Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 95
Rethinking Literacy Support: From School Psychologist to Clinic Founder
Dr. Steve Truch’s journey began as a school psychologist in the late 1970s. He often saw students with reading difficulties plateau despite years in resource rooms and special accommodations. Frustrated by the lack of meaningful progress, he dove into research and discovered a pivotal study on categorizing sounds and reading. That one paper shifted his trajectory.
Soon after, he transitioned from diagnostics to remediation, opening his first Reading Foundation Clinic in 1990 in Calgary, Canada. The goal: deliver intensive, research-based reading interventions that schools simply couldn’t match.
The Science Behind the Reading Foundation’s Approach
Dr. Truch’s program development journey included extensive exploration of existing methods, like the Auditory Discrimination in Depth (LIPS) program and Phono-Graphix. While both were beneficial, they lacked a consistent delivery model and measurable outcomes. This led him to create Discover Reading, the foundation’s in-house, data-driven program.
Their clinics center around speech-to-print phonics instruction—unlike the traditional visual phonics methods that begin with letters. This shift significantly improves decoding skills by building foundational phonemic processing, which most struggling readers lack. According to Dr. Truch, it’s not just about what you teach, but how intensively and consistently you do it.
Individualized and Data-Rich Programming
Unlike school systems, which often struggle to allocate enough instructional time, the Reading Foundation commits to dosage—ensuring students receive 4 hours of 1:1 instruction daily during intensives. This approach is supported by continuous pre-, interval-, and post-testing, with measurable metrics for gains in reading, spelling, comprehension, and more.
Each program is customized. A child struggling with comprehension may get a different curriculum than a child with decoding issues. Other options include programs for writing, math, and language, all crafted to address specific gaps identified during a proprietary initial assessment.
Virtual Reach and Real Results
While in-person intensives are ideal, the clinics also offer virtual programs worldwide. Typically less intensive (2 hours/day), virtual sessions are still highly effective—especially for students who can focus well online. Alita emphasized that many families travel to clinic locations to complete a four- to eight-week intensive, especially in the summer.
And it works. Dr. Truch shared stories of students who went from severe reading delays to thriving careers. The average gains can be 15+ standard score points, which equates to a full standard deviation—transformative progress by any measure.
Schools, Limitations, and the Parent’s Role
Frances and the Truchs discussed the limitations of public-school interventions. They discuss how schools need to balance the time for pull out services with how much instruction a student will miss. Missing instruction causes students to fall behind in the missed class. Even a “perfect” IEP might fall short because students need more hours and more effective instruction than schools can offer.
Parents often must supplement privately. While that comes with financial and scheduling challenges, the payoff—a child who can read confidently and succeed independently—is often worth it.
Getting Started with the Reading Foundation
Parents can reach out via readingfoundation.com to schedule a free consultation. The first step is a virtual or in-person assessment, followed by a tailored program plan. According to Alita, parents regularly feel validated and hopeful after seeing their child’s profile clearly laid out for the first time.
The Foundation also hosts virtual open houses, and families are encouraged to join for real-life testimonials and additional insight into their process.
Final Thoughts
Dr. Truch reminds us that real, lasting change doesn’t come from labels or sporadic tutoring. It comes from intensive, evidence-based instruction that adapts to the student. Their model is a testament to what’s possible when science, data, and heart come together—and when we refuse to accept “just getting by” as good enough.
Key Takeaway: If your child doesn’t love reading, that’s a red flag. Get them assessed, understand the gaps, and find a program—like the Reading Foundation’s—that delivers both the skill and confidence they need to thrive.
Learn more about Steve Truch and Alita Truch:
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Stress-Free IEP®: Frances Shefter is an Education Attorney and Advocate who is committed to helping her clients have a Stress-Free IEP® experience. In each podcast, Frances interviews inspiring people to share information, educate you, empower you and help you get the knowledge you need. Watch more episodes of Stress-Free IEP®:
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