ASDEC IMPORTANT TERMS

ASDEC: Atlantic Seaboard Dyslexia Education Center (asdec.org) 

 

ALTA: Academic Language Therapy Association (altaread.org) 

 

CALT (Certified Academic Language Therapist): The certification title awarded to individuals who have: 

• Completed ASDEC training 

• Passed the ALTA exam 

• Completed (or are completing) a master's degree 

 

Note: If you take the ALTA exam without a master's degree, you initially receive the title "CALT Candidate (CALT-C)" and have 5 years to complete your master's. If not completed within 5 years, your ALTA certification converts to CALP. You retain your ASDEC certification as an Academic Language Therapist. 

 

CALP (Certified Academic Language Practitioner): A certification title for individuals who: - Have passed the ALTA exam in a practitioner level program (SIS is not a practitioner program) 

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CEU (Continuing Education Units): Required professional development. After certification, you must obtain 10 CEUs annually to maintain your CALT/CALP credentials. 

 

Clinical Team: ASDEC-trained professionals who provide supervision, decision-making support, and feedback throughout your training. 

 

Cohort: The group of trainees who begin Language 1 with you. 

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Extended Supervision: Additional supervision required if you haven't completed all certification requirements within the standard timeframe (up to 5 years from starting training per ALTA guidelines). 

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Fidelity: Strict adherence to Sounds In Syllables (SIS) protocols to ensure program effectiveness and integrity. 

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Formal Observation: A supervised teaching session where your supervisor evaluates your application of learned techniques and provides feedback. 20 formal observations are required for certification. 

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IMSLEC Accreditation: Accreditation from the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council, ensuring quality and credibility of ASDEC's training programs. 

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Independent Contractor: Your working status with ASDEC. You set your own fees, manage your own clients, and structure your practice while following ASDEC guidelines. 

 

Practicum Student: A student you work with during your supervised training period. This term distinguishes training students from any future independent practice. 

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Pro-Bono Hours: Unpaid teaching hours with a student you've found independently. These require supervision and count toward your training. If you don't complete an intensive, you need either 45 hours pro-bono. 

 

QI (Qualified Instructor): An ALTA-certified professional who has met advanced training requirements to provide instruction and supervision in academic language therapy. 

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SIS (Sounds In Syllables): A highly effective Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching reading, spelling, writing, and foundations of syntax and grammar. Developed by Sandra Dillon in the 1980s, based on evidence from neurology, cognitive sciences, psychology, speech-language pathology, and linguistics. 

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Supervision Hours: Total hours under supervisor guidance, including direct student work, formal observations, and supervisor meetings. 700 hours required for certification. 

 

Supervised Practicum: Your training period under an ASDEC supervisor, required to completeall certification requirements including 700 supervision hours.