Discovery Program
The Discovery program has been developed by the National Institute for Learning Disabilities (NILD), and is designed to help students who have learning difficulties. Florida Christian has the only accredited NILD program in South Florida. Our four specially trained and certified educational therapists work with students twice a week on a one-to-one basis, using techniques which have been researched and designed to help students overcome their deficits.
WHAT IS A LEARNING DISABILITY?
A learning disabled student is a student who has a significant discrepancy between his estimated intelligence and his actual level of achievement in the classroom.
The discrepancy is due to a disorder in the basic learning process. The problem is not that he/she cannot learn, but that he/she cannot always process the information in the required manner.
Typically, students with learning disabilities have average or above average intelligence. Some are in the gifted superior range.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST NOTICABLE SYMPTONS?
There are many symptoms, but the most common are the following:
- Hyperactivity
- Auditory processing deficits
- Difficulty following oral and written directions
- Visual processing deficits
- Attention disorders
- Impulsivity
- Specific academic disabilities in one or more areas (reading, writing, spelling, math)
- Inconsistent grades ("A" one time, "F" the next)
- Uncertain left or right handedness
- Difficulty in abstract and critical thinking
- Poor recall or memorized information
- Poor fine motor control
IF MY CHILD NEEDS EDUCATIONAL THERAPY, WILL HE/SHE BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE CLASSROOM?
Yes. Students remain in the regular classroom and attend two eighty minute sessions of therapy per week.
IS THERE AN ADDITIONAL COST FOR EDUCATIONAL THERAPY?
Yes, there is a cost above tuition for this program.
HOW LONG WILL MY CHILD NEED TO RECEIVE EDUCATIONAL THERAPY?
Most students need a minimum of three years to complete the program. Testing is done at the end of each year to evaluate the student's process and continued need for therapy.
WHAT IS THE GOAL FOR THE STUDENTS IN THE DISCOVERY PROGRAM?
The goal for the Discovery Program is to help students succeed and become independent in the regular classroom, by using the strategies learned in educational therapy.
