Language & Literacy

Helping children learn to read so they can read to learn

Reading is fundamental to every child’s success and emotional well-being. Over half of children with language or other developmental concerns need intensive support to learn to read and write. Our Language & Literacy Program provides professional treatment for children with speech, language, learning, and developmental disorders that affect their ability to read, write, and understand language. The Language & Literacy Program relies on the latest scientific research in designing assessment and treatment programs.

Literacy & children with speech, language, learning, or developmental disorders

Literacy is defined in the National Literacy Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-83) as “an individual’s ability to read, write, and speak in English and compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential.” Achieving literacy involves much more than learning to read. Children with speech, language, learning, or developmental disorders are at high risk for literacy failure.

Up to 75% of children with speech, language, learning, or developmental disorders will have difficulty achieving literacy.
35% of children with poor literacy drop out before completing high school.
Of the children who do complete high school, less than two percent attend a four-year college.
There are profoundly negative effects on vocational and professional prospects and self-esteem resulting from literacy difficulties.

Fortunately, with the appropriate treatment, children with communication impairments can improve their literacy skills.

About the language & literacy program

The goal of the Language & Literacy Program is to promote literacy in children with speech, language, learning, and developmental disorders. The program is generally appropriate for school-aged children (aged 5 years and older).

We offer treatment in the following specific areas:

Word identification (includes decoding and reading fluency)
Reading comprehension
Written language
Understanding and participating in classroom discourse (e.g. lectures, classroom discussions)
Expressive and receptive language
Organization
Study skills
Emergent literacy skills for children aged 3-5

A guiding principle of the Language & Literacy Program is creating family partnerships. Families are highly involved in all aspects of assessment and treatment. We offer parent education, classroom consultation and IEP consultation services. All services are provided by nationally certified, state-licensed speech-language pathologists with masters or doctoral degrees and advanced training in literacy assessment and treatment.

Getting started

Each family begins their involvement in the Language & Literacy Program with a complete assessment of the child’s language and literacy skills. Then, together with the child and family, a treatment program is designed. Children are generally seen individually for one or two weekly, 50-minute sessions. Clinicians in the Language & Literacy Program maintain frequent contact with classroom and special education teachers. As needed, clinicians will observe the child in the classroom, meet with teachers and participate in IEP meetings. We make every effort to schedule after-school appointment times.

For more information, please contact our Client Services Coordinator, Valerie Vanderford at 503-802-5281 or valeriev@artzcenter.org