It’s important to note that the many programs available are not all suited to the varied learning styles of all students. Early intervention is key and it is crucial to start with programs/software/apps that build on phonology (the sounds within spoken words) and phonemic awareness (blending and manipulating these sounds) as a foundation.

A wide choice of programs are available at The Learning Difference Convention. Some programs are peer reviewed and evaluated by experts for their validity and reliability, whilst others are researched within their own organisations.

SPELDNSW

Specific Learning Difficulties (SPELD) NSW is a NFP organisation and charity whose mission is to provide advice and services to children and adults with specific learning difficulties (SLDs) and those who teach, work with and care for them. Referral Service – free of charge – Speak to specialists in the field of Special Education who will be able to give you sound advice and information and help you in the mind field of how best to help your child through tutoring, assessment and school/ parent relationships. Advocacy – SPELD NSW and AUSPELD take your messages to State and Federal levels. Specialised training for Learning Support Teachers for 2014: Teachers’ Certificate Course – 6 weekends – Spelling, Reading, Writing, Comprehension and Maths.

SpeldNSW will show you the Alpha to Omega’ reading. Visit SpeldNSW online store

Alpha To Omega – Effective reading programs include both explicit and systematic phonemic awareness and phonics instruction. Wherever possible these programs should be delivered using a range of multisensory activities with a significant increase in intensity (e.g. one-on-one or small group). This is particularly the case for struggling students. The Alpha to Omega program is considered to be a very effective, highly structured program that achieves excellent results. It has the added benefit of linking to the very popular computer program WordShark ( Available at EAST West Online booth)

SPELDVIC

SPELD Victoria’s current service offerings include Diagnostic Assessment Services; Consultations; Events & Workshops for Parents, Teachers and Allied Health Professionals; Advisory & Advocacy Services; Resources & Research; and Membership Services.

Our mission: SPELD Victoria’s purpose is to assist the estimated 5-10% of all Victorians with Specific Learning Difficulties to achieve their full learning potential. We achieve this through the provision of direct service delivery, information, advocacy and awareness raising amongst the wider Victorian community.

Our vision: Victoria is a place where Specific Learning Difficulties including Dyslexia are widely understood and are no longer a barrier to individuals achieving their full learning potential.

Collaboration – Our strength comes from respectful partnerships & associations

Innovation – Lifelong learners, we are creative in our approach to adding value

Commitment – Our dedication is unwavering and our impact lasting

Results – We exceed our promises, embrace excellence and deliver meaningful evidence-based outcomes

Learning Difficulties Australia

Learning Difficulties Australia is an association of teachers and other professionals dedicated to assisting students with learning difficulties through effective teaching practices based on scientific research, both in the classroom and through individualised instruction.

Our aims are:

• To promote understanding in the community of the complex nature of learning difficulties and the need for intervention to be carried out by qualified and expert professionals.
• To support professionals in the field through high quality professional development programs and publications so that all members have access to theoretical advances and well researched teaching strategies in the field of learning difficulties.
• To support and promote scientific evidence-based research that will advance understanding of the theory and evidence underlying effective teaching practice for students with learning difficulties.
• To liaise with other related associations, thereby promoting co-operation and inter-disciplinary exchange of ideas.
• To advocate for improved services to students experiencing difficulties with learning through advice to relevant organizations and submissions to government bodies.
• To promote excellence in the field by recognising outstanding contributions through the following awards: the Mona Tobias Award, the Bruce Wicking Award and the Tertiary Student Award.

Autism Advisory and Support Service

Autism Advisory and Support Service (AASS) was established in 2007 to empower children and adults with autism and their families through knowledge and support, and to positively impact and influence their social and emotional development.

Our team of dedicated professionals use an evidence based, collaborative and holistic approach to service delivery. We work in partnership with individuals with autism, their families and carers, to evaluate, plan and implement appropriate services to support and deliver positive outcomes.

Silver Eye

Silvereye Learning Resources’ mission is to positively impact the education of children and youth; particularly those with special needs and students at risk of school failure; by providing educators, professionals and parents with practical, affordable and theoretically sound products and service.

We provide books, assessment materials and other resources to assist with special education, learning difficulties, behaviour management, social development and counselling. In particular we carry a wide variety of materials to assist struggling or disabled learners to develop language, communication, reading and writing skills.  Silver eye stock the BEAT Dyslexia Reading Program.

Last but not least, when you contact us you’ll find that you are talking to people with a deep personal commitment to helping those with special needs or learning difficulties and to helping you to help them.

Eureka Concepts

Offer unique and outstanding toys and games in Australia that will make you smile!

WIKKI STIX

More fun than a toy, more creative than a craft… Awesome twistable, stickable, buildable and endlessly playable material.

Senseez

Colourful, lightweight, fun-shaped portable vibrating cushions offering a gentle sensation when they are squeezed or sat on, relaxing, calming and soothing the body. Senseez eases the senses!

THRASS

The THRASS Institute (Australasia & Canada) is an Australian based company that has developed a Specific Pedagogical Practise (SPP) for the teaching of literacy, marketed as THRASS – an acronym for ‘Teaching Handwriting, Reading And Spelling Skills’.

THRASS is a phonetics teaching-tool that has made a paradigm shift in the teaching of phonetics. It has a phonographic, multisensory focus, complemented by an analogous learning model that makes reading and spelling acquisition much simpler, faster and more sustainable than conventional ‘phonic’ approaches. As a classroom strategy THRASS is fun, systematic, explicit and linguistically correct.

The THRASS SPP and accompanying THRASS charts and teaching resources have been highly effective in schools and learning institutions since 1998 and are the most widely used and recognised teacher reference tools for teaching the phonographics and orthography of English.

East West Online

East West Online is an online supplier of special needs, dyslexic and dyscalculia software – aimed at a wide range of specific learning difficulties. We are pleased to demonstrate the C-Pen, personal scanning pen which is proving really valuable technology for dyslexic users. Wordshark & Numbershark will be demonstrated as our most popular and recommended software for PC & MAC along with GHOTIT, designed specifically for dyslexic users by people who are dyslexic. We also have the new dyslexia version of KAZ, the Touch Typing online program.   We also offer alternative computer access devices for both desktop and handheld devices. East West Online has a wide range of solutions to help those who face additional challenges to learning and access.

MultiLit

MultiLit (‘Making Up Lost Time In Literacy’) is a leading provider of effective literacy instruction in Australasia. Our programs are uniquely placed to be effective because they are all grounded in scientific evidence-based practice. For more than two decades, MultiLit has provided assistance to thousands of students in a variety of settings, including schools, our own Literacy Centres and community-based literacy projects across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

MultiLit offers programs from preschool to upper secondary years for children from early years/foundation to young adulthood. Our popular program for small group intervention for younger low progress students is known as the Meeting Initial Needs in Literacy (MiniLit) Program. The small group-based intervention for older low progress students is known as The Macquarie Literacy (MacqLit) Program.

Further information regarding MultiLit’s full suite of literacy programs and associated resources, including the new whole-class initial instruction in literacy program (InitiaLit), can be viewed at the following website: http://www.multilit.com/

Quantum RLV

OrCam MyEye 2.0 is the only wearable reading aid that is activated by an intuitive pointing gesture or simply by following the wearer’s gaze – allowing for hands-free use and without the need of a smartphone or Wi-Fi.

Reads any printed or digital text: newspapers, books, restaurant menus, signs, product labels, computer and smartphone screens. All become accessible to you in an instant.

Real-time identification of faces. Recognize products, credit cards, money notes and more. Great in social situations and gives independence.

All you have to do is point. Recognizes simple hand gestures. Ideal for use at work or at school, at home or on the go. Good for all ages and any level of vision.

Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes

Lindamood-Bell has pioneered programs to develop the sensory-cognitive processes that underlie reading and comprehension.

Our experience, our quality of instruction, our commitment to ongoing research and development, and our passion to constantly expand the implementation and success of our instructional programs are at the root of our success.

We remain committed to making a difference in the lives of the children and adults we are fortunate enough to serve.

Psychological Assessments Australia

Learn more about the Woodcock Johnson IV and YARC Assessment of Reading and Comprehension.

Learning Links

Learning Links is not-for-profit charitable organisation established in 1972 by parents concerned about the lack of appropriate education and support services for children with learning difficulties. Learning Links work with these children, their families and schools offering tailored programs and services to improve the children’s learning, wellbeing and participation helping them reach their full potential. Early intervention for young children who experience developmental delays is critical to mitigate the risk of poor educational outcomes later in life. Learning Links services range from educational and psychological assessments to targeted behavioural and therapeutic interventions including speech and occupational therapies

Tradewind Recruitment

Tradewind Recruitment are a market leading education recruitment agency, specialising in matching teachers, teaching assistants and support staff across Australia to Primary, Secondary and SEND schools throughout Melbourne and 11 locations across the UK. We care deeply about our candidates, taking the time to ensure we always listen and take note of needs, skills and aspirations of every person we speak to, in order to match them with their ideal role.

The Northern Beaches ADHD Support Group

Our support group is where you as a parent of a child or teenager with ADHD can share and discuss your experiences with other parents who are facing similar experiences, in a supportive and friendly environment.

Although originally set up to help parents, many speaker evenings are equally relevant to you as an adult with ADHD or a professional seeking to help those with ADHD.

The Northern Beaches ADHD Support Group aims to offer:

• A venue for you to meet other parents and receive/extend support to each other.
• A place of learning, where you as a parent, teachers or professional can find out more about ADHD and its related issues.
• Talks and a discussion forum led by professionals who specialise in ADHD.
• Help for ADHD children in the form of Workshops to help teach them coping strategies.

The support group is organised by Vivian Dunstan, an ADHD parent.

Being part of a nurturing environment where you can learn and build on what you already know about ADHD and meeting other parents facing similar challenges and experiences, will help you feel more supported in your journey.

Lefty’s Left Handed Products and Resource Centre

Started in 2003 and is Australia’s largest supplier of products designed for the left-hander. We also provide the only resource and support service for left-handers, their parents and teachers. With left-handers being over-represented in the dyslexic community (>20%) when compared to the general population (10-12%), addressing the child’s handedness issues is just as important as the educational issues for this segment of the school population.

The Left Hand Writing Skills series and My Write-Well Mat teach the left-hander pencil control and letter formation specific to the needs of the left-handed. Specialty pencils, pens and pencil grips complement the techniques learned to facilitate comfortable and legible writing. Resources by Mary Nash-Wortham in the UK are also available in Australia through Lefty’s.

Rip Rap Books Cumquatmay

Rip Rap books are novels for delayed and dyslexic readers.

• They are phonically based, skill sequenced and strictly vocabulary controlled.
• High interest and low reading level. Age appropriate appearance and themes.
• Two phonically parallel series of 12 novels each.
• Suitable for mid-primary to secondary students. Also useful for EAL and youth justice systems.
• Exciting, funny, appealing page turners.
• Based on current literacy research.
• Suitable as springboards for whole class discussion about relevant and challenging topics.
• Support and additional materials include a trucking game, word game cards and teacher manual. The game is also suitable for adult literacy tutoring.
• A new series, The Rip Rap Club books, suitable for children aged 8+, will be available in late July, 2018.

LEARNERSAURUS

Learnersaurus is all about alternatives for literacy learning!

We are passionate about sharing knowledge and providing learning opportunities for all.

At Learnersaurus we provide specialised literacy programs, resources for teaching and intensive coach training. All of our resources are carefully designed to meet the needs of the learner and quickly generate success and confidence. Our literacy program is based on the principals of Multisensory Structured Language teaching (MSL) and provide a very explicit and structured set of workbooks to support the coach and the learner to follow with ease. Check out our website for more information www.learnersaurus.com

STRUCTURED LITERACY ABC

STRUCTURED LITERACY ABC is a series of 3 full-day courses that come with a free PDF of all necessary assessment and teaching resources at the completion of each day of training. The instructional programs are written for the Australian Vernacular. All courses incorporate the Orton Gillingham Multisensory Structured Language (MSL) approach. The coursework and resources were created by Reading and Dyslexia Specialist, Rosemary Ruthven (AMADA) to make it easier for Educators to provide research-based initial instruction for all students, and practical intervention for students with dyslexia.

Bridges Multisensory Learning

Bridges Multisensory Learning Centre specialises inteaching literacy and numeracy to children, youth, and adults struggling with learning, such as those with dyslexia, language-based learning differences, A.D.H.D., or auditory processing disorders. We offer mentoring to teachers, speech pathologists or tutors who require support to effectively teach students with reading and maths challenges. Orton-Gillingham teacher training is also being offered to those interested in becoming language therapists. Orton-Gillingham is a proven methodological approach to effectively remediate students who struggle with the acquisition of foundational literacy skills that underpin reading, writing and spelling.

Behavioural Optometry

At Evian Behavioural Optometry we consider your vision in relation to your visual demands, such as reading, computers, and learning to read and write, to ensure your vision is working easily and comfortably. The way that you interpret what you see does not depend solely on how clear just your sight is.

Tomatoes Listening Program (auditory stimulation)

Listening to music, mainly Mozart and Gregorian Chant, through TalksUp® and a special headset including bone and air conduction applies the “Tomatis® effect” with the Gating® that re-educates the ear and the brain and awakens your listening skills!