For Students with Learning Differences, Independent Schools Promise Support, High Expectations | Baltimore Fishbowl

Concordia Prep, in Towson, has Giguere, a program for students in grades six through 12 with diagnosed learning differences including dyslexia, dysgraphia, severe anxiety, ADHD and being on the autism spectrum.

The program, named for Irene Giguere, who started the program at Concordia Prep in 1975, promotes “inclusive excellence.” About 10 percent of Concordia Prep’s 430 students are in the program, although there is no cap, says Welbourn.

Many of the students applying for the program have an IEP, 504 or psych-ed evaluation from the last two years and are already receiving accommodations in their current school, says program director Emily Welbourn.

“If they don’t have those and parents are seeing challenges, then we help them get that information through private testing options or guide them through the process of getting tested through their local school system,” she says. “We use those results as our roadmap to best help students.”

Giguere students take classes with their peers, and also elective periods to teach functioning and study skills, and help students understand and use their accommodations. Welbourne also provides one-on-one homework and study help, and offers additional support as needed during office hours mid-day and before and after school.

“The main goal of the classes we offer with the Giguere program is to let students know that their learning difference does not define them,” says Welbourn. “It’s the first time for a lot of them that they’ve had someone believe in them and tell them they are capable.”