Illinois Chapter
Our mission is to educate the community about the nature of Academic Language Therapy and the professionals, Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALTs) and Certified Academic Language Practitioners (CALPs) who provide a multi-sensory, systematic, comprehensive, and structured literacy approach to remediating dyslexia and written language disorders.
Chapter Events
We are dedicated to providing continuing education opportunities that promote the professional growth of our members. Events are worth continuing education hours (CE) to use towards ALTA membership requirements.
Find an Illinois Professional
Our members are made up of individuals with the CALP, CALT, ICALP, or CALT-QI distinction. Find an ALTA-certified professional in your area that represents the highest quality services to those individuals with dyslexia.
Chapter Resources
Current legislation:
- IL HB 5032 Illinois Right to Read Act: Creates the Right to Read Act. Provides that the State Board of Education shall offer support: to each public school district to select evidence-based core reading instruction programs and implement them using structured literacy instruction; and to each early childhood, elementary, and special education teacher, reading specialist, literacy coach, and administrator to complete evidence-based training in teaching reading. Requires the State Board of Education to annually compile and post on its website information on the steps it has undertaken to support school districts to deliver high-quality, evidence-based literacy instruction, including a list of any Early Literacy Grant recipients, documentation of how the recipient allocated the funding to support improved literacy, and what evidence-based literacy curricula the recipient is utilizing. Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning educator testing, requires applicants seeking specified licenses to pass a test in reading foundations, which shall include assessment of the applicant’s understanding of phonological and phonemic awareness, concepts of print and the alphabetic principle, the role of phonics in promoting reading development, word analysis skills and strategies, vocabulary development, application of reading comprehension skills and strategies, and methods for assessing reading development. In provisions concerning minimum requirements for educators trained in other states or countries, provides that an applicant who has successfully completed a reading foundations test of at least comparable rigor to the Illinois reading foundations test is not required to complete a reading foundations test. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
- IL HB 4202 Dyslexia Screening: Amends the School Code. Provides dyslexia screening guidelines and rules. Requires the State Board of Education to employ at least 5 dyslexia specialists or dyslexia therapists with a minimum of 5 years of field experience in screening, identifying, and treating dyslexia and related disorders to provide technical assistance and training. Provides that, beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, each school district must screen students in grades kindergarten through second (and in higher grades under certain circumstances) for the risk factors of dyslexia using a universal screener approved by the State Board. Sets forth what the screening must include. Provides for additional screening for a student who is determined to be at risk, or at some risk, for dyslexia to determine if a student has the characteristics of dyslexia. Requires the use of a multi-tiered system of support framework if screening indicates that a student has some risk factors for dyslexia or has the characteristics of dyslexia. Sets forth provisions concerning exceptions to screening, dyslexia intervention services, and reporting. Effective July 1, 2022.
Leadership
ALTA-IL is made up of therapists and practitioners dedicated to providing rigorous evidence-based multisensory structured language education (MSLE) therapy to individuals with dyslexia. Meet the leadership team.
Tara Chapman, M. S., AMS/EL, CALT-QI
President
Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction – Reading, University of Wisconsin – Madison; Certified Academic Language Therapist; ALTA Qualified Instructor
Private Practice: Executive Director of The Written Word, Center for Dyslexia and Learning
Tara has been teaching students in both public and private education for 35 years. She has extensive training in the field of education. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction-Reading, and an American Montessori Society Elementary I Credential. Tara is a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT), and a Qualified Instructor (QI). She earned her CALT credential through Southern Methodist University’s Learning Therapy Program, with additional therapist retraining at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. She earned a Qualified Instructor (QI) credential at McKinney Christian Academy’s Multisensory Teacher Training Center in Texas.
As the founder of The Written Word Center for Dyslexia and Learning, she provides academic language therapy for students and professional development opportunities in structured literacy for educators and parents. Course offerings include Dyslexia Therapy Training (Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention or Students with Dyslexia), A Structured Approach to Teaching Reading, Writing and Spelling, and Literacy and Learning Seminars. As the first QI in Illinois, Tara launched the ALTA Illinois State Chapter and serves on the board.
Serving These Communities: Western Suburbs
Professional Affiliations: Academic Language Therapy Association, International Dyslexia Association, American Montessori Society, Everyone Reading Illinois, The Illinois Reading League
Allison Ryan, M.S., CALT
Vice President
Master of Science in Teaching and Learning; Certified Academic Language Therapist; Certified Dyslexia Practitioner
Professional Affiliations: International Dyslexia Association, Academic Language Therapy Association, Everyone Reading Illinois, The Reading League
Erin Young, M.Ed.
Secretary
M.Ed. In Reading Education- National Louis University; B.A. Elementary Education- Wheaton College; Dyslexia Specialist.
Erin has 22 years of experience teaching primary and middle school students in public education. She is now in private practice providing dyslexia therapy in the western suburbs of Chicago. Erin uses the intervention, Take Flight: a Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia developed by Scottish Rite Hospital for children in Dallas, Texas.
Amy Cox, MA, CALT
Social Media/Technology
Amy is a Reading Specialist and Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) in Plainfield School District 202 with over seventeen years of teaching experience and eleven years specializing in literacy instruction. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from DePaul University in Early Childhood Education, a Master’s Degree from Lewis University in Reading and Literacy, and a certificate in English as a Second Language from the University of St. Francis. She earned her CALT credential from McKinney Christian Academy.
Amy is experienced in working with students with language-based learning disabilities and neurodiversity. She is passionate about helping struggling readers reach their full potential and advocating for students with learning differences. Amy is active in the Illinois ALTA chapter and serves on its board as the social media coordinator.