The Central Rivers AEA Dyslexia Specialists are literacy consultants within Central Rivers AEA dedicated to supporting students who display characteristics of dyslexia. In addition to their primary roles, team members serve as specialized contacts to help school districts navigate the unique challenges these students may face.
Central Rivers AEA’s Dyslexia specialists are part of a statewide network teaming with the Iowa Department of Education, school districts, and families to ensure every student learns to read.
“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.” International Dyslexia Association
Our Services
Dyslexia Specialists provide consultation and support communication between schools, families, and service providers. Support may include:
- Consultation related to assessment, instructional planning, and collaboration.
- Professional development and training for educators and families on dyslexia-related topics
- Access to resources (books, pamphlets, websites, etc.)
- Assistance in determining appropriate school-based accommodations
- Ongoing support to IEP teams for both short- and long-term service planning
Iowa AEA’s do not diagnose dyslexia. Services are available to all school districts within Central Rivers AEA.
Make a Referral
To refer a student to the Dyslexia Support Team, please contact your Central Rivers AEA team representative or reach out directly to Cole Adams.
Resources
- Iowa AEA Dyslexia Resources
- Iowa Department of Education Dyslexia
- Iowa Reading Research Center Dyslexia
- Iowa Dyslexia Handbook
- Decoding Dyslexia Iowa