Is your child struggling with reading, writing, math or study skills? Do they have a diagnosed learning disability or ADHD? If so, they may benefit from one-on-one individualized academic tutoring, including dyslexia tutoring in Orlando, ADHD tutoring in Orlando, Orton Gillingham tutoring in Orlando, and Step Up for Students tutoring in Orlando. Families throughout Orlando are looking for the best support for their child, and finding the right special education tutor can truly be life-changing for your child.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to find the best special education tutor in Orlando for your child, including what to look for in a tutor and how to use the Step Up for Students scholarship to help fund the tutoring.
What is special education tutoring?
Special education tutoring is specialized tutoring that helps students with specific diagnoses, including:
- ADHD
- Dyslexia
- Dysgraphia
- Dyscalculia
- Autism
- Speech and language challenges
- Executive functioning challenges
- Other related diagnoses
Unlike general tutoring or homework help, this tutoring is much more specialized. It typically includes:
- An initial assessment to gauge areas of academic need
- Individualized instruction that is catered to your child’s needs
- Research-based methodologies
- Multi-sensory techniques, including the Orton Gillingham approach for students with dyslexia and reading challenges
- Executive functioning techniques for students with ADHD and executive functioning difficulties
- Self-confidence building
Who needs a special education tutor in Orlando?
Many parents try traditional tutoring or homework helpers with their child, but it often doesn’t work. General tutoring may involve lessons that are unrelated to one another and don’t build upon previously taught concepts; random worksheets or workbook exercises; or homework help. Special education students, however, need a much more specialized approach to tutoring.
Students with learning challenges need:
- Individualized instruction that is catered to their needs
- Multi-sensory approaches that integrate tools such as magnetic tiles, shaving cream, multi-colored highlighters, math manipulatives, and colored sand
- Systematic teaching where concepts build upon one another
- Repetition of concepts taught
- Evidence-based instruction
- Tutors with expertise in working with special education students
Signs your child may need a dyslexia tutor in Orlando or an ADHD tutor in Orlando
What are signs your child may need a special education tutor? If you notice your child is struggling in school or has low self-esteem related to academics, you may want to consider a special education tutor for them. Specifically, you might consider a specialized tutor for your child if they:
- Are struggling with reading, writing, or math
- Have a diagnosed learning disability, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or another learning disability
- Have ADHD and struggle with their executive functioning skills, including planning, organization, time management, and task initiation
- Have challenges completing homework
- Are easily frustrated when doing schoolwork
- Lack self-confidence
- The earlier you can identify the right special education tutor for your child, the more likely you can build your child’s confidence and prevent continued struggles down the road.
How to choose the best special education tutor in Orlando
When looking for a special education tutor for your child in Orlando, there are several qualities you should look for, including the following:
1. Experience helping students with learning challenges
Many tutors specialize in specific skill areas, such as reading, writing, or math, but not all of them have expertise in working with students who have special education needs. When looking for a tutor for your child, you may want to consider asking questions such as:
- Do you specialize in tutoring neurodiverse students?
- Do you have experience tutoring students with ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities?
- Do you use the Orton Gillingham approach for tutoring students with dyslexia?
- Do you use research-based techniques and a multi-sensory approach when working with students who have learning challenges?
2. Teaching approach used for special education students in Orlando
Special education students tend to respond best to individualized tutoring that is catered to their unique needs. The best tutor for your child should use:
- Multi-sensory instruction
- Evidence-based techniques
- Systematic, step-by-step tutoring
- An individualized tutoring plan that addresses your child’s areas of need
Try to avoid hiring tutors who mainly utilize workbooks or random lessons that are not systematic, structured, or multi-sensory.
3. Specialization in one-on-one tutoring
Special education students thrive on support that is tailored to their needs. Specifically, they respond best to:
- One-on-one remediation
- Lesson pacing that is catered to their needs
- A strong bond with their tutor
- Engaging, multi-sensory tutoring
Types of special education tutoring available in Orlando
In Orlando, you can find different types of special education tutoring, including:
- Dyslexia tutoring in Orlando
- ADHD tutoring in Orlando
- Autism tutoring in Orlando
- Specialized math tutoring in Orlando
- Systematic writing instruction in Orlando
- Executive functioning coaching in Orlando
- Orton Gillingham tutoring in Orlando
It’s important to identify your child’s specific needs and then look for a tutor who specializes in the areas they need help with, using the approaches that are most suitable for them.
How to use Step Up for Students funding for tutoring
Step Up for Students is a great resource for funding specialized one-on-one tutoring. Many families in Orlando can use Florida scholarships through the Step Up for Students program to fund the cost of tutoring, with potentially no out-of-pocket cost.
The most common scholarships that your child may qualify for include:
- Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES-UA), which is a scholarship for students with special needs
- Personalized Education Program (PEP), which is a scholarship for students who are homeschooled or attend a microschool
The Step Up scholarships can cover:
- One-on-one tutoring in Orlando
- Reading remediation in Orlando
- Orton Gillingham tutoring in Orlando
- Executive functioning coaching in Orlando
- In-home special education tutoring in Orlando
- Virtual special education tutoring in Orlando
To receive funding for tutoring using Step Up scholarships, you’ll need to choose a Step Up approved provider, such as Knowledge Plus Tutoring.
In-home versus virtual special education tutoring
Both in-person and virtual tutoring can be effective tutoring options for your child. Each modality has its advantages, as follows:
In-home tutoring
- Young children often respond best to this modality
- Allows students to physically touch and interact with manipulatives
- Helps students stay focused and avoid distractions
Virtual tutoring
- Allows for more flexible scheduling
- Offers access to specialized tutors that might not be available in your local geographic area
- Typically works well for middle and high school students
- Many elementary students also prefer this modality
Some Orlando families choose a hybrid approach, which is a combination of in-person and virtual tutoring.
What makes a great special education tutoring program?
A great special education tutor for your child should have expertise in working with special needs students using the right combination of research-based techniques that are individualized to your child’s needs. Specifically, when seeking a special education tutoring program in Orlando for your child, look for:
- A tutoring program that starts with an initial assessment
- Individualized tutoring plans based on your child’s needs
- Evidence-based instruction
- Multi-sensory techniques
- Strong parent communication
- Expertise in working with students who have ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities
- Step Up scholarship acceptance for tutoring
Learn more about Step Up for Students tutoring eligibility in Florida at Who Is Eligible for Step Up for Students in Florida? Funding, Scholarships, and Tutoring
Choosing the right special education tutor in Orlando might seem overwhelming, as there are many factors to consider. However, finding the right tutor for your child is worth the effort, since it can truly be life-changing for them.
If you’re searching for special education tutoring in Orlando, contact Knowledge Plus Tutoring to see how we can help your child with our one-on-one in-person and virtual tutoring programs. We help students in Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, and surrounding areas through our Knowledge Plus Tutoring location, at 480 North Orlando Avenue, Winter Park, FL.
Frequently Asked Question about special education tutoring in Orlando
Does Orlando have tutors for ADHD and learning disabilities?
Yes! If you live in Orlando and your child has ADHD or a learning disability, there are many tutoring options. Make sure you find a tutor or tutoring center that specializes in working with students like your child and uses evidence-based, multi-sensory techniques, including Orton Gillingham instruction when relevant.
Can I use Step Up scholarships for tutoring?
Yes! If your child qualifies for a Step Up scholarship, you should be able to use these funds to pay for tutoring. You must choose a provider approved through Step Up for Students, like Knowledge Plus Tutoring.
Does Step Up scholarship cover tutoring services?
Learn more at Does Florida’s Step Up Scholarship Cover Tutoring Services?
How long does it take to see results from special education tutoring?
The rate of progress varies based on each student’s profile. However, with the right tutor, frequency, and methodologies, many students start to show progress within the first month of instruction.
Dr. Emily Levy, the executive director of Knowledge Plus Tutoring, has been helping students with special education needs, including ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities, for over twenty years. She received her Doctorate Degree in Education and her Master’s Degree in Special Education.
