Pittsburgh, PA (1888PressRelease)
March 18, 2009 - The Department of Education, Office of Special Education in Washington, D.C., will have an opportunity to experience first-hand the struggles that students with dyslexia or executive functioning deficiencies might face. Dr. Carol Utay, co-owner and executive director of Total Learning Centers (TLC), will be presenting a seminar to the National Department of Education on Wednesday, March 18 at noon.
Utay will speak on the impact of executive functioning issues and ways to effectively remediate learning issues. She will also run one of her Empathy in Education programs: Dyslexia Simulation to allow participants to experience the struggles of learning as a person with dyslexia.
Utay has extensively researched and successfully helped students with dyslexia and executive functioning issues. She is on the cutting edge in Western Pennsylvania by advocating for more public school interventions to improve the executive functioning brain skills which serve as the foundation of learning academics. As Utay put it, "Don’t put a band aid on a wound needing stitches."
I was delighted to be asked to present to the Department of Education. I want to bring these issues to the forefront of education and let those making decisions know the success we have had at Total Learning Centers working directly to improve the brain’s executive functioning," Utay said. "We know the department is very informed about dyslexia factually, but knowing how it feels day-to-day for a child with dyslexia is critical for a more complete understanding. Equally important is knowing what really works to help these high potential students succeed. They can learn if given the right tools and opportunities. Fortunately, most parents, teachers and politicians are hungry for gaining this understanding in order to make that possible."
Utay is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and an expert in learning and special education. She has experience as a principal, Orton-Gillingham reading therapist, teacher, consultant, national speaker, professor, author, and mother. She is also an Athena Award winner for community service.
About Total Learning Centers LLC
Total Learning Centers, based in greater Pittsburgh, Pa., is a locally owned and operated academic, brain-based learning facility. With additional locations in Fox Chapel, Murrysville and the South Hills, TLC offers one-on-one tutoring and other individualized services in an open, child-friendly environment for clients ages 5 through adult. Founded in 1999 by Drs. Joe and Carol Utay, TLC prepares students today for success tomorrow through direct, intensive, research-based methods to ensure significant gains in reading, writing, math, attention, processing, memory and more. For more information, call (724) 940-1090.
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