Is Dyslexia Holding Your Child Back from Reading Success?

Expert Dyslexia Testing & Orton-Gillingham Reading Intervention in Morgan Hill & Campbell

If your child struggles with reading despite being bright and motivated, you're not alone.

Many parents in Campbell and Morgan Hill watch their children work twice as hard as their peers, only to fall further behind. Letter reversals, slow reading, spelling challenges, and growing anxiety around reading can leave families feeling frustrated and searching for answers.

At Mind By Design, we understand that discovering your child may have dyslexia is both overwhelming and confusing. That's why we've created a complete solution that takes you from questions to confident reading success. Our licensed educational psychologists conduct comprehensive dyslexia testing that identifies your child's specific learning profile, while our certified Orton-Gillingham specialists provide the evidence-based intervention that builds real, lasting reading skills.

You shouldn't have to coordinate between multiple providers or wonder if your child is getting the right support. Our team works together under one roof at our Campbell and Morgan Hill locations, creating a seamless experience from assessment through intervention. We see your child as a whole person, addressing not just their reading challenges but also the emotional impact that struggling with literacy can have on their confidence and love of learning.

Our Services

Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference that affects how the brain processes written language.

It impacts approximately 20% of the population and has nothing to do with intelligence. Children with dyslexia often have strong reasoning abilities and creative thinking skills, but they process phonological information differently, making decoding and encoding written words challenging. Without proper identification and specialized instruction, these bright students can fall years behind their reading potential.

Our comprehensive dyslexia testing process goes beyond a simple screening. Jana Parker and our team of licensed educational psychologists conduct thorough psychoeducational evaluations that examine phonological processing, rapid naming, working memory, and other key areas that impact reading. We identify not just whether dyslexia is present, but the specific nature of your child's learning profile. This detailed understanding allows us to provide clinical diagnoses when appropriate and create a precise roadmap for intervention. Parents leave our assessment process with clear answers, written recommendations, and actionable next steps.

Once we understand your child's unique needs, our Orton-Gillingham certified specialists step in with structured literacy intervention that addresses the root causes of reading difficulty. The Orton-Gillingham approach is the gold standard for dyslexia intervention, using multi-sensory, explicit, systematic instruction that teaches the structure of language in a way that makes sense for dyslexic learners. Our specialists, including Natalie Moore for younger students in grades K-2 and Rachel Roth for older students, build phonemic awareness, phonics skills, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension through engaging, personalized sessions.

What makes Mind By Design different is our holistic approach that addresses both the cognitive and emotional aspects of dyslexia. We make learning fun and engaging, reducing the anxiety many children feel around reading. Our specialists work one-on-one with students 1-3 times weekly, using Science of Reading-based practices and evidence-based strategies like Orton-Gillingham, Structured Word Inquiry, and systematic phonics instruction. We connect speaking, reading, spelling, and writing skills, helping students see the relationships between sounds and letters while building their confidence with every session.

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Schedule a Dyslexia Assessment

Key Benefits

Many parents spend months or even years wondering why their bright child struggles with reading. School screenings may miss subtle signs, or you might hear "let's wait and see" when your instincts tell you something is wrong. Our comprehensive dyslexia evaluations, conducted by licensed educational psychologists, provide the clarity you need to move forward with confidence.
Jana Parker and our assessment team examine the full range of factors that impact reading, including phonological processing, orthographic processing, rapid automatized naming, working memory, and language skills. We don't just identify whether dyslexia is present; we uncover your child's complete learning profile, highlighting both strengths and areas for growth. This depth of understanding is critical because no two children with dyslexia are exactly alike, and effective intervention must be tailored to individual needs.
For families in Campbell and Morgan Hill, accessing this level of expertise locally means you don't have to travel to San Francisco or other distant locations for quality dyslexia testing. Our team has extensive experience working within public schools as educational psychologists and administrators, so we know exactly what documentation schools need for accommodations and support services. We provide detailed written reports with specific recommendations that you can share with teachers, and we're available to answer questions as you navigate the next steps. Parents consistently tell us that finally understanding their child's learning needs lifts an enormous weight and allows them to become effective advocates.
Understanding your child has dyslexia is just the beginning; effective intervention is what creates real change. The Orton-Gillingham approach is the most researched and proven method for teaching students with dyslexia to read. This structured, sequential, multi-sensory methodology teaches the logic and structure of language in a way that makes sense for students whose brains process written information differently.
Our certified Orton-Gillingham specialists use explicit instruction that leaves nothing to chance. We teach students exactly how sounds connect to letters and letter patterns, building from simple to complex in a systematic way. Every lesson incorporates visual, auditory, and kinesthetic-tactile pathways, helping students create strong neural connections that support reading. Students learn to segment words into individual sounds, blend sounds into words, recognize spelling patterns, and apply rules and conventions, all foundational skills that struggling readers need but may have missed in traditional classroom instruction.
What families in our Campbell and Morgan Hill communities appreciate most is that we make this intensive work engaging and confidence-building. Our specialists, including Natalie Moore, who works specifically with K-2 students, and Rachel Roth, who specializes in older learners, understand how to keep students motivated while building essential skills. Sessions are individualized to match each child's pace and interests. We celebrate progress frequently, and students begin to experience success with reading, often for the first time, which transforms their willingness to engage with written material.
One of the most frustrating aspects of addressing dyslexia is coordinating between multiple providers. You might get testing done in one location, then search for a qualified tutor elsewhere, then try to explain the assessment results to a new provider who didn't conduct the evaluation. This fragmented approach wastes time, creates gaps in understanding, and can delay your child from getting the right support.
Mind By Design eliminates this problem by providing both comprehensive dyslexia testing and specialized Orton-Gillingham intervention under one roof. When our educational psychologists complete your child's assessment, they collaborate directly with our literacy specialists to create a targeted intervention plan based on the specific findings. There's no information lost in translation, no waiting for appointments with new providers, and no explaining your child's history repeatedly to different professionals.
This integrated approach is particularly valuable for families in the Campbell and Morgan Hill area who are balancing work schedules, school commitments, and other family needs. You build relationships with a consistent team that knows your child deeply and communicates seamlessly about progress. Our specialists can adjust intervention strategies based on ongoing insights, and if questions arise during tutoring, we can easily consult with the psychologist who conducted the original assessment. Parents tell us this continuity of care provides peace of mind and accelerates results because everyone is working from the same understanding toward the same goals.

Not all dyslexia looks the same at different ages, and effective intervention must match where your child is developmentally. A kindergartner just beginning to learn letter sounds needs a completely different approach than a middle schooler who has developed coping strategies and reading anxiety. That's why our team includes specialists who focus on specific age ranges, bringing deep expertise to the unique challenges each stage presents.
Natalie Moore, our K-2 specialist, works with our youngest learners during the critical window when foundational literacy skills are developing. She uses playful, hands-on instruction that builds phonemic awareness, letter-sound relationships, and early decoding skills while keeping children engaged and confident. Early intervention during these formative years can prevent years of struggle and keep children on track with their peers.
For older students from age 12 and up, Rachel Roth brings specialized expertise in working with learners who have existing literacy abilities but need to strengthen foundational skills and develop more complex reading and writing capabilities. She understands the unique social and emotional needs of older students who feel embarrassed about reading struggles and works to build their skills while respecting their maturity. This tailored approach by developmental stage means your child works with someone who truly understands their specific needs and can meet them exactly where they are.
Traditional reading instruction relies heavily on visual and auditory input, but students with dyslexia often need to engage additional pathways in the brain to create strong, lasting learning. That's why multi-sensory instruction is at the heart of everything we do. When students see, hear, say, and physically interact with language concepts simultaneously, they build stronger neural connections that support reading.
In our sessions, students might trace letters in sand while saying the sound, use colored tiles to represent different phonemes, or manipulate magnetic letters to build words. These kinesthetic and tactile experiences aren't just fun activities; they're research-backed methods that help dyslexic learners encode information more effectively. We also use systematic visual aids, explicit verbal instruction, and carefully structured practice that moves from simple to complex, ensuring students master each skill before moving forward.
Parents in Campbell and Morgan Hill who visit our offices often comment on how different our approach looks from traditional tutoring. Students are actively engaged, using their whole bodies to learn, not just sitting and reading worksheets. This makes learning more enjoyable and effective, particularly for students who have experienced failure and frustration with conventional methods. When reading finally "clicks" because the instruction matches how their brain learns best, students' entire relationship with literacy begins to transform.
Struggling with reading doesn't just impact academic performance; it profoundly affects children's self-esteem, willingness to try, and overall love of learning. By the time families come to us, many children have developed significant anxiety around reading tasks. They avoid reading aloud, feel embarrassed in front of peers, and have internalized the message that they're "not good at reading." This emotional layer must be addressed alongside skill-building for intervention to be truly successful.
Our holistic approach recognizes that your child is more than their reading challenges. We create a safe, judgment-free environment where mistakes are part of learning and effort is celebrated. Our specialists are trained to recognize signs of anxiety and frustration and have strategies to help students regulate their emotions and stay engaged. We build on strengths, set achievable goals, and ensure students experience frequent success, which gradually rebuilds their confidence and willingness to take risks with reading.
This supportive, encouraging environment is especially important in our Silicon Valley communities, where academic pressure can be intense. We help students separate their reading challenges from their intelligence and worth, and we support parents in reinforcing this message at home. As students begin to make progress with reading skills and as their anxiety decreases, we often see positive changes that extend beyond literacy, improved homework habits, greater participation in class, and a more positive attitude toward school overall.

Our Service Categories

Comprehensive Dyslexia Testing Our psychoeducational evaluations examine all areas that impact reading, including phonological processing, orthographic processing, rapid naming, working memory, attention, and language skills. Conducted by licensed educational psychologists, these assessments identify whether dyslexia is present and provide a detailed understanding of your child's unique learning profile. You'll receive a thorough written report with specific recommendations and clinical diagnoses when appropriate to support school accommodations and intervention planning.
Evidence-based, structured literacy instruction using the gold-standard Orton-Gillingham approach. Our certified specialists provide explicit, systematic, multi-sensory teaching that builds phonemic awareness, phonics skills, decoding, encoding, fluency, and comprehension. Sessions are individualized and occur 1-3 times weekly, helping students master the structure of language in a way that makes sense for dyslexic learners.
Using your child's existing verbal and phonological abilities, we bridge the gap to reading proficiency by teaching the relationships between sounds and letters. This approach helps students recognize spelling patterns, rules, and conventions, which supports the development of fluent reading, spelling, and writing skills. Particularly effective for students in grades K-5 who are building foundational literacy abilities.
For older students who have basic decoding skills but read slowly or struggle with comprehension, we provide targeted support that builds reading speed, accuracy, and understanding. We work on expanding vocabulary knowledge, teaching inference and reasoning skills, and improving writing abilities while continuing to strengthen any underlying phonological or processing weaknesses.
Help navigate the school system and the IEP process for students with dyslexia. Our team's extensive experience in public education allows us to guide you in understanding assessment reports, IEP goals, appropriate accommodations, and your rights as a parent. We empower you with knowledge so you feel confident collaborating with your school team and advocating for your child's needs.

Our Process

STEP ONE

Consultation Call

Connect with our Client Relations Specialist for a complimentary phone consultation to discuss your concerns about your child's reading. We'll listen to your child's history, current challenges, and what you're hoping to achieve. This conversation helps us determine whether dyslexia testing, literacy intervention, or both would be most beneficial, and we'll answer your initial questions about our services. There's no pressure, just helpful guidance to point you in the right direction. Most consultation calls last 15-20 minutes and can be scheduled at your convenience.

STEP TWO

Comprehensive Dyslexia Assessment

If testing is recommended, your child will work with one of our licensed educational psychologists for a thorough psychoeducational evaluation. The assessment typically takes 4-6 hours spread across multiple sessions at our Campbell or Morgan Hill office, depending on your child's age and needs. We examine cognitive abilities, academic achievement, phonological processing, memory, attention, and other areas that impact reading. The environment is comfortable and supportive, designed to help your child perform their best. Within 2-3 weeks of completing testing, you'll receive a detailed written report and meet with the psychologist to review findings, diagnoses, and specific recommendations.

STEP THREE

Individualized Intervention Planning

Based on assessment results, our literacy specialists create a customized intervention plan targeting your child's specific areas of need. We collaborate with the psychologist who conducted the evaluation to ensure the tutoring approach aligns precisely with findings. You'll meet with your child's assigned specialist, Natalie Moore for K-2 students or Rachel Roth for older learners, to discuss the intervention plan, schedule, and goals. We also coordinate with your child's teacher when appropriate to ensure our support reinforces what's happening at school.

STEP FOUR

Regular Reading Intervention Sessions

Your child begins working one-on-one with their literacy specialist 1-3 times weekly (frequency based on need and family schedule). Each 45-60 minute session uses Orton-Gillingham methodology and other evidence-based structured literacy approaches to systematically build skills. Sessions are engaging and multi-sensory, incorporating visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning. We track progress carefully and adjust instruction based on your child's responses. You'll receive regular updates on what your child is learning and suggestions for supporting practice at home. Most families see meaningful progress within 12-16 weeks, though dyslexia intervention is a longer-term commitment, typically 1-2 years, depending on the severity of need and consistency of attendance.

STEP FIVE

Ongoing Progress Monitoring & Support

As your child develops reading skills, we continue assessing progress and adjusting our approach to ensure continued growth. We can conduct brief progress evaluations to measure skill gains, celebrate achievements, and identify any areas needing additional focus. Our team remains available to consult with schools, answer parent questions, and provide coaching as needed. Because we're a comprehensive practice, families can access other services like executive function coaching or speech therapy if additional needs emerge. We're committed to being your long-term partner in your child's educational success.

Our Approach

At Mind By Design, our approach to dyslexia support is grounded in both rigorous science and genuine compassion for children and families.

We believe that dyslexia is not a deficit but a difference, a unique way of processing language that responds beautifully to specialized instruction when delivered correctly. Our philosophy centers on seeing each child as a capable learner with specific needs rather than a struggling student with limitations. This strengths-based perspective shapes everything we do, from how we conduct assessments to how we structure intervention sessions.

Our methodology integrates the most effective evidence-based practices known to support dyslexic learners. The Orton-Gillingham approach forms the foundation of our literacy intervention, providing systematic, explicit, multi-sensory instruction that teaches the structure of language in a logical sequence. We complement this with Science of Reading principles, Structured Word Inquiry that helps students understand word meaning and morphology, and systematic phonics instruction. This isn't one-size-fits-all tutoring; it's carefully individualized teaching based on a deep diagnostic understanding of how each child processes language. We also recognize that reading doesn't happen in isolation, so we connect speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, helping students see relationships across language domains.

What makes our approach particularly effective in Campbell and Morgan Hill is our team's extensive background in public education. Jana Parker and our educational psychologists have worked as school psychologists and special education administrators, giving us insider knowledge of how school systems work, what accommodations are available, and what documentation schools need. We don't just identify dyslexia and leave you to navigate school meetings alone; we empower you to advocate effectively. Similarly, our literacy specialists understand school curricula and can coordinate with classroom teachers to ensure our intervention supports and reinforces what's being taught in school.

Finally, we never lose sight of the emotional experience of struggling with reading. Beyond building skills, we deliberately work to restore confidence, reduce anxiety, and help children rediscover joy in learning. We make sessions engaging and fun, celebrate effort and progress, and help students recognize their own growth. For families in our community dealing with the stress of watching their bright child struggle, this holistic approach, addressing both skills and emotions while providing expert guidance through the educational system, creates meaningful, lasting change that extends far beyond reading improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mind By Design was founded by Jana Parker, a Licensed Educational Psychologist and Board Certified School Neuropsychologist, to provide comprehensive assessment and intervention services to families in Campbell, Morgan Hill, and throughout Silicon Valley. Our team of educational psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and education specialists brings unique expertise from years of working in public schools, and we use this perspective to deliver exceptional private practice care. We specialize in helping children with learning differences thrive through evidence-based assessment and support services.

Learn More

While formal testing isn't always required to begin literacy intervention, assessment provides valuable information that makes tutoring more effective and efficient. Comprehensive dyslexia testing identifies your child's specific learning profile, not just confirming whether dyslexia is present, but revealing exactly which underlying skills need support. This allows our specialists to target intervention precisely rather than using a general approach. Testing also provides clinical diagnoses that support school accommodations, help you access services through IEPs or 504 plans, and give your child's teachers important information. For families in Campbell and Morgan Hill seeking the most comprehensive support, we recommend starting with an assessment, but we can discuss your specific situation during a free consultation call.
Every child progresses at their own pace based on the severity of their reading challenges, consistency of attendance, practice at home, and individual learning style. Most families begin seeing meaningful progress within 12-16 weeks of regular sessions, improvements like increased reading confidence, better decoding of unfamiliar words, or reduced spelling errors. However, dyslexia intervention is not a quick fix. Building strong, automatic reading skills typically requires 1-2 years of consistent, specialized instruction. Students with mild challenges may progress more quickly, while those with moderate to severe dyslexia need longer intervention. We track progress carefully throughout and celebrate milestones along the way, ensuring you can see your child's growth even when the full journey takes time.
We provide comprehensive dyslexia testing for students from preschool through high school and young adulthood. Early identification is valuable, and we can assess children as young as 4-5 if concerns about pre-reading skills exist. For literacy intervention, we serve students in grades K-12 with specialized expertise at different age ranges. Natalie Moore focuses specifically on K-2 students, providing age-appropriate, engaging early literacy intervention. Rachel Roth specializes in older students from age 12 and up, addressing the unique needs of adolescents who need to strengthen foundational skills while building more complex literacy abilities. Our team's range of expertise ensures your child works with someone who understands their developmental stage.
We are a private practice and do not bill insurance directly. However, many families successfully use HSA or FSA funds for our services. We provide detailed superbills (receipts with diagnostic codes) that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement if you have out-of-network benefits. Coverage varies significantly by insurance plan, so we recommend contacting your insurance provider before beginning services to understand your specific benefits. Some families find that psychoeducational testing is more likely to be reimbursed than ongoing tutoring, but every plan is different. We're happy to provide the documentation you need to seek reimbursement.
This is exactly what comprehensive psychoeducational testing answers. Many factors can impact reading, from vision or hearing issues to attention difficulties, language delays, inadequate instruction, or other learning differences. Dyslexia is specifically a language-based learning difference characterized by difficulties with phonological processing, decoding, spelling, and reading fluency despite adequate intelligence and instruction. Our assessments examine all the areas that affect reading to determine the root cause of your child's challenges. If you're noticing persistent struggles with letter-sound relationships, slow or labored reading, frequent spelling errors, difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words, or avoidance of reading despite grade-level instruction, it's worth having an evaluation. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your child's specific challenges and whether testing would be beneficial.

GET YOUR CHILD READING WITH CONFIDENCE

Take the first step toward comprehensive dyslexia support by scheduling your assessment today.