Evaluating English Learners for Dyslexia: The What and the How
Dr. Brenda De La Garza
Maria del Rosario Nava
Learn about factors to consider when evaluating English Learners for Dyslexia including potential assessment tools. A proposed framework for evaluation will be presented. Utilizing the Texas Dyslexia Handbook and research from the presenters, you will explore a framework for evaluation and be given access to practical resources to use when evaluating your own English Learners.
Dr. Brenda De La Garza
Co-Presented by: Maria del Rosario Nava
Special Education Coordinator at Region One ESC Texas
Evaluating English Learners for Dyslexia: The What and the How
During this session, participants will learn about factors to consider when evaluating English Learners for Dyslexia. Participants will identify possible assessments to use and discuss how to evaluate English Learners for Dyslexia. A proposed framework for evaluation will be presented. The Texas Dyslexia Handbook is used as a guiding source for this session as well as research in evaluation and Dyslexia. Participants will be given access to a Livebinder with resources to use when evaluating English Learners.
Dr. Brenda de la Garza was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico and lived most of her life in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Dr. De La Garza is the Special Education Coordinator as well as the Regional Testing Coordinator and 504 contact at Region One Education Service Center. She has more than 15 years of experience in Special Education as a teacher, Educational Diagnostician, and Special Education specialist. She earned a Master’s degree in Special Education with a Diagnostician specialization at the University of Texas at Brownsville. She earned a Doctorate in Education at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Curriculum and Instruction with Bilingual Education Specialization. Her research focuses on the assessment of English Learners for Special Education eligibility. She was the Assessment/Diagnostic Special Education Specialist at Region One ESC and provided workshops in Special Education assessment and eligibility. She was a Special Education teacher at the Elementary level and a Diagnostician at the elementary and middle school level. Dr. De La Garza mentored diagnosticians at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. Dr. De La Garza is one of the authors of the book “Case Studies in Special Education: A Social Justice Perspective.” Dr. De La Garza coordinates the efforts of the Multiple Exceptionalities and Multiple Needs Network in Texas. She served as the president for the Region One chapter for the Texas Educational Diagnosticians Association from 2015-2016 and has since served as the Governmental Awareness officer. Dr. De La Garza is bilingual (Spanish) and bicultural (Mexican).
Track: Serving Students with Dyslexia
Audience: Specialists
Level: Beginner - Appropriate for All