Beginning July 20th, 2026

Train to Become an Orton-Gillingham (OG) Therapist

Learn the OG approach from Elizabeth Johnson, F/OGA — and step into Oregon's first OG network, with roots going back to 1960.

A Tradition of Training Tutors

Carrying forward 60 years of training therapists to teach reading.

Sixty years ago, Dorothy Blosser Whitehead began training therapists in the Orton-Gillingham approach because struggling readers in Oregon had nowhere else to turn. That work became Language Skills Therapy — Oregon's first Orton-Gillingham network, with roots going back to 1960. Training skilled therapists has been part of our mission from the very beginning.

That tradition continues today with Elizabeth Johnson, a Fellow of the Orton-Gillingham Academy (F/OGA) and Director of Literacy Instruction at Edison High School. Through her Associate-level training, you'll learn to teach reading, writing, and spelling using the structured, multisensory methods that help children with dyslexia finally read.

This training is also a doorway into our network. If you join Language Skills Therapy, tutor students through us, and complete your practicum and certification, you may qualify for a partial refund on your training costs — making the path to becoming a certified therapist more accessible, and connecting you with families who are waiting for your help.

Meet Your Instructor

Elizabeth Johnson, F/OGA

Elizabeth is an Accredited Training Fellow with the Orton-Gillingham Academy and is certified through the International Dyslexia Association as a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist. She holds a Master's degree in Education with a specialization in Adolescent Literacy. As Director of Literacy Instruction at Edison High School, she has extensive experience helping struggling readers succeed through the Orton-Gillingham approach. She is passionate about supporting older students with dyslexia and dedicated to training and mentoring the next generation of skilled OG tutors.


What You'll Gain

This is more than a training. It's a path into skilled, meaningful work — with the support of an established network behind you.


Expert instruction.

Learn directly from Elizabeth Johnson, F/OGA, a Fellow of the Orton-Gillingham Academy with deep experience training new therapists in structured, multisensory literacy.


A clear path to certification.

The training is your first step. Complete your supervised practicum and certification, and you'll be qualified to teach reading to the students who need it most.


Meaningful income.

Certified therapists in our network set their own rates and earn up to an agreed-upon cap per lesson — keeping everything they earn.


Real students, through our referrals.

Language Skills Therapy receives a steady stream of referrals from psychologists, schools, and families. As a member, you'll be matched with students who are waiting for help.


A professional community.

Join a network of dedicated educators with biweekly Tutor Talks, monthly meetings, and 60 years of shared knowledge to draw on.

Register for the 2026
Associate-Level Training

This is the Orton-Gillingham Academy Associate-Level course, designed for therapists and interventionists who work one-on-one and with small groups. It's taught by Elizabeth Johnson, F/OGA, through the Edison Teaching and Learning Center.

The training runs across several sessions, summer through fall — plan to attend all dates. It's hybrid: join online or in person at Edison High School in Portland.

Summer intensive: July 20–24 & July 27–29, 2026 · 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM PDT

Fall follow-up: September 12, October 13 & November 14, 2026 · 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM PDT

Before you register: the Associate course requires a bachelor's degree and completion of the OGA Subscriber Course (an online prerequisite). See the Edison training page for full details, materials, and tuition.

Teach With Us — and Get Part of Your Tuition Back

Completing the training is the first step. The next is putting it to work.

As an incentive to grow Oregon's community of skilled OG therapists, Elizabeth Johnson offers a partial refund
of the training tuition to graduates who join Language Skills Therapy, tutor their practicum student
through our network, and complete their certification. It's a generous investment in new therapists —
and it connects you with families who are already waiting for your help.

Ready to Train With Us?

Join the Associate-Level training this summer and step into a 60-year tradition of teaching
Oregon's children to read.

We'll be glad to have you.