Dyslexia Tutors & Structured Literacy Specialists in Arizona
A comprehensive resource for Arizona families navigating dyslexia — trained Orton-Gillingham and Barton tutors, warning signs, assessment paths, and ESA coverage for intervention.
We are a small, dedicated team of dyslexia specialists and speech therapists providing virtual services for both children and adults. Using the Orton-Gillingham approach, we deliver individualized instruction in reading and spelling, along with comprehensive speech therapy. We specialize in working with individuals with dyslexia and other learning differences.
Our therapists are deeply passionate about helping learners of all ages build strong literacy and communication skills. Each member of our team is patient, compassionate, and highly trained, and we are honored to be trusted with your child’s care.
If your child is struggling to read, spell, or write despite good instruction, structured literacy is the fastest path forward. Arizona ESA covers evaluation and tutoring, and Orton-Gillingham-trained tutors across the state can meet in person or online. Below you'll find providers, a plain-English guide to dyslexia, and how to choose the right tutor.
Stillness and Spark OT helps families find improved connection, regulation, and independence, right from home through in-home visits in North Phoenix and telehealth sessions statewide.
We use an interactive play based model paired with a focus on nervous system regulation, primitive reflex integration, coregulation, listening therapies, and sensory strategies.
We partner with parents to support their child's growth in self care, visual motor and fine motor skills, attention, social skills, and sensory integration.
Delivered through a lens of faith and compassion, my goal is to help your child achieve increased resilience, joy, regulation, and greater independence in daily life.
Is Your Child's Nervous System Asking for Support? (2 minute quiz)
https://stillnessandspark.com/quiz
Get Your Struggle Reader Back on Track! I'm a reading and spelling interventionist for ages K-12 struggling with dyslexia and other reading challenges. Sessions are one-hour, twice a week. I use the Barton System which is an Orton-Gillingham-based multisensory method. My other ministry is doing evangelism and discipleship training for children and adults which I do not charge for. My tutoring helps support me for this ministry.
Yes — Arizona ESA pays for dyslexia tutoring and structured literacy intervention. Tutoring is an expressly approved ESA expense, and Orton-Gillingham, Barton, and Wilson programs are explicitly named as covered structured-literacy methods. Individual tutors need at least a high school diploma; tutoring businesses need accreditation or a written attestation that their instructors qualify. Comprehensive dyslexia evaluations ($1,500–$3,000) may also qualify when tied to educational planning. All payment runs through ClassWallet as direct pay or reimbursement — most Arizona OG tutors are already ESA vendors. See What Arizona ESA Covers for the full list.
What is structured literacy?
Structured literacy is an evidence-based, explicit, systematic approach to teaching reading, spelling, and writing. Orton-Gillingham (OG) is the original — a multisensory method delivered one-on-one by a trained tutor. Barton and Wilson are widely-used OG-based curriculums. All three work; the difference is delivery. A trained OG tutor is the fastest path for a documented diagnosis; Barton is designed for parents to deliver at home with no training. See our Orton-Gillingham guide for details.
Signs your child may have dyslexia
Persistent letter reversals past 2nd grade. Guessing at words from the first letter. Reading fatigue — 15 minutes of reading exhausts them. Poor spelling despite good speech and vocabulary. Difficulty rhyming in preschool. Family history of reading struggles. Confident, on-grade-level readers do not need OG intervention — this is for kids where standard phonics isn't sticking.
Getting a formal evaluation
A comprehensive evaluation from an educational psychologist typically costs $1,500–$3,000 in Arizona and is often ESA-eligible when tied to educational planning. Some pediatricians and dyslexia-focused clinics offer screenings. A formal diagnosis is not required to start OG tutoring — a trained tutor can identify structured-literacy needs — but a diagnosis helps with ESA documentation, accommodations, and future testing.
How to vet a dyslexia tutor
Ask: What OG training have you completed? (IMSE, IDA-accredited, Barton-certified, Wilson Level I). How long have you been tutoring dyslexic students? (Look for 3+ years.) Do you use a specific curriculum or your own materials?How often do we meet, and for how long? (2–3 times a week, 45–60 minutes is standard.) How do you measure progress? (Regular decoding and spelling assessments.) Do you accept ClassWallet / ESA payments? Expect 8–12 weeks to see measurable progress, and 1–3 years for a documented dyslexia case.
Frequently asked questions
Does Arizona ESA pay for dyslexia tutoring?
Yes. Arizona ESA pays for dyslexia tutoring and structured-literacy intervention — Orton-Gillingham, Barton, and Wilson are all covered. Individual tutors need at least a high school diploma; businesses need accreditation or an instructor attestation. Payment runs through ClassWallet. Comprehensive evaluations ($1,500–$3,000) are typically ESA-eligible when tied to educational planning.
How do I know if my child has dyslexia?
Look for persistent decoding difficulty, poor spelling despite good speech, letter reversals past 2nd grade, reading fatigue, family history, and difficulty rhyming in preschool. A formal evaluation is available through educational psychologists, some pediatricians, and dyslexia-focused clinics. ESA can cover assessment costs when tied to educational planning.
Do I need a formal diagnosis before starting tutoring?
No. A trained Orton-Gillingham tutor can identify structured-literacy needs and start intervention immediately. A formal diagnosis is helpful for ESA documentation, future accommodations, and testing, but it isn't required to begin tutoring.
How much do dyslexia tutors charge in Arizona?
Trained OG tutors typically charge $60–$110 per hour in Arizona, with the higher end for IDA-accredited or long-experienced tutors. Most tutoring is fully covered by Arizona ESA through ClassWallet.
How long does it take to see progress?
Expect measurable decoding and spelling gains in 8–12 weeks with consistent 2–3x per week sessions. A documented dyslexia case typically takes 1–3 years of OG tutoring for the child to become a confident, on-grade-level reader.
Can I teach Orton-Gillingham at home myself?
Yes — with a parent-friendly curriculum like Barton, All About Reading, or Logic of English. These apply OG principles in a scripted, no-training-required format. For mild-to-moderate struggles they work well. For a documented dyslexia diagnosis, a trained tutor is strongly recommended at least for the first year.
Is online dyslexia tutoring effective?
Yes. Trained tutors run OG sessions on Zoom with digital manipulatives and a shared whiteboard. For older elementary and up, online is often as effective as in-person and doubles your pool of trained tutors. For young children with attention challenges, in-person usually wins.
Homeschooling and ESA-funded education are not the same thing
Under Arizona law these are two distinct pathways with different rules. We label every listing with the pathway it primarily serves so you know what you're signing up for.
Homeschooling (ARS §15-802)
Parent files an Affidavit of Intent. No public funds. Parent picks any curriculum and keeps full control. Co-ops, tutors, and enrichment are paid out of pocket.
ESA-funded education
Family signs the ESA contract and the affidavit is withdrawn. Quarterly funds flow through ClassWallet, expenses must fit ADE's allowable list, and receipts are required. Legally not homeschooling.
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