A Tired Parent's Guide to Reading Support, Tutoring, and Dyslexia Resources in New York City
If your child is struggling with reading, you're not alone—we've been there. In fact, we're still there! And, luckily, you don't have to start from scratch. This guide is based on our experiences as NYC parents who have navigated several years of reading and dyslexia challenges with two kids, including various reading tutoring options, the NYC DOE IEP process (ain't that a mouthful), and special private schools. We hope it's helpful!
Above all, remember you are your child's best advocate. If you think something is wrong, it may be, regardless of what your child's teacher says. It's common for kids to struggle while teachers say they're on grade level, or close to grade level, until suddenly—they're not. If you have concerns, get your child assessed by a professional. There are many resources, including tutoring, that can help keep your child on track.
There are some excellent tutors and providers in NYC offering evidence-based, one-on-one reading tutoring for children with dyslexia (and also executive functioning challenges). But unfortunately, they are not cheap. The best are $150-$200 per session for in-person meetings, and tutoring can easily continue for 6 months or a year. There are, however, some excellent online tutoring companies that provide Orton-Gillingham certified tutors for less, approx. $75-$125 per session, depending on length. Covid gave most parents nightmares about Zoom classes, but one-on-one online reading tutoring is very different from Zoom school circa 2020, and can work well for most kids. At the very least, it has worked for ours.
Of course, you can also find tutoring options from care.com or wyzant.com, etc. for as little as $30 an hour. But they're likely to be college students or people overseas without any specialized training in dyslexia. As with most things, you typically get what you pay for.
One-on-one Orton-Gillingham reading tutoring for K–8, both in-home in Manhattan and Brooklyn and also virtual. We worked with a virtual tutor from The Reading Guru and our daughter with dyslexia improved tremendously over the year we did the tutoring. All the tutors are Orton-Gillingham certified or have very deep dyslexia tutoring training and experience. The in-person tutoring is more expensive than the virtual.
There are obviously other tutors in NYC (Brooklyn Letters, Themba Tutors, etc.) but we haven't worked with them directly. Look for tutors who are certified in an Orton-Gillingham method.
Low-cost structured literacy instruction for grades 2–8 using the Wilson Reading System for low-income children in NYC. Small groups, but not 1:1.
Scottish Rite Masons offer free tutoring for children with dyslexia.
Free one-on-one volunteer tutoring for K–4 during and after school. Only available at request of schools.
High school peer tutors use structured literacy and run book-lending programs across NYC. Only available at request of schools.
Okay. You've worked with your child's school and perhaps even worked with a tutor for a while, but you're concerned your child is still behind. He or she may qualify for an Individualized Education Program (IEP) from the NYC Department of Education. Here's how to navigate the process:
NYC public schools are required to use structured literacy for dyslexia, consistent with DOE standards.
An IESP is like an IEP, but for kids who attend a private school. If you live in New York State and you pay for your child to attend a private or religious school located in NYC, or choose to homeschool your child, and your child is found eligible for special education services, the DOE's IEP team will develop an Individualized Education Services Program (IESP). The IESP may include services such as Related Services, Special Education Teacher Support Services (SETSS), and/or transportation. This money typically goes to pay for support services at a private school, and the application process is similar.
If you don't agree with the DOE's evaluation of your child's needs, you have the option of obtaining your own neuropsychological evaluations and using that to argue for services with the DOE. Obtaining a neuropsych evaluation takes time – a few months plus any time it takes to start the process. And it's expensive, $2500 to $7500. Here are five respected professionals/companies in NYC offering pediatric neuropsychological evaluations:
A team of experienced psychologists that focus on neuropsychological evaluations, among other work. Not the least expensive.
Pediatric neuropsychologist specializing in learning, attentional, and emotional challenges (ages 4–26), offering consultations and comprehensive evaluations.
Child neuropsychologist experienced in cognitive, academic, socio-emotional assessment, therapy, and executive function coaching.
Offers neuropsychological, psychoeducational, and autism evaluations for ages 3+, with strong follow-through to ensure school supports.
Comprehensive, strength-based evaluations and support services, specializing in learning disabilities, ADHD, ASD, and more.
If you can't get what you need through the regular DOE process, you may need an attorney to help you sue the DOE. Here is a list of well-known attorneys specializing in special education law.
These schools serve students with learning differences through targeted instruction and therapeutic support. But one caveat: they are very, very expensive. If your child's reading difficulties are very severe, a special education attorney (see below) may be able to help you get part of all of the cost of these schools covered by the DOE.