Certification program
Easy to understand, plenty of time. Excellent material that you can put to use right away.
Real experiences from 1,011 verified graduates of the Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program — from 64 countries worldwide, accredited by the American Dyslexia Association, with reviews independently collected on ausgezeichnet.org since 2015.
Easy to understand, plenty of time. Excellent material that you can put to use right away.
The materials are comprehensive. Still, I'd recommend going even deeper on your own.
The materials were easy to work through. The questions on the individual exams were demanding. I would have liked to be able to see the questions I got wrong, corrected, for my own review.
The training and the support during it are very good. Afterwards, a lot of continuing education is available. Unfortunately (especially in Germany) the trainers aren't well represented by the association and are often left alone with legal issues. A pity. The work is so important and helpful for the children.
The advantage of distance learning is how short the training is. The topic itself is important, and thanks to the many students society is becoming more aware and, thankfully, more considerate. What I find lacking are the prerequisites for this program, because literally anyone can take it — I've met enough graduates at the professional conferences who have no pedagogical training or background, mostly mothers from all sorts of professional backgrounds who do the training for their own children. Notes I sent in about errors in the required reading were also not really addressed. They were "acknowledged" but presumably nobody actually engaged with them. Because of that, but also because of various mistakes (not only typos) in the AFS test, in the distance learning support, etc., a "very good" feels out of reach for me on professional quality. So all things considered, I'm giving it a "good"!
I did the ADA program from late 2014 to mid-2016 and finished with the diploma certificate. During that time I was often offered the chance to reach out to staff if I needed help. There were no in-person sessions. I missed the collegial exchange and personal support a bit. The materials are mostly easy to understand. A keyword index would make it easier to look things up later. In the fourth module not all exam questions matched the content covered. Most questions were easy to answer. For my questions during the first practice period I mostly didn't get sufficient answers.
I completed the continuing education to become a certified dyslexia and dyscalculia trainer two and three years ago, respectively. I especially loved the practical focus with so many examples and game ideas, plus the diagnostic tools that come with it. I chose distance learning because I could fit it perfectly into my daily work routine and would absolutely do it again.
This program helps me every single day in my job. Varied games and exercises. I have 2 dyslexia hours per week at my school and your program works really well there.
I completed the dyslexia and dyscalculia trainer training and have been self-employed ever since. The training was very understandable and thorough; even the practical section was extremely well supported, and any unclear point or question was answered immediately. I would happily have given 5 points, but I do have one small piece of criticism. I think you really should already have some pedagogical background — ideally even a teaching degree — to truly feel safe working with children who have dyslexia or dyscalculia. In my view, having a window into the children's everyday school life and pedagogical know-how is extremely important to really meet a child where they are. All in all, though, I can only recommend the program!
* Study time well calculated — enough time built in * Materials thorough, but in places unstructured and could be improved stylistically * Exam options are user-friendly * Information by email answered quickly and in detail * Continuing education and networking opportunities available — great! * Independent work is desired and expected — the sample lesson plans help a lot when preparing training sessions
The program is demanding and well structured. There are plenty of teaching materials. The ADA's support of students is very good. Questions are answered quickly and professionally, and solutions are offered. Personally, for the practical part I would like the ADA to work more closely with dyslexia centers in larger cities in Austria and Germany, so that maybe as a student you would have the chance to shadow a dyslexia/dyscalculia trainer at work in those centers. Conversations with the "specialists" on the ground often surface other perspectives, and experiences can be exchanged. During my training, I tried to visit a dyslexia center or to apply for an internship there. It wasn't possible, or required a huge amount of effort. The students should be offered a simple, fast, unbureaucratic way to do that. From my practical training, though, I did learn that theory and practice don't yet form a unified whole. There's still a lot of work to do on that front. I wish the ADA team continued success!
I missed a bit of support for the practical part.
I was super satisfied with the support and materials. All questions were answered quickly. The website is very clear and easy to use. I really enjoyed the program. You could work very flexibly and schedule your own time! The only thing that's tricky is the practical part if you haven't observed a training session yet.
I really enjoyed the program.
I completed the dyslexia trainer certification this year. My materials arrived quickly. The theoretical section is well laid out. The exam relates mostly to the modules. The practical part is well explained in the AFS book and doable. With questions I could turn to you anytime and I felt well taken care of. It was lots of fun and I'll also do the dyscalculia trainer certification next year.
I'm very satisfied with the content of the program. The theory is comprehensive and translates well into practice. The scientific background proves itself again and again in real work! I saw good progress and joy with the kids even during my studies, while also knowing where I needed to pay special attention. Phone contact with the institute was good; written replies to my questions only satisfied me moderately. What would have helped me a lot: how do I organize myself efficiently in practice (what makes sense, what doesn't?) when I'm teaching several children at once? By now I've found good approaches, but it cost me quite a bit of time. So I would have liked to receive suggestions (not as a recipe but as options). I appreciated the precise and serious corrections of my work — heartfelt thanks! I also really value the material that's been provided. I'm already curious about the annual event, to learn new things and exchange ideas with other dyslexia trainers.
I really enjoyed the program. On the website in the customer center you can download any missing material at any time — and for free! Contact with my instructors was also excellent. All my questions were answered within 2 days at the latest, which is impressive given the number of students!!! The material is high quality, both online and in print, personalized with your name and a photo. I recommend this program to anyone who wants to work in this field — you feel taken care of through and through!!! Best wishes and have fun
Through repetition and consistent reading comprehension, the program opens up to you. I came in with experience as a trained speech educator, so I could really benefit from the content and the many practical exercises. Throughout my studies I always found competent guidance and lots of practical tips. You come out well prepared for everyday work and can dive into the field with a bit of personal initiative. What I would have wished for: a practical weekend for exchange and going deeper.
With a bit of self-discipline and some prior experience in language and literacy instruction, you get a lot of useful insight into the issues people with dyslexia face and how to work with them. In some places I would have liked a bit more cross-referencing to other methodological approaches.
Through the program I picked up an incredible amount of new knowledge about dyslexia and dyscalculia. My perspective on the people affected is more detailed and opens up many ways to get started in training. I would definitely choose it again.
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