Thanks to Escuela Bilingüe Internacional, the only Spanish-English bilingual, International Baccalaureate (IB) school on the West Coast, for sponsoring this post. EBI is located in Oakland (Pre-K to 1st grade) and Emeryville (2nd to 8th grade).
EBI’s inclusive, learner-centered approach is designed to support students with learning disabilities (LDs) by providing personalized support to help them thrive academically and emotionally in both Spanish and English Environments. EBI’s commitment is to ensure that all students have the tools and support they need to succeed in a dual-language setting.
Special Event: Free Zoom info session about recognizing and supporting a learning disability. Thursday, November 7 from 6-7 p.m. To sign up and receive the links for this virtual event, click here.
Escuela Bilingüe Internacional (EBI) recognizes that learning disabilities such as reading (dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia), math (dyscalculia), and executive functioning (EF) are neurological disorders that affect how children process, store and respond to information. These challenges often coexist with ADHD/ADD and can create a gap between a child’s intelligence and their academic performance.
Dr Rebecca Hawley is EBI’s Director of Learning Services and Social Emotional Programs. She has been with EBI since 2021. In this interview, she shares some background on how EBI supports students with LDs who are also in a bilingual learning environment.
How is supporting students with LD different at EBI from other schools or other educational settings?
We have a robust staff with appropriate training and each of them focuses on a specific age group and their respective age-appropriate challenges. Monica Chavez works with EBI’s pre-kinder to Grade 1 students, Katie Rutledge works with Grades 2 to 5 and Jessyca Mitchell works with the middle school students in Grades 6-8.
Does a learning disability manifest itself differently in a bilingual individual, and if so how do you tackle it?
Our approach is strength-based, meaning we acknowledge and celebrate where the student excels. We also support our students, at the earliest possible age, to advocate for themselves. It is also important to know that a student’s needs for support may change from one age range to another and so we can follow a student from the early grade all the way to middle school and support them accordingly.
Learning disabilities manifest themselves the same in a bilingual student so the approach to support that person is the same. We do, however, have materials in both Spanish and English, and our team is versed in both languages.
Finally, what makes EBI special is how strong and active parents are and how engaged they are with their students. The support EBI parents give their students plays a big role in how they learn to navigate their learning disabilities.
What recommendations would you make to families that are beginning their journey of exploring and understanding learning differences?
1. Connect with experienced parents: Speak with parents who have navigated learning differences. Their first-hand experiences can offer valuable insights, guidance, and emotional support.
2. Avoid information overload: It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the vast amount of information available online. Focus on trusted resources and take the journey step-by-step instead of trying to find all the answers at once.
3. Follow the referral process: Not all online information is reliable. Consult with professionals early on and trust the referral process to get accurate assessments and recommendations tailored to your child’s needs.
Please join Dr. Rebecca Hawley as she walks parents/families through the signs of learning disabilities, the testing process, and accommodations in public and private school settings on Thursday, November 7 from 6-7 p.m. Escuela Bilingüe Internacional is sponsoring this educational session for the wider Bay Area community. To sign up and receive the links for this virtual event, click here. If there are any questions, please send them to Sara at [email protected].
About Dr. Rebecca Hawley
Dr. Rebecca Hawley has worked in Education, Early Intervention, Special Education, and Family Support Services for 25 years within the Bay Area and at a National and International level. Dr. Hawley has a private practice in special education advocacy and support. She advocates for parents of students with special needs and mental health challenges. Dr. Hawley holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership focusing on Child Development and Special Education and a Special Education Law Certificate from Drexel University, where she currently has an adjunct faculty position.
Thanks to EBI for being a sponsor of {510} Families.
