compatible with all curricula and programs.

Hundreds of teachers from throughout the US and overseas join Ms. Zecher's sold-out courses and workshops each year. A nationally certified Academic Language Therapist and former public-school classroom/demonstration teacher, Ms Zecher is a specialist in applying multisensory strategies to a variety of content areas. Her graduate-level Multisensory Math courses have been used as methods courses at the university level and she is a frequent speaker at national, international, and local conferences.

"I did want to tell you in all my years of taking courses to keep my teaching certification, I have never taken a more wonderful course. Truly fabulous! And as I have told you, my purpose was two-fold. First and foremost, I want to help my Dyslexic grandchildren, and secondly I am meeting with their school’s principal in May with the hopes I can talk her into sending at least two of their teachers to your multisensory math course."

-Multisensory Math course participant

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Equity Focus

Throughout our history, ASDEC specialists have primarily served families who can afford private educational therapy. Our generous donors sponsor educators to deliver over 500 hours of pro bono service every year to high-need students such as Nevin who arrived with members of his family after a traumatic journey to the US. His academic therapist recently told me:

“Nevin just started to tell me about his journey to the US, he told me he walked by a dead body, stayed in a detention center and could not locate his father. He now lives with multiple family members, some of whom have dropped out of school and have joined gangs. He is afraid, but he is happy that he is finally learning to read.”

-Academic Language Therapist

ASDEC therapists teach foundational reading and numeracy skills, but their training in neuropsychology also enables them to build trusting relationships with their students who have been traumatized by learning failure as well as poverty and associated challenges.

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Finance & Accountability

ASDEC Financial managers include a CPA and a successful small business owner. Our Board of Directors past and present have included senior partners from Price Waterhouse Cooper, Booze Allen, and Jacques Financial Services.

Training

Courses: ASDEC courses qualify for continuing education graduate credits from Trinity University Washington.

Workshops: ASDEC Instructors and Practitioners deliver onsite and online workshops in Multisensory Grammar and Study Skills, Multisensory Math and Writing.

Community Outreach

Our trained faciliatators deliver Dyslexia

Simulations designed to provide teachers, administrators and parents with deep insight into the challenges and trauma associated with learning struggles. Participants learn how to recognize learning challenges and to develop classroom accommodations designed to build pathways to learning.

Schools and Districts

For over 20 years, ASDEC has worked to bring the highest quality Science of Reading and Multisensory Math teaching methods to hundreds of public school educators throughout the country

Advocacy

ASDEC staff are founding members of Maryland

READS,The Reading League Maryland, ALTA Virginia and ALTA Maryland In addition, our staff actively lead advocacy efforts organized by Decoding Dyslexia DC and Maryland as well as local chapters of the International Dyslexia Association.

Private Therapy

In addition, ASDEC trains

Academic Language Therapists who teach students at private, non-public schools. Students diagnosed with dyslexia remain with their friends and siblings while receiving the highest quality Science of Reading intervention that will enable them to achieve grade-level (or above grade-level) reading alongside their neuro-typcial peers.

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Our Team

“Pam was an extraordinary therapy level supervisor and we worked very well together. I always felt she was “on my side” and truly wanted me to succeed as an AT. She was available any time I needed to talk or hear from her via email and even text. She answered questions I emailed to her many times between our scheduled group and individual meetings. She always replied right away. The evaluations Pam provided to me after viewing my recorded AT sessions with my student were invaluable. She is extremely detailed and picked up on multiple ways I could improve my sessions with my student. I always printed out her reports and highlighted her suggestions. Without fail, when I implemented her suggestions I saw improvements in my student, in our sessions, and even in our (my student and my) relationship.”

-Academic Language Therapy Trainee

Ellen O’Neill, MA. is ASDEC’s Executive Director and has over 35 years of experience in research, policy, grant-writing, and program development in juvenile justice, housing, social welfare, and community-based education She is a founding member of The Reading League, Maryland, and Maryland READS and is a board member at DeMatha Catholic High School, the Education Advocacy Council, and The Siena School Foundation

Ellen O’Neill, M.A.

Executive Director

Jennifer Appleton, M.Ed., CALT-QI is ASDEC's Director of Education and Outreach. Jennifer is a former classroom teacher and certified reading specialist, working in Baltimore County Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, and in private schools. Jennifer holds certifications in Sounds In Syllables, Take Flight, RAVE-O, LiPS, Language!, Junior Great Books, and holds current licensure in the state of Virginia as a Certified Reading Specialist.

Jennifer Appleton, M.Ed., CALT-QI

Director of Education and Outreach

Barbara Marbury, M.A.T., CALT-QI has been in the field of education since 2003 and earned her Master’s in Teaching (MAT) from Johns Hopkins University. In addition to Sounds In Syllables, she has been trained in other programs such as SPIRE, Language Foundations, and Take Flight. Barbara has experience working with students around the globe from kindergarten through adulthood. She teaches the ASDEC course, Language 2.

Barbara Marbury, M.A.T., CALT-QI Qualified Instructor

Our team of 20 supervisors bring years of clinical practice and classroom experience to their work with therapy and practioner-level trainees who meet two times a month to review instruction to assure the highest quality intervention for students

Clinical Supervision

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“Over the years, ASDEC has been training cohorts of teachers in Language Foundations intervention. Following the training, each trained teacher participates in a nine-month supervised practicum. These trainings have been phenomenal and provided our teachers with a deep understanding of the science of reading and structured literacy. The practicum support provided to our teachers has ensured that they are able to continue to develop strong instructional skills. ASDEC cares about FCPS. They want to help us build a strong infrastructure to meet the needs of each and every struggling reader.”

www.asdec.org questions@asdec

Contact Us
Certifying Experts. Changing Lives.
17 West Jefferson Street, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20850
org 301-762-2414

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