The Seacoast Learning Center
Welcome to the Seacoast Learning Center. We tutor dyslexic children on a one-on-one basis, twice a week, for 2 years for free. The tutoring is performed by dyslexia practitioners and trainees using Orton Gillingham clinical techniques. Our dyslexia practitioner certification training is free to in-clinic trainees. The Center also provides in-school training for school based dyslexia practitioners. Located in Rochester, NH, we service NH, southern ME, and northern MA.
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia, also known as a specific learning disability by schools, is an under reported disability. Dyslexia is an inheritable, neurological, condition that affects your language acquisition, processing, and decoding abilities. Up to 20% of the population in the US has a learning disorder and 80% of these people, many of them children, are afflicted to varying degrees with reading disorders that qualify as dyslexia according to a NIH (National Institutes of Health) estimate. Dyslexia is a disability in learning, not in intelligence, and afflicts girls and boys nearly equally. Children with dyslexia are typically highly creative, intuitive, and are excellent hands on learners. Dyslexia is a lifelong, incurable, condition. With early detection and treatment children with dyslexia can still learn and succeed academically.
Characteristics of the Orton-Gillingham Approach
DIAGNOSTIC & PRESCRIPTIVE
DIRECT & EXPLICIT
LANGUAGE-BASED
MULTISENSORY
STRUCTURED, SEQUENTIAL, AND CUMULATIVE, BUT FLEXIBLE
COGNITIVE
Does My Child Have Dyslexia?
When a child struggles with reading, writing, spelling, and sometimes even speaking, it is possible that the problem is due to dyslexia. This does not necessarily mean that a child displaying them has dyslexia. However, if a child continues to display difficulty over time in the areas listed below, testing for dyslexia should be considered.
- Understanding that words are made up of sounds
- Assigning correct sounds to letters
- Correct pronunciation of sounds and words
- Spelling and grammar difficulties
- Learning basic sequential information (alphabet, numbers)
- Reading with age-appropriate speed, accuracy and comprehension
- Learning numbers and/or facts
- Answering open-ended questions (math or word problems)
- Organizing thoughts, time, or a sequence of tasks
I Think My Child Has Dyslexia. What Do I Do?
A formal evaluation by trained professionals must be conducted to diagnose dyslexia.Testing can be conducted by schools and professionals trained in the assessment ofintellectual functioning. The International Dyslexia Association provides resources tofind a trained professional in your area. If you think your child may have dyslexia wecan help. Please contact the Seacoast Learning Center Director for more informationor download our student application packet and apply today.
Special Events & Fundraisers
The Seacoast Learning Center relies on fund raising, grants, and donations in addition to the financial support provided to us by the Scottish Rite Masons (Northern Masonic Jurisdiction) to fund the free services we offer. For more information on how you may volunteer please contact us. For more information on our fund raising events please visit our special events page. To make a donation please visit our donations page.
What Students & Parents Are Saying
Orton Gillingham Training Program Accreditations
The Orton Gillingham training program is also recognized by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) as meeting all of their Knowledge and Practice Standards.
The Children’s Dyslexia Centers, Inc. Orton Gillingham training program is accredited by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC).
These accreditations reflect the quality of training provided by the Children’s Dyslexia Centers, Inc. and demonstrates our program meets the highest standards in the field.
Orton Gillingham Training Program Accreditations
The Orton Gillingham training program is also recognized by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) as meeting all of their Knowledge and Practice Standards.
The Children’s Dyslexia Centers, Inc. Orton Gillingham training program is accredited by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC).
These accreditations reflect the quality of training provided by the Children’s Dyslexia Centers, Inc. and demonstrates our program meets the highest standards in the field.
