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EASIA?
(EASing Into Academics)

GENERAL INFORMATION

EASIATM (EASing Into Academics) offers services to children of all ages with disabilities and/or learning difficulties who are experiencing problems in developing literacy and/or numeracy skills.

EASIA was established in 1996 as part of Macquarie University’s internationally acclaimed Special Education Centre (MUSEC). Today EASIA maintains close ties with the University but operates as an independent not for profit service. Director of EASIA is Dr Coral Kemp, Senior Lecturer in Special Education, Macquarie University, who is involved in the training of teachers and other professionals working in the area of Special Education. Dr Kemp is involved in a number of professional associations in the field of Special Education and is the Australian representative on the committee of the International Society on Early Intervention, as well as a member of the STaR Inclusive Early Childhood Association Board.

EASIA offers assessments and individually designed programs that have been developed for children with special learning needs and uses research-based instructional procedures. All EASIA students benefit from the experience and expertise of the highly qualified Special Educators who, under Dr Kemp’s direction, make up the EASIA team.

ASSESSMENT SERVICES

Literacy and Numeracy Assessments
The assessments use both norm-referenced and curriculum-based measures of literacy or numeracy and include a summary of results or a report and a recommended plan of action. The norm-referenced tests ascertain how a child compares with other children of the same age. The curriculum-based assessments identify the specific skills that are present or absent and, when necessary, are used by the Special Educator to design a program.

• The fee for a literacy assessment and verbal report is $310.00.
• The fee for a literacy or numeracy assessment and written report is $450.00.

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

The recommendations from each assessment help parents decide whether to proceed with a program specifically designed to meet their child’s needs. A program design training session is generally followed by regular clinic sessions or, if regular clinic sessions are not possible, EASIA may be able to provide a program following an initial training period.

Program Design & Training

At the training session, attended by you and your child, a Special Educator explains the program and demonstrates how to deliver it to your child.

• The combined fee for the Program Design and the Training session is $295.

EASIA Tutoring Program

This Program consists of, individual sessions at the EASIA clinic with a qualified Special Educator and is designed to be a joint venture between the home and EASIA. Such a partnership has proven to be the best and most effective way to gain the good results in literacy and numeracy development that both you and the EASIA educators seek for your child. We ask all parents enrolling their child in a Tutoring Program to commit to working on their child’s individually designed program at home for approximately 30 minutes on at least four other occasions during the week between sessions with the Special Educator.

During the weekly sessions the Special Educator will deliver intensive instruction, monitor the child’s progress and make ongoing instructional decisions about the individual program the child is receiving. By closely monitoring your child the Special Educator ensures that content appropriate to his or her needs is covered.

Review assessments are conducted approximately every six months or when a child is due to finish the program. All review assessments will be implemented in lesson times.

• The fee for a 10-week term Tutoring Program including weekly 30-minute lessons at EASIA is $900.

Please note that before children can begin a Tutoring Program they will need to have been assessed (Literacy: $310/$450, Numeracy: $450) and to have attended a Program Training session ($295). Depending on the child’s program you may also be required to purchase relevant record books and student workbooks for approximately $30.

Going Solo

In some cases the parent/caregiver may be given the option of attending a program design session, purchasing the relevant programs and implementing them at home without formal support from EASIA. In other cases the child may need a more complex program and parents will be asked to commit to at least a one-term Tutoring Program. The latter recommendation is generally made for beginning readers and children with disabilities.

Some parents/caregivers decide to deliver an EASIA Program without input from a Special Educator. If you are considering this option you must factor in the additional cost of purchasing the right instructional materials for your Program. While at a beginner’s level the Program usually contains all the materials you need, this changes as your child progresses and the programs become more advanced. Some of the more advanced programs require manuals that can cost around $400.

If you would like more information about the costs and use of various program resources please don’t hesitate to ask.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

In-School Assessments and Consultancy
EASIA staff are also available for in-school assessments. In addition we can design academic and/or behavioural programs for use in the classroom. An in-school consultancy for an individual child requires the consent of both the child’s parent and the school and must involve a member of the school executive.

The fee for in-school assessments and consultancy is variable depending on the location of the school and the length of time for each consultancy. A quote will be given prior to the commencement of the service.

Payment Details

Payment is due in full at the time of Assessment or Program Training session. If committing to a Tutoring Program, the fee for this is due at the Program Training session. EASIA accepts payment by cash, credit card (Visa or MasterCard), cheque payable to Special Teaching and Research Ltd, or direct deposit to the EASIA account.

For all EASIA enquires and bookings, please ring (02) 9888 3717.

Important Note: When you decide to use EASIA services you may be asked to sign a research ethics form giving permission for any data collected when working with you and your child to be used anonymously for research purposes.

This enables EASIA to research and refine ‘best practice’ in literacy and numeracy instruction and continue providing an exceptional service for children with disabilities and/or learning difficulties.

Useful Information For You To Read Before Your First Appointment

EASIA is located in suite 2.5, level 2 at 56 Delhi Road, North Ryde. The premises are shared with the STaR Association. Below is a map showing 56 Delhi Rd. You enter the property at the lights if you are travelling from the Chatswood direction OR after the Plassey Rd lights if you are travelling from the Epping Rd/M2 end. Parking is situated alongside the footpath out the front of the florist and café and opposite that along the property fence line or in the centre of the tarmac area.

Enter the building through the breezeway to the right of the café. When you arrive at the glass doors use the intercom to let us know you have arrived. Press 205 and then the green bell button. The lifts are located to the left. You will need to go to the 2nd floor. When you step out of the lift turn to your left where you will see suite 4. We are to the right of that.

If you cannot find a park outside, ring the office and we will try to direct you to underground parking.
The office number is 9888 3717.

We ask that you remain at the EASIA office while your child is assessed or is attending tutoring sessions. There are magazines provided and some books and toys for other children you may have with you. While we know it can be difficult for younger children to play quietly it is important to the children receiving tutoring that distractions, like noise from outside the room, are kept to a minimum.

Thank you for your co-operation.