Heritage Academy of Learning Excellence

Heritage Academy 207  Bayswater Avenue Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 2G5  613-722-0133 Visit their website

By the Numbers

Mission / Vision - In Their Words

Established in 1989, Heritage Academy is an Ottawa Private school specifically designed for students with Dyslexia and other language based exceptionalities. Our specialized environments and smaller class sizes also prove effective for students with ADD/ADHD and similar attention-based exceptionalities. Our mission is to provide each student with the support they deserve to enable them to reach their full academic potential. By promoting the values of honesty, perseverance, and respect, Heritage Academy fosters acceptance and growth among our students.

How They Accommodate Dyslexia

Target Students: Students with Dyslexia, ADD/ADHD and similar learning disabilities.

Dyslexia Accommodation:The school uses the Simultaneous Multisensory Teaching (SMT) reading program. The school's founder developed this method which is based on the Orton Gillingham approach. The school also incorporates kinesthetic and sequential learning techniques that cater specifically to the dyslexic learner.

According to their website: 

The Simultaneous Multisensory Teaching method (S.M.T.), based on the Orton system, is a language re-education method developed to meet the needs of students of all ages, who need a more thorough knowledge of the structure of written language, and a solid understanding of the association of sounds and symbols, before learning how to apply the concepts and rules of written language. The objective of the S.M.T. method is to teach reading, writing and spelling, with an emphasis on reading accuracy in the early stages, followed by thorough comprehension of written language and its structures. The material is presented in short sequential steps to help students develop self-confidence. Students progress at their own pace.

To be of practical use by most teachers and parents, this method entails detailed lesson plans that outline the pedagogical objectives and expected outcomes for each step. The manual includes explanatory notes on the causes and effects of dyslexia to give teachers insight into the dyslexic person’s perspective. S.M.T. differs from other multisensory teaching approaches. It incorporates the development of phonologic and phonemic awareness in the following learning techniques and strategies:

• visual and auditory discrimination
• bimanual reading in Braille dots to develop a “tactile vision”
• direct teaching of non-image words
• an emphasis on diction
• the etymology of English words

Teacher Training: Most teachers and administration have Special Education certification. Further, the school states that teachers and  teaching assistants are certified and up-to-date on the latest techniques to help students with dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, and other learning disabilities. 

Student Teacher Ratio: 12-1, but often less.

Assistive Technology: Various applications such as voice recognition software are incorporated in the classroom.

Financial Assistance:  TBD

We have visited this school in person and have been impressed by the professionalism and enthusiasm of the staff and administration.

Reading Well Scorecard

Based on information available we have scored the school in six areas of importance to prospective parents and students.

Important Notes

1) Given the limitations of information available, the scores may not accurately represent the school. School administrators or informed parents and students are welcome to contact us with additional information and we will update the scorecard accordingly.

2) Scoring is based on specific dyslexic student needs, not on an absolute scale of school quality.

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