Lorraine works with parents, school staff and administrators to create a positive relationship that ensures the best possible outcome for the child. She assists families at every stage of the special education process and remains dedicated to her mission - to ensure that the 1 in 5 children with dyslexia have the supports and services they need to be successful. 

 

Lorraine is a recognized dyslexia advocate with proven success, supporting children of all ages with the disorder. Through personal outreach she continues to inform and influence local education leaders, legislators and community members on best practices for children with specific learning disabilities. She has been instrumental in affecting change both locally and statewide.

 

Lorraine Knows From Personal Experience

After her own son - who has dyslexia, ADHD and dysgraphia - was found ineligible for special education supports and services, she felt helpless and afraid for his future. Not willing to settle for low expectations for her son, she spent her days researching dyslexia. 

 

She learned:

• That dyslexia is the most common learning disability and that our public school teachers have had little to no training in the science of reading or best practices for accommodating students with this disability.

• Just how critical it is for children with dyslexia to have effective structured literacy instruction, appropriate accommodations, as well as assisstive technology training and support to level the playing field. 

• The earlier the child receives appropriate intervention, the better!

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Expert - Identification and Remediation - Specific Learning Disabilities

 Lorraine Hightower is certified, as follows:

• Certified Dyslexia Advocate - The Dyslexia Training Institute in San Diego, California.

• Special Education Advocacy Certification -  Law School at William & Mary University

• Advanced Knowledge Specialist Certificate - International Dyslexia Association

• Bachelor of Science - University of South Carolina

• Trained Mediator - Northern Virginia Mediation Services (NVMS) 

Awards & Achievements

• Honorary Life Membership to the Virginia State PTA for improving the welfare of children across the state 

• Child Advocate of the Year award - Virginia State Parent and Teachers Association  

• Friend of Education designation - Loudoun Education Association

• Helped her son’s elementary school receive two national awards for establishing an effective ‘parent-school partnership.’ 

• Helped pass Virginia’s four state laws on dyslexia to benefit both students and teachers.

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​Volunteer Advocacy & Professional Affiliations

• Board Member for the Virginia Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (VBIDA)

• Council of Parent Attorneys & Advocates (COPAA)

• State leader for Decoding Dyslexia Virginia (DDVA)

• Loudoun County School Board Special Education Advisory ‘Ad Hoc’ Committee 

• Chair, Immediate Past Chair & Member of Loudoun County Public Schools Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)

 
Lorraine has also been a parent trainer for the Virginia PTA, the VA Department of Education, the VA Board for People with Disabilities and the Virginia Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC).

  

Her dyslexia advocacy and consulting business is based out of Lansdowne, Virginia with a focus on serving children in Frederick, Loudoun, Fairfax, Prince William and Fauquier counties.