Meet Susan Barton

An Internationally Recognized Expert in Dyslexia
Ms. Barton is a frequent and popular speaker at conferences focusing on Dyslexia, Reading Instruction, Early Intervention and RTI, and Adult Literacy issues. Susan is also an instructor of Phonemic Awareness and Multisensory Teaching Techniques through the University of California, of Learning Disabilities at West Valley College, and of the graduate-level courses Diagnosing Dyslexia, Tutoring People with Dyslexia, and Understanding Dyslexia and ADHD through the University of San Diego.

Susan Barton was recently inducted into the International Dyslexia Association's Hall of Honor, where a plaque with her name now hangs next to those for Dr. Orton, Anna Gillingham, Reid Lyon, Beth Slingerland and other internationally recognized authorities in the field of dyslexia.

Watch: Who is Susan Barton?

Susan has produced four DVDs on dyslexia:

Dyslexia: Symptoms & Solutions

Classroom Accommodations for Dyslexic Students

Dyslexia: Testing & Teaching

Could It Be Dyslexia?

In the past few years, Susan has presented at these conferences: the American Speech Hearing Association's national conference, the Learning Disabilities national conference, the Canadian Dyslexia Association, the Oregon branch of the International Dyslexia Association, California Literacy, many regional and statewide conferences of the International Reading Association, many regional and statewide conferences for the Association for Christian Schools International, the California and Arizona Charter Schools conferences, the California Association of School Psychologists, the California Kindergarten conference, and the Early Childhood Educators conference, to name just a few.

Founder of Bright Solutions for Dyslexia
Susan Barton did not start out in the field of dyslexia. After college, she spent the first 20 years of her professional life in the computer field.

During that time, she watched her nephew, Ben, have significant difficulty in school. Despite receiving special education services since first grade, when he was tested in tenth grade, he was only reading at the second grade level and spelling at the first grade level. Needless to say, he was extremely frustrated in all school tasks that required reading, writing and spelling.

Although the school said we had to accept the fact that Ben would never get much better, Susan refused to accept that judgment. Instead, she changed fields and devoted full time to figuring out the puzzle of dyslexia.

After receiving special training and spending many years working with dyslexic adults, she was hired at a for-profit clinic for dyslexic children. She spent years tutoring children from ages 6 to 17. During this time, she learned many more Orton-Gillingham-based methods, several of the Lindamood-Bell systems, and became quite knowledgeable about Attention Deficit Disorder.

When Susan attended IEP meetings for her students, she was shocked that many school professionals lacked up-to-date research-based information on dyslexia. Most of the parents of her students also lacked this information.

So in 1998, Susan Barton founded Bright Solutions for Dyslexia whose sole mission is to educate parents and teachers about the causes, symptoms, and research-based solutions for children and adults with dyslexia.

In addition to creating more professionals in the field by training them at her graduate-level courses offered through the University of San Diego, speaking at many conferences, and giving free presentations across the country that parents can attend, Susan is hired to conduct in-service trainings at public and private schools throughout North America.

International Dyslexia Association's Hall of Honor
Susan Barton was recently inducted into the International Dyslexia Association's Hall of Honor.

Their announcement letter stated:

Susan Barton has been recognized in the Sylvia O. Richardson Hall of Honor by the Graduates and Supporters of Bright Solutions for Dyslexia for her outstanding achievements, contributions, and efforts; and her commitment and service to individuals in the field of dyslexia.

A plaque with Susan Barton's name will be installed in the IDA headquarters building, in their Hall of Honor, at the end of September 2009. It will appear along with plaques to Dr. Orton, Anna Gillingham, G. Reid Lyon, Beth Slingerland, and many other innovators in this field.

To view the IDA's Hall of Honor, go to:
IDA Hall of Honor

Bright Solutions for Dyslexia is also the publisher of the Barton Reading & Spelling System.

To read a recent article published about Susan Barton, click here.

Developer of the Barton Reading & Spelling System
People with dyslexia can significantly improve their reading and spelling skills IF they are taught differently than is done in most public schools. They need to be taught using an Orton-Gillingham-based system.

Susan is trained in 7 different Orton-Gillingham-based reading systems. Yet when she began to train brand-new tutors, she recognized the need for an easier-to-learn and easier-to-use system.

To satisfy that need, she developed the Barton Reading and Spelling System, an Orton-Gillingham influenced system designed specifically for parents, homeschool parents, and volunteer tutors in literacy programs.

The Barton System is easy to learn and contains enough support for parents and volunteer tutors, yet is complete enough for professional tutors as well as reading and resource specialists.

Learn more about the Barton System

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