Trainee Educational Therapist

DYSLEXIA ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE
- ORGANISATION PROFILE
- Join a rapidly growing organisation that has over 300 full time and flexi scheme employees, and
- operates from 12 centres all over Singapore
- The Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) provides a continuum of services for struggling learners
- with dyslexia and other learning challenges their parents, mainstream teachers and other
- professionals in the field of dyslexia in Singapore.- Position Trainee Educational Therapists - Full Time
- Division/Branch Main Literacy Programme, English Language & Literacy (ELL) Division
- Receive training to become a specialist professional - to provide educational therapy and help shape
- the lives of struggling learners with dyslexia and other learning challenges, to achieve their true
- potential in life when given the right guidance and support.- at the DAS.
- Programmes under the DAS
- Struggling learners with dyslexia and other learning challenges once assessed by DAS Specialist
- Psychologists from the SpLD Assessment Services (SAS) Division, are referred to the Main Literacy
- Programme (MLP) under the English Language & Literacy (ELL) Division. Many children are also
- referred to DAS by psychologists from MOE, hospitals and private practice. These children attend
- classes in MOE schools and come to the DAS for additional support after school hours. Students
- normally come to the 12 DAS learning centres for two hours a week during the regular school term.
- DAS classes are kept to an average of four to five students in a class to ensure individual attention can
- be provided. Our educational therapy is based on the Orton-Gillingham approach and covers a range
- of literacy skills including phonics, which enables struggling learners with dyslexia and other learning
- challenges to learn better and become independent learners. DAS Educational Therapists also meet
- up regularly with learners’ parents to give feedback, advice and encouragement.
- The duties and responsibilities of MLP Educational Therapists include
- Conduct lessons in a group setting (4 to 5 students in a class).
- Conduct semestral assessments at least twice a year in a group setting.
- Develop teaching methods and instructional materials that meet young learners’ varying

needs.
- Monitor the academic progress of the students.
- Write progress reports, share information and discuss issues relating to students’

learning progress with parents during the school terms.
- Conduct Meet-the-Parents sessions at the end of each semester (twice a year).
- Be involved in the conduct of awareness talks and training courses.
- Be engaged in curriculum and resource design and development, action research and

pilot studies.
- Participate in any other duties as assigned.
- OTHER AREAS OF INVOLVEMENT
- Educational Therapists (EdTs) are also actively involved in the conduct of awareness talks and training
- courses. These activities are conducted at DAS centres, national libraries, community centres and MOE
- schools. EdTs are also encouraged to participate in research projects. As a not-for-profit organisation,
- all DAS staff are expected to take part in fundraising activities as and when required.
- HEAR FROM OUR CURRENT EDUCATIONAL THERAPISTS
- Get a glimpse of the journey and experience of an Educational Therapist through these featured
- articles by our current Educational Therapists:

- 1. Lead Educational Therapist, Ms Hani Zohra
- Hani’s passion for special education pushes her to mentor not only students but other teachers as well
- 2. Senior Educational Therapist, Mr Steven Sim
- From chemical engineer to award-winning special needs educator
- 3. Senior Educational Therapist, Mr Vishnu Ragunathan
- Policeman to Educational Therapist
- 4. Senior Educational Therapist, Ms Zaidah
- My journey as an Educational Therapist
- SPONSORED TRAINING
- The DAS places great emphasis on providing professional service. To help Trainee MLP Educational
- Therapists develop as teachers of struggling learners with dyslexia and other learning challenges,
- they will attend a Certificate in Dyslexia Studies course and three weeks of intensive training. As they
- commence teaching, they will at the same time undergo a six-month mentoring programme, followed
- by further training culminating in an award at a specialist diploma level (Specialist Diploma in
- Educational Therapy).
- MLP Educational Therapists (EdTs) will also attend specialist workshops and in-service training. As part
- of their continuous professional development, EdTs may be required to undertake a postgraduate
- certificate in Special Educational Needs (PGC SEN).
- All EdTs are encouraged to explore, and DAS will support relevant professional development
- thereafter.
- 3-YEAR BOND
- In view of the investment in our Educational Therapists (EdTs), they are required to sign an initial 3
year bond. The training for the Certificate course, Specialist Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate