Meriah Houser, Tutor

Office Happenings:

This past week Jordan Developmental Pediatrics hosted a Dyslexia Support Group Meeting at the Agave Library. We invited a wonderful music therapist Christine Ockenfels from Balance with music. She gave a short informative presentation on what music therapy is and who it can help. She then got the kids involved with activities such as, crossing the midline, memory games and an a identifying sounds game. She proved to the group that anything is fun and catchy when a jingle and guitar are coupled. We would love to invite Christine back for a bi monthly Music therapy group at our office. She has a slot available on Tuesdays at 4:30. We are taking a poll from our clients to see who would be interested in this. The cost is 8 dollars a child and we need at least 4 children signed up. If any of our families with children with Dyslexia would like to join please contact Meriah at 602-696-3305
In attendance as well was Kimberly Sterne from Your Education Advocate LLC. As always she provided information and answered questions regarding IEP's.

Hours: Mon - Wed -Thurs (day, afternoon, and evening appointments available)
Contact : (602) 696-3305
Email: love4reading@hotmail.com

Meet the Tutor:

Meriah Houser received her Bachelors Degree from Western Illinois University and a Elementary Education Degree from Ottawa University. Meriah enjoyed teaching Kindergarten for two years and Subbing for three years in the Deer Valley School District. In the spring of ’10 Meriah’s son was diagnosed with Dyslexia by Dr. Jordan. At this point, she made her quest to reach out to families and tutor children struggling with Dyslexia. She is trained in Lindamood Bell. A program for children that lack phonemic Awareness and Susan Barton Reading Program. Upon the initial meeting a Susan Barton (a Orton Gillingham approach) Pretest is administered to see what program would best fit the student.

To my current and future students,

Hi My name is Meriah Houser I am a private tutor based in Phoenix, Az. I specialize in tutoring elementary school students who may be struggling with learning through traditional teaching methods. I utilize the Barton program for teaching reading and helping students overcome Dyslexia. The Barton reading and spelling system is Orton-Gillingham influenced. It is multisensory, structured and systematic
using an explicit phonics approach that engages students and produces results. I love kids and dyslexia is my PASSION!

When I take on a student. I like to look at the whole child. How are they functioning at home, school with friends? Have they been indentified? What researched based program is their school using? What services does the school provide for children with Dyslexia? I can accompany my families in IEP meetings as an IEP partner.

Our office hosts monthly Dyslexic Support Group meetings at different Valley locations. Our mission is to network with families and give them the tools to make their Dyslexic child a capable confident reader. Each month, we host different presenters that discuss topics such as IEP's, reading strategies for home and focusing on the ability not the disability.

I serve on the Board for the International Dyslexia Association. My focus this month is outreaching into the community to host Dyslexia Simulations. This is a workshop where the participants experiences what is like to have dyslexia, and try to attend, learn, read, spell and listen in a noisy classroom filled with distractions. It is very powerful for the participant. If you have a need for a seminar at your school please contact me. I highly suggest every school consider this to see what it is like to walk in someone elses shoes for an hour. Then more importantly how do we accomodate these students? What multisensory Teachings can we integrate into the classroom?

As a Board Member with The International Dyslexia Asoociation I attend monthly meetings with my knowledgeable witty group of multisensory Practitioners. I attend trainings, seminars and conferences quarterly. I will be attending the National International Dyslexia Association conference in Chicago in November. I stay update on the latest research and have a network of Dyslexia professionals. If I can't help you or have the answer I will find it.

Another one of my favorite non-profits is Raising Special Kids. I serve as a Parent to Parent Volunteer for them. We support families of children with Special Needs. One of the outreach programs we do is go into Colleges and Universities and speak to the students getting their degrees in Special Education. We share our stories of having a child with a learning disability. I have had the honor of speaking on Parent Panels. Amongst these classes often times there are Parents that have gone back to school. At home they have children with Special Needs. I feel us coming in to the classroom has touched the lives of not only future educators but Mommies and Daddies out there that are walking the same walk and are trying to find solutions against often times huge barriers with few solutions or helping hands out there. I know when I received the diagnosis of my son's dyslexia I was waiting for the Doctor to hand me a bottle with a magic reading jeanie in it. I still at times wish she would pop her head out with some words of wisdom to let us know we are doing the right thing and everything will be ok. Things are changing and getting better in Education but it is like moving a Mountain with a teaspoon.

If you feel your child is struggling with reading, writing, spelling, math. Don't wait get an appointment now. The process is long and daunting. Honestly, one of the hardest fights you will fight in your life. I think it is important to reach out to other parents and do self study. Learn all that you can about Dyslexia. Getting a tutor will not solve all problems but will help. It is important that your child's Teacher is aware of your child's dyslexia. If your child is not identified. Get another opinion and go back to school to plea your case. It is not fair for a child to sit in class with 40 hours a week and not learn to read. The older they get the harder it will be for them to learn to read. There is small window of opportunity that these skills can be taught. Don't let anyone use the wait and see approach. All you will see is your child fail. Don't let someone choose that for your child.

I feel if you can create a team with your school and get a solid plan in place your child can see gains. Now become you child's best Advocate and stand up for them!

I look forward to working with you soon! Call to schedule a Dyslexia Assessment with Dr. Jordan (602) 956-3141.

Dyslexia is a medical diagnosis. Schools are required to offer Special Education services for children with Dyslexia. It is the Law. Check out Wrights Law Second Edition. Page 55.

The term "specific learning disability" means a disorder in 1 or more of the basis psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which disorder may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, spell or do mathematical calculations.

B. Disorders included. Such term includes such conditions as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia and developmental aphasia.

47 The terms used to describe disabilities are those used during the 1970's when Congress enacted Public Law 94-142 The term minimal brain dysfunction" is "Attention Deficit Disorder." "Dyslexia is a language learning disability in reading writing, ,spelling and or math. From a legal perspective, dyslexia is a learning disability that adversely affects educational performance.

Once you have had an evaluation you will then contact me. We will meet and develop a plan. I can be reached at (602) 696-3305 or love4reading@hotmail.com. I offer afternoon and day appointments.

Take good care,

Meriah
Susan Barton Reading and Spelling Tutor
BartonReading.com