1. Special Education After AAC Dyslexia Amendments: Need to Identify Dyslexia
Dr. Denise P. Gibbs, Director
Alabama Scottish Rite Foundation Learning Centers
Alabama Dyslexia Advisory Council
Gibbs 2016

2. This presentation is provided as part of the philanthropic work of the Alabama Scottish Rite Foundation. The philanthropy of the Alabama Scottish Rite Foundation began in the 1950’s in Alabama and continues today. The mission of the Alabama Scottish Rite Foundation is to provide help to Alabama Schools as they work with students who struggle in reading - particularly those students with dyslexia.
Gibbs MEGA 2016

3. Materials used in this presentation are available at: www. tinyurl
Materials used in this presentation are available at: Additional Dyslexia Professional Development materials are available at
Gibbs MEGA 2016

4. Two important events that occurred in October 2015!
The Dyslexia Amendments were passed unanimously by the State Board of Education on October 8, 2015.
OSERS issued Dear Colleague Letter providing dyslexia guidance on October 23, 2015.
Gibbs 2016

5. Impact of AL-AAC Dyslexia Amendments…
While still in general education, students will have been provided with:
dyslexia-specific instruction and intervention
accommodations
assistive technology
classroom supports
Parents may have become experienced in “how these services feel” and how they provide support for their children.
 So how does special education provide even more intensive and specialized services for these students?
Gibbs 2016

6. Dyslexia Guidance Document urges SEAs to ensure that LEAs…..
Include information about the condition (dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia) in documenting how it relates to eligibiity determination.
Address the unique educational needs of children with SLDs resulting from dyslexia, dyscalculia, or dysgraphia during IEP meetings and other meetings
Gibbs 2016

7. Include information about how dyslexia relates to eligibility….or....
How can you…..
Include information about how dyslexia relates to eligibility….or....
Address “unique educational needs resulting from dyslexia”…..
If you don’t IDENTIFY the dyslexia??
Gibbs 2016

8. SPED really needs to …...
Complete a dyslexia evaluation as part of this SLD eligibiity determination process! Because.....
These students will have failed dyslexia screenings....
and will have evidence of characteristics of dyslexia
and did not close gaps even with these dyslexia services
and you “have reason to suspect that dyslexia is the underlying cause of the SLD”!
Gibbs 2016

9. Sight word reading efficiency * Phonemic decoding efficiency *
Identifying Dyslexia as the Underlying Cause of SLD: Skills to be assessed
Sight word reading efficiency *
Phonemic decoding efficiency *
Spelling skills *
Grade-level passage reading (accuracy and fluency) *
Phonological processing skills (phonological awareness, phonological memory, rapid naming) (CTOPP-2)
Cognitive skills
Oral language skills
Other baseline measures?
* Included in AL dyslexia screening
Gibbs 2016

10. Real Word and Nonsense Word Skills
Test of Word Reading Efficiency-2 (TOWRE-2)
Orally read sight words and nonsense words for 45 seconds each.
Percentiles and standard scores
sight words, phonemic decoding of nonsense words, and total word reading efficiency (fluency)
less than 2 minutes per student
multiple equivalent forms

11. Spelling Skills Test of Written Spelling-5 (TWS-5) Ages 6-adult
standard scores, spelling to dictation
5 minutes

12. Phonological Processing Skills
Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing-2 (CTOPP-2)
Ages 5-24
Phonological awareness, phonological memory, and rapid naming
15 minutes to administer

13. Other skills that are within the average range
Oral and Written Language Scales -2 (OWLS-2)
published by AGS
Ages 5-24
administer the language comprehension scale (will not need to administer the oral expression or written expression scales unless desired)
20 minutes to administer

14. Criterion-Referenced Assessments to obtain baselines
Assessing Reading Multiple Measures for All Educators Working to Improve Reading Achievement (2nd ed, 2008)
Phonics Screener
Phoneme Deletion Test
Phonological Segmentation Test
Phoneme Segmentation Test
Graded High Frequency Word Survey
San Diego Quick Assessment of Reading Ability
Maze passages
Oral reading fluency passages

15. Alabama Scottish Rite Dyslexia Profile
A graphic organizer to assist in determining if dyslexia is an underlying cause for an identified SLD.
Dyslexia Profile
Dyslexia Profile with sample data

16. Thank you for your interest in Dyslexia! Questions?
Gibbs 2016