Events

Events sponsored by Decoding Dyslexia CA (DDCA) are indicated on the events calendar.  Local events held by other organizations may also be listed that may be of interest to our members. DDCA does not endorse any specific program or company.

Sep
29
Fri
Dyslexia & AB 1369 @ UC Merced
Sep 29 @ 8:30 am – 3:00 pm

Learn about:

  • Dyslexia
  • New Laws & Guidelines
  • Assessments & Intervention

Presenters:

  • Jeff Gilger, Ph.D., UC Merced
  • Kathy Futterman, Ed.D., CSU East Bay

Registration includes lunch.

For more information, click HERE for the flyer.

Oct
16
Mon
Supporting Students with Dyslexia AB1369 Dyslexia Guidelines Overview @ Junction School - Elementary Campus Theater
Oct 16 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm

California Department of Education’s Dyslexia Guidelines were released August 2017 per AB1369

Supporting Students with Dyslexia a Dyslexia Guidelines Overview

Date: Monday, October 16, 2017

Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Location: Junction School – Elementary Campus Theater 9087 Deschutes Road, Palo Cedro, CA

Presenters:

Theresa Costa Johansen – Policy & Program Services Unit Administrator, CDE

Richard Gifford – Ed. Programs Consultant, CDE

Audience: Site and district administrators, school psychologists, speech and language pathologist, district curriculum and reading specialists, teachers, others service providers, parents and community members.

Participants will: Explore the AB1369 CDE Dyslexia Guidelines with state level experts and have the opportunity to ask questions about the guidelines.

Meets LCAP Priority #2 and #7

Resources available at http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/ac/dyslexia.asp

The California Dyslexia Guidelines (PDF; 2MB; New 14-Aug-2017) AB 1369, Statutes of 2015, requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop program guidelines for dyslexia.The guidelines will be used to assist regular education teachers, special education teachers, and parents to identify and assess pupils with dyslexia, and to plan, provide, evaluate, and improve educational services to pupils with dyslexia.

Federal Guidance

Dear Colleague: Dyslexia Guidance letter (PDF) dated October 23, 2015, from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services on the unique educational needs of children with dyslexia and other conditions identified as specific learning disabilities.

Senate Resolution 275 is a resolution calling on Congress, schools, and state and local educational agencies to recognize the significant educational implications of dyslexia that must be addressed and designating October 2015 as “National Dyslexia Awareness Month”.

Senate Resolution 576 is a resolution calling on Congress, schools, and state and local educational agencies to recognize the significant educational implications of dyslexia that must be addressed and designating October 2016 as “National Dyslexia Awareness Month”.

Feb
8
Thu
Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference @ Oakland Scottish Rite Center
Feb 8 @ 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

A one day, hands-on, special education workshop designed to meet the needs of parents and professionals serving children and teens with disabilities. Perfect for educators, healthcare providers, advocates and attorneys. This program is not disability or state specific.

For more information (parking, accommodations etc): http://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/18.02.ca.htm

Each ticket includes:

  • Wrightslaw book set ($63 value) – Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition and Wrightslaw: All About IEPs
  • Sandwich lunches and all-day tea/coffee bar

Early Bird Discounts until January 7, 2018*

*Early Bird registrants will also receive emailed pdf copies of Wrightslaw Special Education Law, 2nd Ed. and Wrightslaw: Special Education Legal Developments and Cases 2016 which retail for $29.95.

Jun
18
Mon
Chartwell Teacher Training Institute: Structured Literacy Certificate (Session 1) @ Chartwell School
Jun 18 @ 8:00 am – Jun 22 @ 3:30 pm

The Chartwell Way: Structured Literacy Teacher Training Institute

There are two program options available to meet your needs. During the Morning Intensive, Chartwell faculty will train you to implement the successful methods that we have honed during the past three decades.

The Afternoon Practicum presents an opportunity for hands-on experience with struggling readers under the guidance of a Chartwell Master Teacher. Educators enrolled in the Afternoon Practicum will have the unique opportunity to practice their newly-acquired conceptual and foundational knowledge in an actual classroom setting while students will be able to benefit from a one-on-one reading tutorial and significantly increase reading strategies. This approach is known as The Chartwell Way.

You will earn a Chartwell Structured Literacy Certificate and Continuing Education Credits.

For more information on the CEUs available through CSUMB, use this link.

Two duplicate sessions of the morning and afternoon programs will be offered. Session 1 will run June 18-22.

Session 2 will run June 25-29.

Morning Intensive and Afternoon Practicum
8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
32 hours
Monday to Friday (no Practicum on Fridays)
Includes course materials, light breakfast, lunch (M to Th)
$995/week

Morning Intensive only
8 a.m. to Noon
20 hours
Monday to Friday
Includes all course materials and light breakfast
$655/week

For multiple registrations from one school or to request billing via other methods, please contact Katia Stornetta in the Business Office at 831-394-3468 ext. 1028 or kstornetta@chartwell.org.

Downloadable flyer

Jul
9
Mon
STRUCTURED LITERACY SERIES For Teaching Students with Specific Learning Disabilities/Dyslexia @ SRVUSD Professional Development Center @ Los Cerros Middle
Jul 9 @ 8:30 am – Jul 13 @ 3:30 pm

Literacy How

Dr. Margie Gillis

Dr. Margie Gillis

Decoding Dyslexia CA is pleased to announce that dyslexia expert, Dr. Margie Gillis of Literacy How, will be coming to the San Francisco Bay Area this summer to provide a weeklong (30-hour) Structured Literacy training for sixty teachers.  DDCA is co-sponsoring this training with San Ramon Valley USD.  More information on how teachers can register for this training can be found here. This training will sell out so register early.

 

 

 

 

 

Watch the video to learn more about Dr. Gillis’ impressive background and the innovative way she is reinvesting her company’s profits into training teachers in Structured Literacy. Structured Literacy is a research-based approach to providing instruction that benefits, not only students with dyslexia, but all students.

Oct
11
Thu
Wrightslaw Special Education & Advocacy Training @ WestGate
Oct 11 @ 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

Pete Wright photo

Save The Date!

Wrightslaw Special Education & Advocacy Training

Comes to San Jose on

October 11, 2018  9 am – 4:30 pm

Register at: https://php.networkforgood.com/

Don’t miss this one-day, hands-on, special education workshop with Pete Wright, designed to meet the needs of parents and professionals serving children and teen with disabilities.

Perfect for parents, educators, healthcare providers, advocates, and attorneys.  This program is not disability or state specific.

For more information on Pete Wright at http://wrightslaw.com

http://bit.ly/PHP_Wrightslaw

Oct
18
Thu
Online Dyslexia Summit (Free Event): Reading Horizons
Oct 18 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Online Dyslexia Summit

October 18, 2018 | 12ET

Are there students in your district, school, or classroom who are affected by dyslexia? With dyslexia affecting between 10-20% of all students, the likely answer is: yes. To learn how to address the needs of this student population, join us for this live online event! We’ll be bringing the latest research and tips from the top dyslexia experts to you in the comfort of your own home or desk.

*Experts include (see below for more information on each presenter):

  • Dr. Mark Seidenberg, Ph.D
  • William J. Therrien, Ph.D., BCBA
  • Dr. Louise Spear-Swerling Ph.D.
  • Madalyne Marie Hymas, Artist
  • Scott Mills, MA
  • Shantell Berrett, MA; Donell Pons, M.Ed.; and Laura Axtell, M.Ed. (Panel Discussion)

If you can’t make the live event, register to receive email updates as content becomes available for viewing. Know an educator who would appreciate this event, send them this link.

This summit is a free resource. Professional development credits will be available after the event.

*Schedule subject to change.

Oct
20
Sat
Dyslexia Symposium @ Empire College
Oct 20 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Please join co-founders Dr. Kelli Sandman-Hurley and Tracy Block-Zaretsky of Dyslexia Training Institute and Decoding Dyslexia CA for a one day Dyslexia Symposium.  Kelli and Tracy are the developers of the “Dyslexia for a Day” simulation kit.  Attendees will participate in a simulation followed by a discussion on AB 1369 and the new California Dyslexia Guidelines.  Kelli and Tracy will be discussing what dyslexia is, its neurobiological origin, structured literacy and appropriate accommodations for students with dyslexia.  Kelli was the key dyslexia expert  that testified in support of AB 1369.  In a powerful TEDEd video Dr. Kelli Sandman-Hurley urges us to think again about dyslexic brain function and to celebrate the neurodiversity of the human brain.

About our speakers:

Kelli Sandman-Hurley, Ed.D. is an author, TEDEd presenter and co-founder of the Dyslexia Training Institute. She received her doctorate in literacy with a specialization in reading and dyslexia from San Diego State University and the University of San Diego. She is also completing her TESOL certification. Dr. Kelli is a certified special education advocate assisting parents and children through the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and 504 Plan process. She has training in mediation and also serves as an expert witness in the area of dyslexia. Dr. Kelli is trained in Structured Word Inquiry, the Orton-Gillingham approach, Lindamood-Bell, RAVE-O and Read Naturally. Dr. Kelli is a Past-President of the San Diego Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. She is a dyslexia consultant working with schools to improve services offered to students with dyslexia and training teachers. She co-created and produced “Dyslexia for a Day: A Simulation of Dyslexia,” and she is a frequent speaker at conferences. She is the author of the well-received book, Dyslexia Advocate! How to Advocate for a Child with Dyslexia within the Public Education System.

 

Tracy Block-Zaretsky is the co-founder of the Dyslexia Training Institute. She has provided remediation for children and adults with dyslexia for the past 20 years and has developed and taught workplace and family literacy program. She is a certified Special Education advocate assisting parents and children through the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and 504Plan process. She is a past President of the San Diego Branch of the International Dyslexia Association.Tracy has training in Structured Word Inquiry, the Orton-Gillingham approach, Lindamood-Bell programs, Read Naturally and a variety of reading and writing assessments. She co-created and produced, “Dyslexia for a Day: A Simulation of Dyslexia,” and has provided professional development for educators and training for parents at numerous conferences, private on-site trainings and online courses and webinars. Tracy is also a parent of a child with dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADD and Executive Function Disorder.

 

Downloadable Flyer

Mar
21
Thu
Learning While Black in SFUSD @ African American Art and Culture Complex
Mar 21 @ 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Learning While Black in SFUSD – On March 21st, 5:30 – 8pm join the community in an educational panel round-table discussion and resource fair featuring Darryl Lester, the main plaintiff in the landmark special education case, Larry P. vs. California.

Mr. Lester was never taught how to read and was labeled “educable mentally retarded” in the 1970’s.  KALW, a local public radio station, produced a recent story of interest addressing a legacy of mistreatment of San Francisco’s black special education students.  The reporter stated the following about Mr. Lester, “it turns out, he did have a learning difficulty, a really specific one. He struggled with reading. He never got the help he needed.”

DDCA is concerned that SFUSD’s recent dyslexia pilot and implementation does not meet California dyslexia guidelines best practices.  Join us in discussing how SFUSD is meeting the needs of its current African American students with reading disabilities.

Downloadable Flyer

Jun
19
Wed
Slingerland Training – San Francisco @ San Francisco Friends School
Jun 19 @ 8:00 am – Jul 19 @ 6:00 pm

For additional information and downloadable Teacher Application Form, please click here.

♦Multisensory structured language (STRUCTURED LITERACY) instructional techniques for speaking, listening, vocabulary, reading decoding, reading comprehension, spelling, handwriting, and written expression

♦Daily demonstration of teaching approach by a master teacher with a group of children in a classroom setting

♦Daily practicum opportunity for teacher participants to utilize newly-learned multisensory structured language strategies while working with one or two students each day in supervised one-hour sessions

♦Daily lecture period by instructors on history, philosophy, rationale, and background information related to use of multisensory structured language instructional strategies

♦Instruction in explicit strategies to develop vocabulary, promote fluency, and improve reading comprehension

♦Orientation and overview of screening, testing, and evaluation techniques for initial identification as well as assessment of student progress

♦Daily writing of lesson plans with written feedback from master teachers that can be used for later reference

♦Discussion and examples for use of the approach with students in various educational settings: classroom, small group, individual, educational therapy, or academic language therapy

♦Comprehensive instruction in the logic and structure of English [phonology-phonics-morphology-orthography- etymology-semantics-syntax-grammar]