What Does OGA do?

The mission of the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA) is to sustain the foundation of the principles of Orton-Gillingham (OG), as set forth by Dr. Samuel Orton and Anna Gillingham. The OGA is exclusively charged to:

  • Establish and maintain professional and ethical standards for practitioners and educators of the Orton-Gillingham Approach for the treatment of dyslexia.
  • Certify individuals who meet Academy standards by demonstrating competence as practitioners and educators of the Orton-Gillingham Approach.
  • Accredit training programs that meet Academy standards to train Orton-Gillingham practitioners and educators.
  • Accredit instructional programs that meet Academy standards in schools, clinics, and summer programs.
  • Sponsor and disseminate research relevant to Orton-Gillingham instruction.
  • Broaden public awareness of the nature and educational needs of people with dyslexia and the role of the Orton-Gillingham Approach for the treatment of dyslexia.

OGA was founded in 1995 to establish and maintain professional and ethical standards for the practice of the Orton-Gillingham Approach. It certifies individuals and accredits instructional and training programs that meet these standards.  OGA promotes public awareness of the needs of individuals with dyslexia and the Orton-Gillingham Approach for the treatment of dyslexia. It is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.

Its Origin and Operating Structure

Planning for the Orton-Gillingham Academy began in 1991 as a response to discussions initiated by the Orton Dyslexia Society (now known as the International Dyslexia Association). The planning and the implementation of the Academy was a collaboration of a group of dedicated and distinguished Orton-Gillingham Approach teachers and educators from throughout the United States concerned with how better to serve individuals with dyslexia, fellow professionals, and the public interest.

The Academy began formal operations in 1995 as a nonprofit organization.  It is governed by a Board of Trustees elected from the Academy’s Fellows. The objectives and tasks of the organization are accomplished by working committees composed of Trustees and other dedicated members of the Academy. Currently, the Academy has over 2,000 national and international members who have met its standards. An extraordinary fact is that every member of the Academy can trace their roots back to Orton or Gillingham depending on their Academy training Fellow.

The Academy is incorporated and operates under the New York Education Law, its corporate status being authorized in 1995 by action of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. It is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.