What is NILD Educational Therapy®?
NILD Educational Therapy® was developed to treat assumed, underlying
causes of learning difficulties rather than simply treating the symptoms. It
is a true therapy in that it aims the intervention just above the student's
level of functioning and raises expectations for performance. Students
are trained to view themselves as competent, confident learners. The
goal of NILD Educational Therapy® is to help students develop tools of
independent learning in the classroom and in life.
Students in NILD Educational Therapy® receive two 80-minute sessions of
intensive educational therapy per week. This can be either in individual or
small group settings. These sessions include a variety of techniques
designed to address students’ specific areas of difficulty and to improve
their overall ability to think, reason and process information. Techniques
emphasize basic skill areas such as reading, writing, spelling and math,
applying reasoning skills within each area.
Students are taught by educational therapists, who are trained specifically
in NILD methodology and receive on-going graduate level training leading
to NILD certification. Regular collaboration between the educational
therapist, parents and classroom teachers is encouraged in order to
assess progress and appropriately adjust educational programs for each
student.
How is NILD Different from Tutoring?
The focus of NILD Educational Therapy® is the development of clear,
efficient thinking. Students are given tools to enable them to overcome
specific learning weaknesses. Tutoring typically focuses on content while
educational therapy builds efficient learning processes.
NILD Educational Therapy® teaches students how to think rather than what
to think.
NILD Educational Therapy® is skill-oriented, improving basic learning skills
so students can learn and retain content.
Students become better able to:
Educational therapists become better able to individualize intervention by:
Parents become better able to:
Who is a Candidate for this Program?
Potential students for this program are those experiencing obvious
frustration in areas of school performance. Poor spelling, illegible
handwriting, inability to express thoughts verbally or in writing, and
difficulty with reading and math are common indicators of a learning
disability.
Learning disabilities are diagnosed through a battery of tests that measure
and compare students’ potential with their actual performance. NILD
educational therapists work in conjunction with qualified examiners and
can assist parents in completing appropriate psychological and
educational assessments.
Students complete their programs when they become independent and
successful in the regular classroom. This decision is based upon
recommendations from the educational therapist, parents and classroom
teachers and usually takes a minimum of three years.
Strategies learned in educational therapy should enable students to
remain independent and successful throughout their school years. They
generally develop skills to pursue a career in the field of their choice.
Learning disabilities can be addressed whenever they are identified, not
just in childhood. The NILD techniques are effective regardless of age and
can be adapted to all levels of functioning.
How & Why Does the Program Work?
Research is indicating that thinking can be changed through intensive,
focused intervention. Students are trained to think for themselves rather
than depending upon a teacher or parent to think for them. Language and
thinking skills are interdependent so that when one skill develops the
other is also strengthened. Educational therapists are trained to develop
language and thinking through effective questioning. Students are taught
to defend their answers and to reflect upon their thinking processes.
They transition from dependent learners to those who think and reason
independently. Following NILD Educational Therapy® treatment few, if any,
adjustments or modifications need to be made in the students’ academic
programs.
[Statistical data documenting program effectiveness is available from NILD]
How can we Know the Program Works?
Several research studies are available on the program. A dissertation has
been completed with statistical data documenting program effectiveness.
However, success stories of students having completed the program
speak for themselves. Many are achieving honor roll status and are
pursuing undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees.
What is an NILD Educational Therapist?
An NILD educational therapist is an individual who holds a bachelor’s (or
higher) degree in education or a related field and has been trained by NILD
to work with students who have learning disabilities.
An NILD educational therapist provides intervention as part of a program
in a school setting, independently in private practice or through
community-based models such as Discovery Program, Inc. This person is a
trained professional holding or working toward NILD certification (CET).
What Training is Involved?
An average of 5 years is required to become a fully-trained NILD
educational therapist. Training for NILD Educational Therapy® is
progressive and includes 240 hours of instruction in the following formats:
NILD Certification is available upon satisfactory completion of Levels I, II &
III, and a demonstration of effectiveness in working with students.
Supplemental to the training courses are professional development
activities such as:
NILD Educational Therapy® was developed to treat assumed, underlying
causes of learning difficulties rather than simply treating the symptoms. It
is a true therapy in that it aims the intervention just above the student's
level of functioning and raises expectations for performance. Students
are trained to view themselves as competent, confident learners. The
goal of NILD Educational Therapy® is to help students develop tools of
independent learning in the classroom and in life.
Students in NILD Educational Therapy® receive two 80-minute sessions of
intensive educational therapy per week. This can be either in individual or
small group settings. These sessions include a variety of techniques
designed to address students’ specific areas of difficulty and to improve
their overall ability to think, reason and process information. Techniques
emphasize basic skill areas such as reading, writing, spelling and math,
applying reasoning skills within each area.
Students are taught by educational therapists, who are trained specifically
in NILD methodology and receive on-going graduate level training leading
to NILD certification. Regular collaboration between the educational
therapist, parents and classroom teachers is encouraged in order to
assess progress and appropriately adjust educational programs for each
student.
How is NILD Different from Tutoring?
The focus of NILD Educational Therapy® is the development of clear,
efficient thinking. Students are given tools to enable them to overcome
specific learning weaknesses. Tutoring typically focuses on content while
educational therapy builds efficient learning processes.
NILD Educational Therapy® teaches students how to think rather than what
to think.
NILD Educational Therapy® is skill-oriented, improving basic learning skills
so students can learn and retain content.
Students become better able to:
- stay focused on the teacher’s voice
- accurately hear and remember what the teacher is saying
- read visual information on the board, transparencies, or computer
screen - understand the main points of what the teacher is saying and decide
the significant information to record - remember how to spell the words being recorded
- record information legibly
Educational therapists become better able to individualize intervention by:
- focusing specifically on students’ areas of difficulty and dealing with
problems as they arise during the actual learning process - maintaining the intensity of focus needed to help the student work
through difficulties - developing the trust needed to free the student to accept and work
on difficult areas
Parents become better able to:
- provide structure and accountability
- supervise homework
- maintain regular contact with the educational therapist to increase
understanding of the therapy process and collaborate in providing
an effective program for their child
Who is a Candidate for this Program?
Potential students for this program are those experiencing obvious
frustration in areas of school performance. Poor spelling, illegible
handwriting, inability to express thoughts verbally or in writing, and
difficulty with reading and math are common indicators of a learning
disability.
Learning disabilities are diagnosed through a battery of tests that measure
and compare students’ potential with their actual performance. NILD
educational therapists work in conjunction with qualified examiners and
can assist parents in completing appropriate psychological and
educational assessments.
Students complete their programs when they become independent and
successful in the regular classroom. This decision is based upon
recommendations from the educational therapist, parents and classroom
teachers and usually takes a minimum of three years.
Strategies learned in educational therapy should enable students to
remain independent and successful throughout their school years. They
generally develop skills to pursue a career in the field of their choice.
Learning disabilities can be addressed whenever they are identified, not
just in childhood. The NILD techniques are effective regardless of age and
can be adapted to all levels of functioning.
How & Why Does the Program Work?
Research is indicating that thinking can be changed through intensive,
focused intervention. Students are trained to think for themselves rather
than depending upon a teacher or parent to think for them. Language and
thinking skills are interdependent so that when one skill develops the
other is also strengthened. Educational therapists are trained to develop
language and thinking through effective questioning. Students are taught
to defend their answers and to reflect upon their thinking processes.
They transition from dependent learners to those who think and reason
independently. Following NILD Educational Therapy® treatment few, if any,
adjustments or modifications need to be made in the students’ academic
programs.
[Statistical data documenting program effectiveness is available from NILD]
How can we Know the Program Works?
Several research studies are available on the program. A dissertation has
been completed with statistical data documenting program effectiveness.
However, success stories of students having completed the program
speak for themselves. Many are achieving honor roll status and are
pursuing undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees.
What is an NILD Educational Therapist?
An NILD educational therapist is an individual who holds a bachelor’s (or
higher) degree in education or a related field and has been trained by NILD
to work with students who have learning disabilities.
An NILD educational therapist provides intervention as part of a program
in a school setting, independently in private practice or through
community-based models such as Discovery Program, Inc. This person is a
trained professional holding or working toward NILD certification (CET).
What Training is Involved?
An average of 5 years is required to become a fully-trained NILD
educational therapist. Training for NILD Educational Therapy® is
progressive and includes 240 hours of instruction in the following formats:
- Level I Course (intern qualified to begin giving educational therapy)
(80 hours) - Level II Course (taken after minimum of 1 year experience) (80 hours)
- Level III Course (available after Levels I & II, an onsite evaluation and
200 student contact hours) (80 hours)
NILD Certification is available upon satisfactory completion of Levels I, II &
III, and a demonstration of effectiveness in working with students.
Supplemental to the training courses are professional development
activities such as:
- Annual Regional Conferences (required for continued training and
NILD Certification) - On-Site Supervisions (required for Level III training and NILD
Certification) - Program Validation (available to school or private practice programs
after 5 years)
NILD Educational Therapy
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| Building the competence and confidence of those who struggle to learn. |