LANGUAGE & LITERACY DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATIONS
Comprehensive language and literacy evaluations serve the purpose of identifying the presence of a language-based learning disability, reading disability (e.g., dyslexia), or writing disability, profiling a student’s strengths and weaknesses, and providing appropriate recommendations for programming and remediation. This assessment will provide a clear understanding of the student’s competencies in the following areas: receptive and expressive language, vocabulary, phonological skills, decoding, reading fluency, reading comprehension, spelling, and writing. Tests of executive functions, such as memory, planning, and organization, may also be included in this battery.
This evaluation follows the extensive protocol for testing and evaluation defined in this fact sheet from the International Dyslexia Association and includes:
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A thorough file review and consultation with the special education team or parents to determine referral questions and develop an evaluation plan
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Observation of student in the classroom and collection of parent, student, and teacher input on language and literacy performance via questionnaires and rating scales
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Individualized evaluation of language and literacy skills using both standardized and authentic assessment measures
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Evaluation report with comprehensive analysis of skills, identification of the presence or absence of a disability, and a detailed profile of the student’s strengths, weaknesses, and appropriate evidence-based recommendations
BILINGUAL SPEECH-LANGUAGE EVALUATIONS
SPANISH ~ AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE
PORTUGUESE (via interpreter)
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On-site record review and consultation with school SLP to determine referral questions and develop an evaluation plan
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Observation of student in the classroom and collection of parent and teacher input on language performance via interviews, questionnaires, or rating scales
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A comprehensive evaluation of speech and language skills in both languages using standardized and informal assessment measures
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Evaluation report with comprehensive analysis of skills, differential diagnosis of disorder or language difference, and appropriate classroom recommendations
INDEPENDENT EDUCATIONAL EVALUATIONS
The Language & Literacy Lab conducts comprehensive IEEs in the areas of speech-language, reading, and writing at the request of families and school districts. Often an IEE is requested to get to the root cause of a student’s academic language and literacy difficulties and determine the most appropriate intervention plan for that particular student’s needs. We specialize in the assessment of students with complex profiles who have not responded to traditional special education services or whose learning profile has not been truly captured by traditional special education assessments. These students often have a combination of needs that is so unique that they require an individually-tailored approach to both assessment and intervention.
We use the most sensitive standardized tests and authentic grade-level measures; student, parent, and teacher input; classroom and/or intervention observations; and a thorough record review to yield the best results and the most important information about how the student learns.
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Our evaluation reports paint a clear picture of a student’s strengths, needs, and learning profile in order to help schools and families work together to make informed decisions about educational programming.
Our recommendations are individualized, practical, and founded in current research in order to guide the team towards appropriate instructional strategies, interventions, and classroom accommodations to help each student reach their full academic potential.
CONSULTATION SERVICES
Migdalia's extensive school experience enables her to work collaboratively with school teams to troubleshoot programming difficulties and design practical and effective language and literacy interventions for students with complex learning needs. A consultation with the student's educational team may include a file review, parent interview, team meeting, and/or classroom observation in order to understand the student's needs, identify potential solutions, and support the team in developing an appropriate intervention plan with progress monitoring tools to measure its effectiveness.
"When interpreting the results, she leveraged her professional network to validate theories and uncover causal relationships between our daughter’s multiple co-existing disabilities."
"Meeting Migdalia was a critical moment in our daughter’s journey. We struggled for years with overlooked diagnoses and misdiagnoses. Migdalia had the expertise to test a child with both hearing loss and ADHD. She was patient and utilized tactical strategies that kept our daughter focused and ensured a stable test result. When interpreting the results, she leveraged her professional network to validate theories and uncover causal relationships between our daughter’s multiple co-existing disabilities. Migdalia then crafted a detailed intervention plan specific to our daughter and was prepared with a list of intervention tactics that she considered, but dismissed (with rationale as to why they wouldn’t be appropriate). The word that best describes our experience with Migdalia is “blessed.”"
E.D., Parent of a second grader