Educational Services

Educational Services & Testing Charlotte, NC

Educational specialists work closely with psychologists and other developmental therapists to understand the learning needs of school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults during comprehensive psycho-educational evaluations.

Who it's for

We help kids, adolescents and young adults with difficulties, including but not limited to:

Learning Disorders

Neurologically-based processing problems. These processing problems can interfere with learning basic skills such as reading, writing and/or math. They can also interfere with higher level skills such as organization, time planning, abstract reasoning, long or short term memory and attention. Learning disorders should not be confused with learning problems which are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor handicaps; of intellectual disability; of emotional disturbance; or of environmental, cultural or economic disadvantages.

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Dyslexia

A specific learning disability that affects reading and related language-based processing skills. The severity can differ in each individual but can affect reading fluency, decoding, reading comprehension, recall, writing, spelling, and sometimes speech and can exist along with other related disorders.

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Dysgraphia

A specific learning disability that affects a person’s handwriting ability and fine motor skills. Problems may include illegible handwriting, inconsistent spacing, poor spatial planning on paper, poor spelling, and difficulty composing writing as well as thinking and writing at the same time.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Marked by a pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Children and adolescents with ADHD, however, experience these symptoms repeatedly and in a way that is severe enough to have an impact at home, at school, or in social situations. Problems with executive functioning are common in children with ADHD and include difficulties with planning, organization, strategizing, paying attention to and remembering details, and managing time and space.

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Give us a call, we do evaluations and can help.

boy lining up toy blocks on therapy ball

Psychoeducational Evaluations

Evaluations provide diagnostic clarification for a variety of conditions, targeted treatment interventions for specific areas of weakness, providing documentation for the purpose of receiving accommodations in school settings or for standardized tests. Domains assessed: attention, language, memory, visual processing, reasoning ability, speed, academic achievement (e.g., reading, writing, math), as well as visual-motor functioning (e.g., handwriting), phonological processing abilities, and organization skills, and social/emotional functioning.

Educational Therapy

Educational specialists provide the support a student requires to overcome a learning disability. Educational specialists are experienced in evaluating and treating the underlying deficits in the diagnostic subtypes including dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Educational specialists develop a holistic treatment plan which addresses each student’s individual learning needs as their difficulties impact school success.

Skilled intervention techniques

Educational therapy

The provision of effective instruction that is tied to student needs, as determined by diagnostic testing and evaluation. It is instruction delivered by knowledgeable and skilled individuals in a step-by-step fashion that leads to the achievement of desired outcomes or goals by targeting a student’s relative strengths and strengthening his or her relative weaknesses. Effective instruction also requires the ongoing monitoring of student progress to determine the ultimate course and
duration of the instruction.

Orton-Gillingham

Is a multi-sensory approach that teaches children the foundational skills of reading. It was initially developed to only support children with language-based learning disorders, such as dyslexia. However, over the years, early education teachers have adopted this approach for any student because it encompasses research-based, effective strategies. Multi-sensory learning occurs when learning taps into sight (visual), sound (auditory) and touch (kinesthetic). This approach is critical because people process information differently; therefore, information needs to be presented in a variety of ways.

Executive Function Coaching

Teaches children strategies to help them be successful in school is a wonderful complement to any curriculum. This group provides a fun, structured and engaging way to teach your child meaningful strategies for managing Executive Functioning skills. Children are supported and encouraged as they apply these skills to their unique situations. Topics include: Sustaining attention, self-advocacy, flexibility, task initiation, goal directed persistence, self- regulation, organization, planning and prioritizing, time management.

Parent Consultations

Educational specialists provide consultation to parents who need support navigating related school services, including Section 504 Accommodation Plan and Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Group Treatment

Content is topic-specific, e.g. executive skills, creative writing, or book club reading.

Questions from Parents

What is Orton Gillingham tutoring?

Orton-Gillingham tutoring is a highly structured, explicit, multisensory, and diagnostic approach to teaching reading and spelling that is particularly effective for individuals with dyslexia. It is considered a structured language intervention based on the science of reading, and it is very different from whole language reading instruction that is often ineffective for struggling readers.

How do I know if my child needs to be tested for a learning disability such as dyslexia or dysgraphia?

You should get your child tested for a learning disability if they consistently struggle with reading, writing, or math skills especially if they have received intervention, or if there’s a noticeable gap between their academic performance and their potential. Watch for specific signs, such as difficulty decoding, spelling and reading fluently (dyslexia), poor or illegible handwriting with poor letter formation (dysgraphia), trouble with number concepts (dyscalculia) problems with organization, memory, coordination, or following directions.

What is Executive Functioning tutoring?

An executive functioning (EF) tutor, often also called a coach or mentor, helps individuals develop and improve their cognitive skills for planning, organization, time management, self-control, and task completion. They teach practical strategies, model new behaviors, and provide accountability to support students in navigating academic and daily challenges, particularly those with conditions like ADHD. The focus is on building foundational processes rather than just academic content, empowering students to become more independent and self-directed.

What can a parent advocate do for IEP/504 plan services?

A parent advocate helps families navigate the IEP/504 process by explaining rights, interpreting evaluations, assisting with meetings, and drafting documents to ensure the child’s needs are met and the plan is properly implemented and followed by the school. Advocates provide resources, facilitate communication with the school, and can help with dispute resolution, though they do not provide legal advice and will refer to an attorney when necessary.

What is the difference between a school psych-ed. evaluation and a clinical psych-ed. evaluation?

Public school evaluations are primarily designed to determine eligibility for special education services. These assessments typically require students to have a significant history of learning challenges that are clearly affecting their academic progress. They do not offer clinical diagnoses, such as Specific Learning Disorders or ADHD. In contrast, children referred for private evaluations may not meet the criteria for special education services but still require support and targeted interventions. Additionally, school psych-ed evaluations are often not comprehensive and are not required to measure all areas of academic achievement.

Our team & how we help

We assist parents in identifying and addressing concerns and then develop comprehensive recommendations to move forward. Often, plans include an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) developed with the public school system.

Educators also collaborate with schools and community agencies to offer follow-up meetings as parents proceed with their plans. Services can include direct treatment, assessment, consultation and parent advocacy.