Houston-Lantrip Center Set to Open Fall 2019

(ABILENE, Texas)–The Hardin-Simmons University Houston-Lantrip Center for Literacy and Learning (HLC) is the result of the HSU community’s hard work and commitment to provide support and assistance for individuals with dyslexia and autism spectrum disorder. New programs will be available for students starting in fall 2019, when the highly awaited center opens.

The HLC undergoing construction this past April.

Hardin-Simmons has been serving students with dyslexia for over twenty years. The director of the HLC, Dr. Emily Dean, works with children with dyslexia in Abilene Hall, but the facilities are not a comfortable place for students and their families to wait before their therapy sessions. The new center will provide a better suited space to accommodate individualized therapy programs for children with dyslexia and ASD. Also, better offices will provide faculty and staff with a more beneficial environment.

Starting this summer, two higher education certificate programs will also be available through the Houston-Lantrip Center for Literacy and Learning: Dyslexia Specialist and Register Behavior Technician. Additionally, a Master of Education program in Reading and Special Education will begin this fall through the College of Human Sciences and Educational Studies to compliment these certification programs.

The HLC will provide information to help educators and parents understand dyslexia and autism spectrum disorder, as well as a place for students and faculty to conduct research and support individuals around the Abilene community. The HLC’s outreach is not only on campus, but throughout the Abilene community, as well. Sara Collins, founder and executive director of REACH for a Difference, an organization that focuses on supporting individuals with autism, expressed how thankful she is for HSU’s involvement.

“Hardin-Simmons is providing something that everyone should provide at any time, and we are thankful for that. The school has gone above and beyond helping us. Nobody has done this for us before. It helps the community and the families. A couple of years we were about to retire because we did not have enough funds, but HSU helped us, and here we are,” Collins says.

The center will enable more teachers and HSU graduates to help children with dyslexia and autism. It will provide adaptable learning environments through the integration of embedded technology, flooring and wall finishes, and audio and visual enhancements. These multi-sensory experiences are a vital part of effective therapy for both children with learning and behavioral disorders.