Frequently Asked Questions

At Austin Learning Solutions we are more than a tutoring service. The true heart beat of ALS is supporting students with dyslexia, dysgraphia and auditory processing deficits through quality multisensory instruction. ALS has experienced teachers that specialize in training students with dyslexia to be successful lifelong readers. We provide remedial instruction and training that rewires the brain to help students overcome reading struggles. Consistency is key to a child’s progress, so we work closely with the parents and train them in our methods.

We highly encourage parents to sit-in on their childs’ first sessions until they feel like they have the tools needed to support their child at home.

Aside from serving students with reading challenges, we also offer cognitive training and executive functioning skills through an intensive therapeutic brain training program called PACE (Processing and Cognitive Enhancement). Not all brain training programs are created equal. However, PACE is head and shoulders above the rest because it builds and strengthens the processing skills that are necessary to make learning easier and faster. We have seen students’ confidence and cognitive abilities grow and make life changing progress through this program.

We offer one-on-one sessions in our office Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM and are also open on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) to accommodate busy family schedules.

For families who prefer weekday sessions, we can provide a “please excuse” note for students who attend once a week during school hours or who need to leave school early. 

In the rare event that your child’s school has any questions or concerns, they are welcome to contact us directly—we’re always happy to provide information about our private lessons and explain the educational benefits of one-on-one support outside of school.

Our teachers are highly trained and certified in a variety of research-based reading programs, allowing us to tailor instruction to each child’s individual learning needs. Because we work one-on-one, we have the flexibility to pull the most effective strategies and techniques from multiple programs—using our expertise to design lessons that are truly personalized.

While the Phono-Graphix program is at the heart of how we teach phonics, we are not bound to any single curriculum. This freedom is one of the biggest reasons our students make such strong progress. It allows us to offer something most schools can’t—instruction that adapts to your child, not the other way around.

Our methods are aligned with the Science of Reading, backed by decades of scientific research on how the brain learns to read. Unlike many popular phonics programs used in school settings—which often rely on memorizing long lists of rules, letter names, or blends—we keep instruction simple, hands-on, and effective.

Every lesson uses a multisensory approach, combining visual, auditory, handwriting, and kinesthetic-tactile activities. This interactive style helps children stay focused, improves retention, and makes learning to read both engaging and meaningful.

Our goal is to work ourselves out of a job with you! It’s hard to say exactly how long we will be working with your child, since every learner is so different. On average, we work with students from six months to a year. We DO NOT lock families into a contract. We invoice weekly or monthly depending on your preference.

Yes! We now offer optional academic diagnostic evaluations administered by a licensed diagnostician. This evaluation can be a powerful tool for getting your child the services they need at school. It plays a vital role in understanding a child's educational strengths, weaknesses, and specific needs. It provides valuable information for educators, parents, and professionals involved in the child's education to support their learning and academic success.

If a diagnosis isn't something you want or need for your child, the first step before beginning lessons at ALS is coming in for a basic screener assessment. This allows us to meet the child where they are on their reading journey and provide appropriote instruction and intervention. Since screeners do not diagnose, it lets us know if a child is "at risk" in certain areas. While an official diagnostic assessment can answer many questions, we also believe both assessments (diagnostic or nondiagnostic) provide crucial information about a child's processing skills and ability. 

Overall, assessments and screeners provide valuable data enabling us to make informed decisions, track progress, and ensure that every child receives the appropriate resources and interventions to thrive. 

Basic screener assessment takes about 1-2 hours to complete, depending on the child's age. 

Edcuational diagnostic evaluation takes 1.5-2 hours to complete.