What is Academic Language Therapy and how does it differ from Wilson and Barton?

Research has proven the most successful intervention for struggling readers are those using the Orton-Gillingham Approach (O-G). O-G is a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach literacy when reading, writing, and spelling does not come easily to individuals, such as those with dyslexia.

Think of O-G as a huge umbrella and underneath are a variety of different programs, techniques, and curriculums all using the O-G approach. In our geographical area, the programs usually heard about are Wilson and Barton. These programs work great for some children but, there are many O-G programs. Individuals respond differently to different programs as well as different facilitators.

Academic Language Therapy (ALT) is an intervention that is prescriptive, focusing on each individual student's needs. This may differ from other tutoring programs, which often are scripted the same for every child. 

ALT begins with the basics and rebuilds the learning continuum step-by-step starting from ground zero so that no gaps remain in the student’s understanding of language structure. In each tutoring and therapy session, students learn systematic strategies for decoding (word identification), encoding (spelling), and letter formation. Students’ successes and challenges during one tutoring therapy lesson inform the planning of subsequent lessons. ALT is a cumulative, systematic, structured instruction that is written and planned for a particular student, or group of students, and is delivered by an educator with comprehensive training who must teach with fidelity after completing and maintaining professional-level certification. Following the advice of Margaret Rawson, a pioneer in the field of dyslexia education, academic language therapists guide their students to progress “as fast as they can but as slow as they must.” 

ALT can be taught to individuals or small groups of any age. Each daily, one-hour tutoring therapy session is structured to alternate modalities by including 10 different activities: alphabet, review of letters, review of sounds, the multisensory introduction of a new letter or concept, reading, cursive handwriting, spelling, verbal expression, review and listening. Research validates that ALT works for many students who struggle to read if administered consistently and properly.