Inside thebul•le•tin

• President’s LetterPage 2

• Member SpotlightPage 4

• Beyond the 3 R’s: LearningDisabilities and Social IssuesPage 5

• Notice Anything DifferentAbout the Directory?Page 6

• Is 2007 the year for licen-sure in Texas?Page 7

• MilestonesPage 10

• Members Asked to VotePage 11

• CEU CalendarPage 12

• ALTA Garage SalePage 13

• MilestonesPage 14

www.ALTAread . o r g

Academic LanguageTherapy Association®

Dedicatedto theremediationof written-languageskills.

bul•le•tinSpr i ng 2007

The bul•le•tin is a quarterly publication of theAcademic LanguageTherapyAssociation (ALTA),andis freeto its membership.

ALTA assumes no responsi-bility for errors or omissions.To submit news items or arti-cles, which are subject toediting for space and style, orfor advertising or other infor-mation, contact:

Tracey CoxEditor

ALTA14070 Proton Rd.,Suite 100, LB 9

Dallas, TX 75244-3601972/233-9107

Fax 972/490-4219Hopeline 1-866-283-7133

toll free

“Bernard of Chartres used to say that we are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants, so that we cansee more than they, and things at a greater distance, not by virtue of any sharpness of sight on ourpart, or any physical distinction, but because we are carried high and raised up by their giant size.”

-John of Salisbury, 1159 Metalogicon

If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."-Sir Isaac Newton, February 5, 1676

These quotes clarify and exemplify the spirit ofALTA®’s 21st Annual Conference. The power of thismetaphor is immediate. First, the importance andnature of the scientific method and research is strik-ingly apparent. On further reflection, it is easy toimagine the view one might have from being liftedon high. By invoking the extraordinary vision whichthis help might entail, the metaphor underscores thevery solid foundation of work upon which onestands. Early work and research has enabled a subse-quent generation to begin at a higher level of under-standing and knowledge.The collaborative nature ofscience whereby there is a collective and individualpursuit of knowledge is one of its greatest assets.What do we take away from this powerful image?We must search for opportunities to learn from

those giants that remain among us, acknowledge each other’s work and build while allowingothers to build upon what we have accomplished. Working within this framework, we willcontinue to grow in stature and collectively and individually, we will achieve our goal. Wemust continue to be a collaborative community in the scientific tradition.

This year has seen the passing of one of the giants in our field, Mrs. Aylett Cox, and yet thereremains another generation of giants. The ALTA® Board is very pleased to have four of themas this year’s speakers.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

21st AnnualALTA® Conference

See 21st Annual ALTA® Conference on Page 3

2 ALTA bul•le•tin/Spring 2007

OFFICERS 2006-2007Nancy Coffman, MS, CALT, QI, PresidentMichelle Bufkin, MPA, CALT, President-ElectKathy Gilman, CALT, VP/MembershipMeg Carlsen, MS, CALT, VP/ProgramsTracey Cox, CALT, VP/Public RelationsJeanine Phillips, MS, CALT, QI, SecretaryMary Lou Slania, CALT, TreasurerMelanie Royal, M.Ed., CALT, QI, HistorianMartha J. Haun, Ph.D., PRP, Parliamentarian

Board of DirectorsJudith R. Birsh, Ed.D, CALT, QIKay Byrd, CALT, QISuzanne Carreker, CALT, QISandra Dillon, M.A., CALT, QILynne Fitzhugh, Ph.D., CALTElsa Cardenas-Hagan, Ed.D., CCC/SLP, CALTSara Rivers, M.A., CALT, QILinda Stringer, CALT, QIMary Dyer, CALTMarilyn Mathis, M.Ed., CALT, QIKaren S. Vickery, Ed.D., CALT, QIChristine Wylie, CALT

Past PresidentsJamie WilliamsSherry MalphursCorine TycherAvril GreenbergPeggy ThorntonNell CarvellBarbara FoxElizabeth CantrillMartha SibleyKay PetersonMelanie Royal

Committee ChairsLisa Tyler, M.Ed., CALTContinuing Education

Jana Jones, MLA, CALT, QIEthics and Grievances

Janna S. Curry, M.Ed., CALT, QI, ExhibitsMary Lou Slania, CALT, FinanceMargaret Carlsen, M.S., CALT, ProgramsTracey Cox, CALT, NewsletterTreasa Owens, M.Ed., CALT, QINewsletter Co-chair

Suzanne Carreker, CALT, QIRegistration Examination

Bryony Jane Welsh, M.Ed., CALTTelephone Helpline

Kimberly Mullins, CALT, QI,Website HelplineLynne Fitzhugh, Ph.D., CALT, WebsiteKathleen Carlsen, M.Ed., CALT, QIByLaws Committee

Karen S. Vickery, Ed.D., CALT, QIQI Committee

Karen Avrit, M.Ed., CALT, QINominations and Awards

Joyce Pickering, M.A., SLP/CCC, CALT, QILegislative Action Committee

LiaisonsMegan Cohen, MPA, CAE, IDAMarjory J. Roth, M.Ed., Fellow/AOGPEPhyllis Meisel, Fellow/AOGPE, CALTIMSLEC

Kay Peterson, M.S., CALT, QIALTA Foundation

President’s LetterDear Fellow ALTA members,

There are times when individual members can goabout their business and not attend to the needs ofthe organization and there are times when the orga-nization needs the support and attention of themembers. We are in a time when our organizationneeds our attention. In my home state of Texas, thereis a bill before the legislature that would grant licen-sure to individuals who hold our credentials. Ourcolleagues in Mississippi gained licensure last year.The goal of ALTA has always been to have licensurein all 50 states. As ALTA members we need to sup-port the efforts to gain licensure in our home statesand across the country. That support includes con-tributions to funds to employ lobbyists and letterwriting. Your board will disseminate information on licensure efforts wheneverneeded and share the results with all members. You will find information on thelicensure effort in Texas in this newsletter.

Today there is a heightened awareness of dyslexia and the professionals who arequalified to serve individuals with dyslexia. There is also quite a bit of confu-sion in the general public as to what qualifications are needed. We all hear sadtales of parents who spend hard earned dollars on interventions that have no sci-entific basis and that are not supported by research. It is our responsibility toinform and educate our friends and neighbors at every opportunity. We need toguide them to reputable professionals and training courses. We are fortunatethat we can guide parents to our website and helpline, to the IMSLEC website,and to the Alliance website with confidence.

So, get involved! Contact the chair of a committee that interests you and vol-unteer to help. Stay informed as to legislative efforts in your area. Use CALT orAALT after your name with pride and let people know what it means. Come tothe Annual Conference on April 28th in Dallas, Texas.

It is our ability to serve individuals with dyslexia that brings us together. It is qual-ity training that makes us effective. It is banding together that moves this profes-sion forward as a respected profession and strengthens each of us in the process.

I look forward to gathering at our conference in April. It will be wonderful,don’t miss it!

Sincerely,

Nancy Coffman The Academic Language Therapy Associationneither recommends nor endorses any specificspeaker, school, institution, instructional pro-gram or material advertised in ALTA promo-tional or educational materials.

ALTA bul•le•tin/Spring 2007 3

Continued 21st Annual ALTA® Conference from page 1

The morning speakers are Dr. EdwardKame’enui, the first Commissioner ofSpecial Education Research, U. S.Department of Education, and Dr. JoanneCarlisle, author, researcher, and Professorof Educational Studies at the University ofMichigan. Afternoon speakers are Mr.Ronald Yoshimoto, M. Ed., M.S.W., andFellow of the Orton-Gillingham Society,and Dr. Betty Osman, author and practic-ing psychologist.

Edward J. Kame’enui, Ph.D. wasappointed the nation’s first commissionerfor special education research in May2005, and assumed duties in July 2005.He is an international authority on learn-ing problems and special education, andwill lead the National Center for SpecialEducation Research (NCSER), the fourthcenter established within the Institute ofEducation, as mandated in the 2004 reau-thorization of the Individuals withDisabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Dr. Kame’enui comes to IES from theUniversity of Oregon, where he has beena faculty member for the past 17 years.His areas of research expertise and interestinclude early literacy, vocabulary develop-ment, learning disabilities, school widemodels of reading improvement, and thedesign of high quality educational materi-als. During his tenure with University ofOregon, he directed or co-directednumerous federal or state research andtraining grants including the OregonReading First Center and the WesternRegional Reading First TechnicalAssistance Center. He has served on amultitude of national committees, reviewpanels, and research boards in general andspecial education and has published over90 journal articles, 30 book chapters, and14 textbooks.

Kame’enui began his special educationcareer in 1971 as a teacher and housepar-ent at a residential treatment center forchildren identified with serious emotion-al and behavioral problems in Wisconsin.He also served in the Office of Special

Education and Rehabilitative Services ofthe U.S. Department of Education as aresearch specialist and project officer. Inthe early-1980s, Kame’enui was a profes-sor of special education at The Universityof Montana and Purdue University.

A native of Hawaii, Kame’enui earned hisbachelor of arts degree at PacificUniversity in Oregon and a master’sdegree and Ph.D., both in special educa-tion, at the University of Oregon.

Joanne F. Carlisle, PhD., is Professor ofEducational Studies at the University ofMichigan. Dr. Carlisle began her career asa high school English teacher and, later,taught students with learning disabilitiesat the middle school and high school lev-els. She received her doctorate inLearning Disabilities from the Universityof Connecticut in 1984. Her researchfocuses on language and literacy develop-ment of school-age children, with a par-ticular interest in those for whom acquisi-tion of literacy is a challenge. Currentresearch projects focuses on early elemen-tary reading instruction. She is studyingmethods of instruction in vocabulary inthe early elementary years. She overseesthe evaluation of Reading First inMichigan. In addition, she is the princi-pal investigator of projects designed toinvestigate models of effective profession-al development in reading and the identi-fication and measurement of teachers’reading knowledge. She is the author ofnumerous articles and books.

Ronald Yoshimoto, M. Ed., M. S. W.,and Fellow of the Orton-GillinghamSociety was the principal of ASSETSSchool, a private school for dyslexic, gift-ed, and gifted dyslexic students, for 18years. He is currently employed by theState of Hawaii, Department ofEducation, to train special and regulareducation teachers in Orton-GillinghamMultisensory Structured LanguageTraining. He is also the past president ofthe Hawaii branch of the InternationalDyslexia Association. Mr. Yoshimoto is a

fellow of the Academy of OrtonGillingham Practitioners and Educatorsand is a former vice-president of theAcademy. He has presented at theInternational Dyslexia Association andother conferences.

Betty B. Osman, Ph.D. is knownthroughout the country as an authorityon children with learning disabilities andADHD. She is a psychologist, specializ-ing in the treatment of children and ado-lescents with behavioral problems, learn-ing disabilities and attention deficit disor-ders, as well as counseling families. Dr.Osman also has “social groups” to fosterthe development of children’s social skills.In addition to a private practice, she is onthe staff of theWhite Plains Hospital cen-ter, Department of Behavioral Health.Dr. Osman is the author of several booksand is a contributor of many journal arti-cles and chapters in books. Her booksinclude, Learning Disabilities: A Family

See 21st Annual ALTA® Conferenceon Page 4

Thanks to Our2007 ConferenceCommittee

Conference Chair

Meg Carlsen

Registration Chairs

Helen Macik and

Gina Mitchell

Exhibits Chair

Judy Echols

Garage Sale Chair

Linda Byther

Raffle Prize Chair

Chris Bedenbaugh

Public Relations Chairs

Anita Bruck and

Tracey Cox

And a SpecialThanks to

Region 10

After studying French and Latin in highschool, Stephen joined the United StatesAir Force as a Russian Cryptologic Linguist.He had a six-hour- a-day, five-day-a-week,year-long intensive Russian languagetraining at Defense Language Institute inMonterey, California. While doing hismilitary service in Berlin, Stephen tookGerman courses through the Universityof Maryland. He received college creditsfor all of his military training in Russian

and German. Afterbeing honorably dis-charged, Stephen wentto Penn State Universityand graduated with aBA in Russian.

Later, Stephen answeredan ad in the DallasMorning News for atutor for the SheltonSchool’s SummerScholars program.There happened tobe an eight year old

girl with learning differences who wasadopted from Russia. Stephen was placedwith her for the summer. Amy Kelton, aShelton teacher, and Stephen workedtogether that summer using various meth-ods to help this child with her various lan-guage difficulties. She could barely speakRussian or English. Joyce Pickering, direc-tor of the Shelton School, observed Stephenworking with her and offered him a job.After arriving at Shelton, Stephen discov-

ered the Association Method. “I didn’teven know about the Association Methoduntil I came to work for Shelton.” Sincehe was already using the method in theclassroom and found it to be effective, hedecided to take the training at theUniversity of South Mississippi inHattiesburg. Stephen says, “I had neverstudied language on the phonemic level,and I liked the Association Method sym-bols (The Northampton Symbols).”

Today, Stephen uses the AssociationMethod everyday for instructing studentsfrom early childhood through secondgrade as language therapy for childrenwith learning disabilities, primarilydyslexia. This year he has a T1/1st gradeclass at Shelton. His classroom is a modi-fied Montessori classroom in which theyuse the Association Method, SequentialEnglish Education (SEE) and MontessoriMethods to teach the language part of thecurriculum. They use VAK methods fromAssociation and Montessori to help thestudents make the sound/symbol associa-tion (hence, the Association Method) forthe phonemes and words.

Stephen finds that most significant aspectof the AssociationMethod is the orderliness.“The record-keeping of the AssociationMethod is key to helping the studentprogress at that child’s pace. The phonet-ic approach works very well for these LDchildren. It’s nice to observe them analyzea word or a sentence by taking the build-ing blocks of the written word to makemeaning. Personally, I just find theAssociation Method to be an interestingway to understand the English language.”

(For more information about the SheltonSchool, visit www.shelton.org, or call972-774-1772. For more informationabout the Association Method, visitwww.Usm.edu/dubard,or call 601-266-5223.)

Member Spotlight: Stephen NicolaFrom a Crytopic Linguist to Associate Academic LanguageTeacher

4

Guide to Living and Learning Together, NoOne to Play With: Social Problems of LDand ADD Children (Revised), andLearning Disabilities: A Family Affair. Sheis also the co-editor of Ritalin: Theory andPractice (2nd Edition) with LaurenceGreenhill, MD.

After graduating from Vassar College, Dr.Osman earned an M.A. and an Ed.M.from Teachers College, ColumbiaUniversity, and a Ph.D. in psychologyfrom Fordham University. She is on theEditorial Board of the Journal of Childand Adolescent Psychopharmacology andserves on the Board of Directors of theEagle Hill School in Greenwich,Connecticut, as well as on several profes-

sional boards throughout the country. Sheis Chairman Emeritus of the ProfessionalAdvisory Board of the National Center forLearning Disabilities and a former mem-ber of the Board of Directors. She was amember of the President’s Committee onMental Retardation and served a four yearterm on the National Institute of Healthand Human Development AdvisoryCouncil of the National Institutes ofHealth (NICHD).

Dr. Osman lectures widely in the UnitedStates and abroad, and has appeared onmany national radio and television pro-grams. She and her husband live in Rye,New York and are the parents of threegrown children.

ALTA bul•le•tin/Spring 2007

Continued 21st Annual ALTA® Conference from page 3

Stephen Nicola

ALTA bul•le•tin/Spring 2007 5

By Betty B. Osman, PhD,

Child and Adolescent Services,

Department of Behavioral Health

White Plains Hospital Center,

White Plains, NewYork

Learning to successfully interact withothers is one of the most importantaspects of a child’s development, with far-reaching implications. Although mostchildren acquire social skills by example(and possibly osmosis), research clearlysuggests that children with learning dis-abilities and/or ADHD may have diffi-culty making and keeping friends. LDadolescents have also been shown to beless involved in recreational activitiesthan their non-LD classmates. As a result,they are likely to become the all-too-familiar couch potatoes who spendleisure time alone, addicted to T.V., com-puter games, and the internet.

Parents devote much time and effort try-ing to impart to children the informationand values they consider important. Yet,the development of children’s social skillsfrequently is taken for granted. It goeswithout saying that it is painful for parentsto see a child rejected by peers; actually ina sense, it becomes their rejection as well.Some parents relive their own unhappysocial experiences as children, while othershave expectations or dreams for their chil-dren that, not realized, become a source ofdisappointment and frustration.

Certainly, not all young people withlearning difficulties experience socialproblems; typically, the good athlete,computer whiz, class comedian, or resi-dent artist, is likely to be accepted regard-less of other problems. Then, too, somechildren seem born to make life easy forparents–and for themselves. They appearto develop social awareness in the criband as they grow, display innately good"people skills"–a sense of humor, a posi-

tive attitude toward life, and empathy forothers, qualities guaranteed to winfriends. But for many children and ado-lescents, the lack of peer acceptance canbecome the most painful of their prob-lems. There are calculators and wordprocessors to help with school assign-ments, but there’s no similar technologyto help students handle a lonely recess atschool, a family outing, or a date. Theserequire social competence.

Social competence in this context refersto those overt and cognitive skills neces-sary for effective interpersonal function-ing. They include both verbal and non-verbal behaviors that are socially valuedand are likely to elicit a positive responsefrom others. Lack of these behaviorsthough, does not represent a simple prob-lem. Rather, social difficulties may bethought of as occurring on three levels.

The first is a cognitive deficit, or a lack ofknowledge of how to act in a given socialsituation. Intervention on this level con-sists of teaching the requisite skill in muchthe same way as a new math conceptwould be introduced. There are people,however, who do understand appropriatebehavior and what is expected in a socialsituation, but their own needs interferewith their cognitive processing. This is the“performance deficit”, seen most fre-quently, perhaps, in LD/ADHD childrenand adolescents. These young people havethe skills, but are unable to apply them.

Still others with social disabilities knowhow to act and can suppress their ownneeds, but lack the ability to evaluatetheir own or others’ behavior. They don’tunderstand the effect of their actions andtherefore, have no means of monitoringwhat they do. Anticipation andcause/effect are non-existent, so there isno recognition until after the infractionoccurs again.

In sum, youngpeople withsocial disabilitiesfrequently areless able thanothers their ageto figure outhow to behavein social situa-tions and are less aware of how othersrespond to them. Therefore, they actwithout knowledge or regard for socialconsequences. Most though, are com-pletely unaware of their role, perceivingthemselves as the innocent victims ofothers’ wrongs or mistreatment. In otherwords, these young people take littleresponsibility for their actions, blamingothers--or simply bad luck--for events intheir lives. What they do feel though, is alack of mastery and success and an over-dose of criticism from peers and adultsalike. To help those with social difficul-ties, it is important to understand onwhat level they are having trouble andhow their social disabilities reflect orrelate to their other problems.

There are no easy solutions for helping chil-dren “catch up” with their peers, but onething is apparent, children do not learnsocial skills in a vacuum. Although LD chil-dren may seem immature for their chrono-logical age, they need to be encouraged tobe independent and self-reliant, vital ingre-dients for a healthy social adjustment.

Communication skills, both verbal andnon-verbal, frequently problematic forchildren with learning disabilities, alsoaffects their social interactions. Some LDyoungsters process verbal communicationalmost as a foreign language. Words don’tstand still, and neither does the peergroup, which may result in social isolation.

Beyond the 3 R’s: LearningDisabilities and Social Issues

See Beyond the 3 R’son Page 6

Non-verbal communication is probablyeven more important socially, that is, theability to correctly interpret body lan-guage and facial expressions. Some chil-dren with “high emotional intelligence”are aware of their own feelings and recog-nize emotions in others, even in thepreschool years. Others though, tend tomisread signals and don’t perceive others’moods and attitudes. These children mayalso gesture inappropriately, standing tooclose to others, talking too loud or toolong, with no awareness of the negativereactions they are incurring.

As parents, educators, and mental healthprofessionals, we cannot afford to ignorechildren’s psychosocial difficulties. Theconsequences are too great for them, theirteachers, and their families. The socialdomain, along with academic instruction,

is within the realm of educational respon-sibility, at home as well as in school.

To help children and adolescents developsocial skills and promote social accep-tance, a few suggestions are offered:

1. Establish an atmosphere of caring in ourschools, a climate where children will bewilling to take risks to learn. Fear of fail-ure is stronger for most than the desireto learn, especially for young peoplewhose self-esteem tends to be fragile.

2. Teach prosocial skills:• How to initiate, maintain, and end aconversation• The art of negotiation• Cooperating with others in a group• How to give and receive compliments• How to take constructive criticism

3. Use of peers to facilitate social interactions(an underutilized resource in education)• Modeling• Groups• Role playing

Although not all children and adolescentsincur social difficulties, those who doneed special understanding in the schoolyears, not only in terms of their presentperformance, but rather for the peoplethey are capable of becoming with ourhelp. Although each young person isunique, all have the same needs--foracceptance, approval, and a sense ofbelonging. To truly address their needs,we must go beyond the 3 R’s to includethe 4th R, Relationships.

6 ALTA bul•le•tin/Spring 2007

Continued Beyond the 3 R’s from page 5

You will notice a somewhat different for-mat to the 2006-2007 directories. AvrilGreenberg and her committee worked dili-gently to make the ALTA directory a moreuser-friendly and comprehensive resource.

For quick and easy reference, the table ofcontents is on page 1. Avril and her com-mittee have attempted to keep all relevantinformation together, i. e. membership andminimum guidelines have been moved tothe beginning of the directory. All issuesrelating to ALTA governance, such as

Bylaws, ALTA’s history and Policies andProcedures, as well as a comprehensive listof training courses, are located towards theback of the directory. On the front insidecover, you’ll find the ALTA Officers, Boardof directors, Past Presidents, CommitteeChairs, and Liaisons.

Each membership section now has a thumbguide for each of the four different levels:Qualified Instructors, CALTs, a new sectionfor Associate Level members, and Students.A table on page 11 details the minimum

certification guidelines, requirements, andstandards for CALT and Associate Levelmembership in ALTA. This table is a quickvisual reference to compare and contrast therequirements mandated for CALTs and ournew Associate Level members.

A limited number of extra copies of thedirectory are available for purchase at $15each plus $3 shipping and handling. Toorder an extra copy of the directory, sendyour check for $18, payable to ALTA, to:ALTA National Office, 14070 ProtonRd., Suite 100, LB 9, Dallas, TX 75244.

Avril and her committee consider thisdirectory to be a work in progress. Theywelcome your constructive input and willendeavor to incorporate any suggestionsinto the layout of the 2007-2008 directo-ries. Send a note with your suggestions tothe ALTA office address above, or go to theALTA website, www.ALTAread.org, toemail your ideas. ALTA congratulates Avriland her committee for a job well done!

Notice Anything DifferentAbout the Directory?

CONFERENCE UNDERWRITING

The costs of producing a national conference are skyrocket-ing and we’re committed to keeping the cost of attendingthe ALTA conference affordable.To help bridge the gap, weare looking for ways to attract underwriters to help subsi-dize the event.

Please help us identify people or organizations that wouldconsider underwriting a specific area of the conference.Those areas would include printing, speakers, audiovisualneeds, the luncheon, coffee-breaks, and a raffle. If you haveany potential underwriters, please email Meg Carlsen:mbcarlsen@gmail.com.

ALTA bul•le•tin/Spring 2007 7

By Nancy Coffman, MS, CALT, QI

There is a bill before the Texas legislatureto grant licensure to individuals who holdcredentials matching those ofAssociate/Academic Language Teachers(AALT) and Certified AcademicLanguage Therapists (CALT). This billwas drafted by Geraldine “Tincy” Millerwith input from ALTA and all of theIMSLEC accredited training coursedirectors in Texas. The criteria for licen-sure at both levels match the criteria forthose levels of membership in ALTA. TheAssociate level is titled “Basic DyslexiaPractitioner,” and the CALT level is titled“Advanced Dyslexia Therapist.” This leg-islation was initially put before the Texaslegislature in 2005. It was defeated, noton the merits of the bill, but due to somepolitical maneuvers beyond our control.

Since that disappointment, the bill hasbeen strengthened and the ALTA leader-ship has had a civics lesson! Recently, theALTA Board of Directors unanimouslyvoted to establish a fund of $20,000

from our reserves to pay a lobbyist tousher this bill for licensure through theTexas legislature.

ALTA’s status as a 501(c)(6) allows us tofund a lobbyist. As Jamie Williams, ourfounder, says, “This is exactly why weestablished ALTA as a 501(c)(6)!” Ourfounders intended for ALTA to take thisaction. They may not have predicted thatthe lobbyist we hired, Courtney Hoffman,

would be a former CALT herself and themother of a child with dyslexia.

The ALTA Board listed these reasons forhiring a lobbyist:• The bill failed in 2005 due to a lack ofproper tracking on the House side.• Our membership lacks the expertise toproperly follow and support legislation.

Want to be in on the LAF?Support legislative efforts to secure licensure (see article above) bymaking a non tax deductible donation to ALTA’s Legislative ActionFund (LAF). Checks or credit card contributions can be sent to thenational office.All members who have contributed to the fund will belisted on the next newsletter and acknowledged at the conference.

Don’t miss out on the LAF!Send your non tax-deductible contribution today!

ALTA14070 Proton Road, Ste 100, LB 9

Dallas,Texas 75244Attn: LAF

Credit card contributions can be made by calling:972-233-9107, ext 201

Is 2007 the year for licensurein Texas?

Geraldine “Tincy” Miller meets with ALTA representatives, IMSLEC accred-

ited course representatives, and state Education Service Center representa-

tives to draft the licensure bill. Back row, left to right: Nancy Coffman, Karen

Vickery, Helen Macik and Brenda Taylor. Front row, left to right: Geraldine

“Tincy” Miller, Gina Mitchell, Linda Gladden,ValerieTucker, Kay Allen, Karen

Avrit and Doris Haney

See 2007 the year for licensurein Texas on Page 8

We need a professional to monitor thebill and to advise us as to how and whento offer support.• Geraldine “Tincy” Miller’s endorse-ment of hiring a lobbyist. (Mrs. Milleris a CALT and the chair of the TexasState Board of Education. She was alsoinstrumental in getting the TexasDyslexia Law passed in 1985.)• Courtney Hoffman’s reputation as aneffective lobbyist combined with herpassion and understanding of our pro-fession.

As Judith R. Birsh, ALTA Board memberand editor of Multisensory Teaching ofBasic Language Skills said, “This is animportant moment in our efforts forrecognition of our MSLE profession anda precedent for further lobbying efforts inother states over time.”

A legislative committee has also beenformed. Members of that committee are:Kay Allen, Suzanne Carreker, NancyCoffman, Joyce Pickering (chair),Melanie Royal, and Valerie Tucker. Thiscommittee has done extensive work indrafting the bill and has been involved inthe process over the past year.

AND NOWWENEEDYOUR HELP!

The ALTA board also voted to requestcontributions from the membership tooffset and/or expand the allotted funds sothat ALTA can support future efforts inother states. Our goal is to raise a mini-mum of $20,000. These contributionswould not be tax deductible, but wouldshow grassroots support from the organi-zation, replenish the funds taken fromour reserves, and prepare us to supportlicensure in other states.

I hope that each of you will make adonation to the Legislative ActionFund. Every contribution will be signif-icant. The names of those contributingwill be published in the next ALTAnewsletter and at the ALTA conference.I know that I am proud to say, “I sup-port licensure!” I will be even moreproud when the bill has passed and Ican say, “I helped secure licensure forATLA members!” Once the bill hasbeen submitted to the legislature, infor-mation will be available on the ALTAwebsite, www.altaread.org

At press time, the following members havealready shown their support by making acontribution:

Judith BirshMichelle BufkinMargaret CarlsenNancy CoffmanTracey CoxTreasa OwensJeanine PhillipsMary Lou SlaniaKaren Vickery

Tomake a non tax-deductible contribution,send your check payable to ALTA noting onthememo line that it is a contribution for theLegislativeActionFund (LAF), or a letterwithyour name, address, telephone number, con-tribution amount and credit card numberwith expiration date, to: ALTA, 14070ProtonRoad, Suite 100, LB 9, Dallas, Texas 75244.

8 ALTA bul•le•tin/Spring 2007

2007 the year for licensure in Texas continued from Page 7

21st Annual ALTA®

ConferenceRAFFLE PRIZES

A relaxing and luxurious afternoonatThe Cooper Spa, an eveningon the town with dinner andfour premium Dallas Mavericks

tickets could be yours!

Tickets will be priced at $3.00each and will be available in theRegistration area after you checkin. The winners will be drawn later

in the day.

Please help support ALTA® in itsmission and win one of these fun

and exciting events!

CORRECTIONFor complete information on the

article “Improving Beginning ReadingInstruction and Intervention for

Students with LD: Reconciling “All”with “Each” by Michael Coyne,Edward Kame’enui and Deborah

Simmons, which appeared in the Fall2006 issue of The Bulletin, see The

Journal of Learning Disabilities,Vol. 37,No. 3, May/June, 2004, page 231-239.

ALTA bul•le•tin/Spring 2007 9

Academic Language Therapy Association Foundation was organizedon November 16, 1998. The Foundation received a letter of determi-nation from the Department of the Treasury in 1999 as a 501c(3).

The ALTA Foundation was established to provide financial support forALTA in furtherance of its purpose to educate professional AcademicLanguage Therapists in the most current research-based information,strategies and techniques that are effective in both therapeutic andclassroom situations. The Foundation supports programs that enhancethe self-esteem of students with dyslexia. Other activities includeopportunities to promote and support best practices among ALTAmembers and maintain high levels of professionalism in the field.

The Foundation has made financial contributions to the ALTA spellingbee, ALTA spring conference, the newly written national registrationexam and community projects in which ALTA has participated.

Long-term goals include the development of proposals to seek charita-ble donations for the Foundation.

Officers of the Foundation are Jana Jones,Michelle Bufkin andKay Peterson.

The ALTA Foundation wishes to express their gratitude for the followingindividuals who have made contributions in memory of Aylett Royall Cox.

Opal AndrewsLucy and Stephen BellBenita BelsleyJudith R. BirshRhodes R. BobbittMichelle BufkinAmy Campbell IIElizabeth CantrillMargaret CarlsenMr. and Mrs. Fred W. Catterall IIIWilliam Chilton, Jr.Gretchen Dennard ChraneNancy CoffmanTracey CoxMarsha DekanPaula DennardSue and Bill DillardBeverly DooleyMary DyerNancy and David EldridgeJean FortuneBarbara FoxFUNdamental Learning Ctr., IncKathryn GilmanMargaret GrantAvril GreenbergNancy HaleEdith Hogan

About the ALTAFoundation

Joan HoggeSandra HowzeJana JonesLouise JordanElizabeth KennedyLEADGretchen McKenzieLucy Ryan MuseFrances D. NewsomeCaroline OliverKay PetersonLenox ReedEd Reynolds IIINancy RyanMr. and Mrs. John C. Ryan IIICoxie Reynolds SheppardMartha SibleyGail SolomonDiana and Richard StraussCarol TaylorPeggy ThorntonCorrine TycherJamie WilliamsChristine Wylie

Earn MSLE CEU’s Online Classes

Scientific Spelling and Structure of Language

orInteractive Video Conferencing

www.neuhaus.org

Neuhaus Education Center4433 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77401-3233

713.664.7676

10 ALTA bul•le•tin/Spring 2007

By Bryony Welsh

When people call our Helpline or logonto the Website, they are seeking helpfor a child, or, sometimes, for them-selves. We all know that there is a greatup-swing in the number of peopleseeking help, thanks to our efforts ingetting the message out. However,there is a dearth of therapists and it isoften really difficult for volunteers tofind numbers to give people. Whenyou renew your ALTA Membership,you are asked if you will take tele-phone or online referrals. Please, when

you renew next time, consider addingyour name to those who are preparedto help. We all have students drop outfor one reason or another, or you mayhave a vacancy coming up in the nearfuture, or you may know of someonein your area who could help, or, mostimportantly, you can be a supportiveear for someone in need. We urgentlyneed more people willing to help.Please contact me at (281) 589-6539or Bryonyw@aol.com if you wouldlike to help.

Telephone and OnlineHelpline AssistanceNeeded

MilestonesWelcome, new CALTs: Carilyn Alarid,Holly Aranda, Joyce Bandfield, KimberlyBell, Eleanor Browning, Jeana Burton,Gayle Chilcoat, Shelley Corr, VickiDavis, Julie Davis, Kathleen Fish,Dana Griffith, June Hoffman, IleneJayne, Linda Mathews, Cathy McKenzie,Joan McNamara, Rebecca Montalvo,Janell Neer, Mary Jean Oman, CynthiaSangenito, Marcy Schnelle, PamelaTumblson and Karen Wheaton.

Welcome, new Associate members: JeanColner and Kimberly Moses.

ALTA bul•le•tin/Spring 2007 11

At the annual ALTAmeeting, April 28, members will be asked to vote on a proposal to increase membership dues for the 2008 member-ship year. The proposed rates are $75 for Academic LanguageTeachers andTherapists and $100 for Qualified Instructors. ALTA is a pro-fessional non-profit organization that operates solely on the revenue from dues.Within the last three years ALTA has promoted its missionby increasing its national presence. The dues increase will permit ALTA to continue on this path and to meet the rising costs of operation.

I, ______________________________, am an ALTA member in good standing. I will not be able to attend the annual meeting on April 28, 2007 andtherefore submit this written ballot. Send to ALTA Election, 14070 Proton Rd. Suite 100, LB 9, Dallas, TX 75244, postmarked by April 21, 2007.

The nominated slate of officers and directors The bylaws change The dues increase

■■ I approve ■■ I do not approve ■■ I approve ■■ I do not approve ■■ I approve ■■ I do not approve

Proposed Bylaws Change to be Approved at the Annual Membership MeetingIn adherence to our bylaws, ALTA members in good standing will be asked to approve a bylaws change that has been proposedby the bylaws committee and unanimously approved by the Board of Directors. Once ALTA instated the Associate AcademicLanguage Teacher level of membership, it became evident that there should also be a level for those who instruct at that level.The Instructor Certification Committee, chaired by Karen Vickery, researched the criteria for the instructor of the teaching levelwithin IMSLEC and aligned those criteria with this proposal. You will be asked to approve the following motion:

The Board of Directors proposes adding a fifth level of membership:Instructor of Associate Academic Language Teachers Instructor of Associate Academic Language Teachers membership shall be open to individuals who have met the minimum guidelinesfor Instructor of Associate Academic Language Teachers as defined in Policies and Procedures.

The following are the minimum guidelines for the Instructor of Associate Academic Language Teachers and will become effec-tive immediately after approval by the general membership.

A. Eligibility Criteria for Enrollment in Program1. ALTA Membership at the Associate Academic Language Teacher level for at least one (1) year before enrollment2. A minimum of 900 hours of teaching experience in the MSLE program beyond certification at the Associate AcademicLanguage Teacher level prior to enrollment, to include:a. One (1) completion of teaching experience in the MSLE courseb. To include all IMSLEC-specified content both beginning and advancedc. Experience with all IMSLEC-specified principles of instruction

B. Instructor of Associate Academic Language Teacher Level Program1. An internship for a minimum of 9 months or one complete cycle of MSLE teaching-level course2. A teaching-level instructor intern works under the supervision of an approved MSLE teacher instructor for a minimum of oneentire cycle of teaching-level training course that meets IMSLEC instructional standards

3. Experience to include:a. Observation of all activities in a continuous nine-month training cycle including beginning and advanced coursesb. Upon completion of observation at each level, gradual participation at that level may begin under supervision of aInstructor in:(1) Preparation for classes(2) Course participant observations(3) Record-keeping(4) Presenting and observing lectures(5) Providing feedback under the supervision of a teaching level instructor

C.Certification Criteria1. Completion of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education2. Completion of Instructor of Associate Academic Language Teacher Level Program as outlined above3. All certification criteria must be completed by the end of the third year after enrollment in the Instructor of AssociateAcademic Language Teacher Level Program.

D.Documentation of completion of certification requirements to be submitted to the Vice President of Membership at theALTA National Office who will forward it to the Instructor Level Certifying Committee1. Submit a copy of the Associate Academic Language Teacher certificate2. Submit a copy of Instructor of Associate Academic Language Teacher Level certificate of completion from an IMSLEC-accredited course3. Submit documentation of completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning

Additional documentation that may be required:1. A minimum of two (2) video presentations of lectures written and presented to a class by the Instructor of Teaching in training to include:a. one reading or applicable lectureb. one spelling or applicable lecturec. additional lectures may be requested

2. Portfolio of Instructor of Teaching trainee’s worka. lectures notes/outline of above two lecturesb. critiques of submitted video presentations as outlined above from the Instructor Level Certifying Committee

E. Instructor Level Certifying Committee1. Responsible for reviewing the applicant’s documentation and notifying the applicant and the ALTA Vice President of Membership of its decision2. Composed of three (3) Instructors of Associate Academic Language Teacher Level not affiliated with the applicant’s training center3. Appointed by the ALTA president and Vice President of Membership4. Committee members will remain anonymous5. ALTA Vice President of membership will act as liaison between the committee and the Applicant’s training center

F. All Instructors of Associate Academic Language Teacher Level must submit documentation of completion of ten (10) contact hoursof continuing education every year with their membership renewal, beginning in the third year after completion of their training.

Nominations for the2007-2008 Board ofDirectors

Each year a portion of the members

of the Board of Directors (BOD)

complete their two year term and

their replacements are elected for

their two year term. The

Nominating Committee proposes a

slate to the current BOD for ratifi-

cation. That slate is then presented

to the general membership for

approval. As provided by our

bylaws, (Article IX, Section 3, (b)

(2) ), additional nominations for

officers and directors may be sub-

mitted in writing and signed by

three active members in good

standing at least 15 days prior to

the annual meeting. Any submis-

sions should be mailed to the

national office and postmarked by

April 10, 2007.

At the April 28th business meeting,

active members in good standing

will be asked to approve the follow-

ing slate of officers and directors:

Lisa Tyler, VP Membership

Helen Macik, VP Public Relations

Phyllis Meisel, Board of Directors

Treasa Owens, Board of Directors

Marilyn Mathis, Board of Directors

(serving a second two year term)

Jean Colner, Board of Directors

The directors completing their two

year terms are:

Kathryn Gilman

Tracey Cox

Mary Dyer

Karen Vickery

Christine Wylie

The 2007 Nominating Committee

members are:

Karen Avrit, chair

Suzanne Carreker

Sandra Dillon

Lynne Fitzhugh

Marilyn Mathis

Members Asked to Vote

12 ALTA bul•le•tin/Spring 2007

When the Chips are Down…Strategies forImproving Children’s Behavior (Video)Date: March 12, 2007Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.Location Winston School

5707 Royal LaneDallas, Texas 75229

Sponsor: DBIDA’s Dallas DyslexiaInformation Group

Presenter: Richard Lavoie (video)Contact Person: Bob BrooksTelephone:214-351-1985CEU Contact Hours: 2

Fluency, Comprehension, and CompositionDate: March 24, 2007Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Location: Shelton School & Evaluation

Center15720 Hillcrest Rd.Dallas, Texas 75248

Sponsor: Shelton School & EvaluationCenter

Presenter: Linda Kneese, M. EdContact Person: Cindy AngelTelephone:214-774-1772 x 227Email: cangel@shelton.orgCEU Contact Hours: 8

The Science of DyslexiaDate: March 27, 2007Time: 6:30p.m. - 8:30 p.m.Location: Fundamental Learning Center

917 S. GlendaleWichita, Kansas 67218

Sponsor: Fundamental Learning CenterPresenter: Brian Stone, Ph.D.Contact Person: PennyTelephone:316-684-7323Email: pdorpinghaus@funlearn.orgCEU Contact Hours: 2

Clues to Your Career: A Self-DirectedSearch To Selecting a CareerDate: April 9, 2007Time: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.Location: Neuhaus Education Center

4433 Bissonnet Belaire, Texas 77401

Sponsor: Neuhaus Education CenterPresenter: Lee Herrick, M.ED., LPCContact Person: Cathy LorinoTelephone: 713-664-7676Email: clorino@neuhaus.orgCEU Contact Hours: 1.5

Organization and Study SkillsDate: April 14, 2007Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Location: Shelton School & Evaluation

Center15720 Hillcrest Rd.Dallas, Texas 75248

Sponsor: Shelton School & EvaluationCenter

Presenter: Linda Kneese, M. EdContact Person: Cindy AngelTelephone:214-774-1772 x 227Email: cangel@shelton.orgCEU Contact Hours: 8

Unlocking Literacy: EffectiveDecoding and SpellingDate: April 21, 2007Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.Location: Tarrytown United Methodist

Church (Fellowship Hall)2531 Exposition Blvd.Austin, Texas 78703

Sponsor: Scottish Rite Learning Centerof Austin

Presenter: Dr. Marcia Henry, Ph.D.Contact Person: Linda GladdenTelephone:(512) 472-1231Email: lgladden@aol.comCEU Contact Hours: 3

Dyslexia LawDate: May 5 , 2007Time: 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.Location: Shelton School & Evaluation

Center15720 Hillcrest Rd.Dallas, Texas 75248

Sponsor: Shelton School & EvaluationCenter

Presenter: Linda Kneese, M. EdContact Person: Cindy AngelTelephone:214-774-1772 x 227Email: cangel@shelton.orgCEU Contact Hours: 6

ALTA’s 21st Annual Conference -“Standing on the Shoulder of Giants”Date: April 28, 2007Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Sponsor: ALTALocation: Hilton - Lincoln Centre

Dallas, TX

Presenter: Dr. Edward Kame’emuiDr. Joanne CarlisleMr. Ronald YoshimotoDr. Betty OsmanGeraldine “Tincy” Miller

Contact Person: ALTA National OfficeTelephone:972-233-9107, ext. 201Conference information available online:

www. altaread.org

H is for HOPE -ADHD- If We CouldJust Harness that Energy!Date: May 22, 2007Time: 6:30p.m. - 8:30 p.m.Location: Fundamental Learning Center

917 S. GlendaleWichita, Kansas 67218

Sponsor: Fundamental Learning CenterPresenter: Mark Romereim, M.D. -

Child PsychiatristContact Person: PennyTelephone:316-684-7323Email: pdorpinghaus@funlearn.orgCEU Contact Hours: 2

ALTA Events for contact hours of CEUcredit are posted on our online Calendar ofEvents. CEU Information and a CEU BookList can be found in the ALTA 2006-2007Directory, pages 170 -175, as well as online.Organizations wishing to sponsor events areencouraged to submit them online by com-pleting an Event Submission Form.

The annual audit is under way with 2%of our membership being audited.

For additional information regarding theaudit or CEUs please contact Lisa Tyler,ALTA CEU Chairman at: ltyler@tx.rr.com

CEU Calendar

ALTA members are responsible for maintaining theirpersonal CEU records for possible audit. Two percentof our membership will be audited in 2007. If chosenfor audit, you will be required to provide documenta-tion for the past THREE YEARS. TEN CONTACTHOURS of CEU credit are required PER YEAR.

ALTA bul•le•tin/Spring 2007 13

The ALTA GarageSale Returns to the2007 Conference!What is it? A chance for therapists to clean out and sharematerials they no longer need with other therapists.

HOW CAN I HELP?

(1) Start your own cleaning frenzy now. Collect youritems. Contact Linda Byther or her committeemembers for drop-off instructions.

(2) Deadline for drop-off is Saturday, April 7th.

(3) Volunteer to help with the booth on the day of theconference.

Questions?Contact Linda Byther, Garage Sale Committee Chair:Linda_Byther@yahoo.com, or call 972-618-1335.

…..to place an ad in the Conference Program

Brochure. A Friend of ALTA listing is only $10;

business card ads are only $25.

Contact Meg Carlsen, Chair, at

214-361-8171 or

mbcarlsen@gmail.com.

Deadline for ads is March 1.

…..to have your favorite

vendor participate in our

elegant Exhibitors Area.

Contact Judy Echols at

214-987-9526 or

judy_echols@yahoo.com.

…to book your room at the

Hilton Hotel for our conference.

Join the fun group who raves about the

service and style of our host hotel! Our special

ALTA rate expires on April 2. Every room

booked by an ALTA member supports our

conference. You can book a room online

at www.hilton.com.

…to donate to the ALTA

Garage Sale! This fun tradition

needs a wide variety of thera-

pist tools and materials.

Linda Byther, Garage Sale

Chair, would love to hear

from you. Contact her at

linda_byther@yahoo.com or

972-618-1335.

We’re looking forward to seeing

you at this year’s conference. Don’t be

late for these very important dates!

14 ALTA bul•le•tin/Spring 2007

It’s NotToo Late…

The ALTA® Foundation is pleased to announce a scholarshipopportunity donated by one of our ALTA® members.Recognized artist and Certified Academic Language TherapistJoan Hogge approached the ALTA® Foundation with her offerto create an annual award for a student of an ALTA® member.As an instrumental part of the early ALTA® Spelling Bee con-tests, Joan sought to recreate some of the creative energy sheenjoyed while watching students, parents and therapists workon the Spelling Bee project. As Ms. Hogge explains, “My idea isto encourage language therapy students who have an interest inlearning to draw or to paint in a specific medium, or who dreamof becoming an artist. This award allows me to connect tworewarding passions in my life: my experience as an AcademicLanguage Therapist, and my love for the visual arts.”

The I Believe in Myself Award is available to students of ALTA®

members in third grade and up. With the help of their therapist,applicants will submit a short essay explaining why art is impor-

tant in their life. A committee will judge the essays and theaward winner will be announced at the ALTA® annual springconference. The award winner will receive a $250 scholarshiptowards art lessons provided by Ms. Hogge during the followingsummer. Student essays and the artwork they produce underJoan’s tutelage will be featured in the ALTA® newsletter, atALTA® events and on the ALTA® web site.

In addition to this scholarship offer, Ms. Hogge is donating 5%of all proceeds from her web site to ALTA®. These proceeds willbe donated to the ALTA® Foundation Scholarship fund. To viewMs. Hogge’s artwork, please visit www.joanhoggeart.com.

The recipient of the 2007 I Believe in Myself Award will beannounced at the ALTA Conference on April 28, 2007.Applications for the 2008 I Believe in Myself Award will be avail-able at the ALTA Foundation booth at this year’s conference.

The ALTA Foundation Announcesthe I Believe in Myself Award

ALTA bul•le•tin/Spring 2007 15

Contact the ALTA office for an examapplication, judy@madcrouch.com, orcall 972/233-9107 ext. 201.

June 9, 2007NEUHAUS EDUCATION CENTER4433 BissonnetBellaire, TX 77401Fax 713-664-4744www.neuhaus.org

June 9, 2007SCOTTISH RITE LEARNING CENTER OF AUSTIN1622 East RiversideAustin, TX 78741Fax 512-326-1877

www.scottishritelearningcenter.org

June 29, 2007THE SHELTON SCHOOL15720 Hillcrest RoadDallas, TX 75248Fax 972-991-3977www.shelton.org

June 30, 2007SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY5236 Tennyson ParkwayBuilding 4, Suite 108Plano, TX 75024214-768-7323 Fax 972-473-3442www.smu.edu/learning_therapy

July 13, 2007SCOTTISH RITE LEARNING CEN-TER OF WEST TEXAS602 Avenue QPO Box 10135Lubbock, TX 79408806-765-9150 Fax 806-765-9465w ww. l u b b o c k s c o t t i s h r i t e . o r g<http://www.lubbockscottishrite.org/>

September 15, 2007FUNDAMENTAL LEARNING CENTER197 S. GlendaleWichita, KS 67218Fax 316-684-7328www.fundamentallearning.com

UpcomingAllianceRegistrationExam Dates

For a calendar of future

dates to take the

Alliance Registration Exam,

go to www.altaread.org, or

contact Judy Shimp,

(972) 233-9107 ext. 201 or

judy@madcrouch.com.

Academic Language Therapy Association®

14070 Proton Rd.,Suite 100, LB 9Dallas, TX 75244-3601

Help ALTA When You Purchase

From Amazon.com

When you purchase your books, music,videos, etc. using the www.amazon.comlink found on the ALTA web site, youhelp ALTA with its web site operatingexpenses. ALTA receives 5% of the pur-chase price when you buy an item byvisiting www.altaread.org first, thenclicking on the link for amazon.com.In addition, ALTA receives 15% of thepurchase price when you visit the bookreview section of the ALTA web site andmake a purchase. Once you review abook and decide to purchase it, click onthe link for www.amazon.com.Consider www.amazon.com throughwww.altaread.org when shopping forprofessional reading material, children’sbooks, music, and videos and helpALTA with operating expenses.

Access the ALTA Bulletin Online

You may now access the Academic LanguageTherapy Association newsletter, the ALTABulletin, on-line. Go to ALTA’s web site atALTAread.org and click “Resources” fromthe menu selections. You will then click“Newsletters.” You may choose to view themost recent newsletter, or perhaps a pastnewsletter. Newsletters will download toyour computer. They are in Adobe AcrobatPDF format and, due to their length, maytake a few minutes to download.

Update Basic MembershipInformation Online

As you may have already noticed,www.ALTAread.org had a facelift. One ofthe new features of the site extends thecapability for members to update theirbasic member information on the websiteby themselves. By basic information we

mean name, address, phone number, andemail address. You may also change yourpassword if you desire. Important! Youwill still need to report these changes tothe ALTA office to update the associa-tion’s regular database. Here’s how itworks. From the home page ofALTAread.org, click “Member Login”from the selection menu. Type in yourmember number and password. (If youdon’t remember your member numberand/or password click the “Contact Us”selection and drop us an email. We’ll getthat information back to you within 48hours of receipt.) Once you are logged-in, select “My Account” from the selec-tion menu. Immediately to the right of“Profile Information” you will see “editprofile.” Click “edit profile” and this willtake you to the place where you can makechanges.

Online with ALTA