Interview with Dr. Emily Levy and Me: From In-Person to Global: The Evolution of EBL Coaching
Me: Good morning, or good afternoon, or good evening, depending on where you're listening from. This is Living with an Invisible Learning Challenge, where we will talk about the challenges and triumphs of living with NVLD. We’ll also broaden out to other neurodivergent challenges like autism, dyslexia, and ADHD to be more inclusive and find common ground. Today, I'm interviewing Dr. Emily Levy about her work with EBL Coaching and how her practice has changed before, during, and after the pandemic.
Dr. Levy: Thank you so much for having me on the show. My name is Dr. Emily Levy, and I'm the founder and director of EBL Coaching, a one-on-one tutoring organization. We specialize in helping neurodivergent students in grades Pre-K through 12 develop their core academic skills.
Me: That sounds amazing. For me, when I was in school, it was challenging. I was homeschooled before college and had some tutors, but I didn't know about my learning disability until I got to Berkeley. My grades dropped to C's, and I realized I needed to be tested.
Dr. Levy: You made the right decision. It's so rare for students to get tested and have accommodations, but it can be life-changing. I was lucky to grow up in the field of special education, as my mother founded a school for students with learning disabilities. After a short detour in finance, I returned to my passion, starting EBL Coaching by tutoring students myself until I could bring on more specialists. Now, I oversee the instruction, and our team helps students with all types of special needs, including learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism.
A Personalized Approach to Learning
Me: That definitely makes sense to me. Are there specific subjects you help with?
Dr. Levy: Our specialty is remediation in all core academic skills. For reading, we work on decoding and comprehension. In writing, we focus on written expression and how to organize ideas. For math, we teach both computation and word problem-solving. A lot of our work also falls into executive functioning, where we focus on skills like organization, planning, and time management. These skills are so important for life in general, not just school. Adults with learning challenges often struggle with these same issues in the workplace and with daily to-do lists.
Before the pandemic, we only offered in-person tutoring. But when COVID-19 hit, we had to quickly pivot to a virtual model. We developed a lot of electronic resources to make this transition seamless. While it was a roller coaster, the virtual platform has worked incredibly well for many students, especially those who are a little older. It has also allowed us to reach students nationally and even internationally who might not have access to these services otherwise.
Me: That's amazing that your team can help not just in New York and New Jersey, but all over the world. Can you describe some of your programs?
Dr. Levy: Every student is different, so we always create an individual learning plan. For students who struggle with decoding and spelling, we use the Orton-Gillingham technique, which is a multisensory and incredibly effective method. For writing, we have a systematic approach that teaches students to brainstorm, write, and self-check. For math word problems, we use a four-step process to help students break down the problem and move from language to numbers. The real key is that we tailor our methods to the unique needs of each student.
Beyond the Classroom: Empowering Students for Life
Me: Would you say you also help your older students with things like finance, which might be helpful for them when they graduate?
Dr. Levy: Absolutely. While we focus on academics, we also help with life skills. Many high school students need help with things like creating a resume, preparing for an interview, or even simple tasks like shopping at a supermarket. We work with adults as well, helping them with everything from college prep to job searching. It's about looking at the whole person. Many neurodivergent people miss the accommodations they had in school, so it’s crucial to provide them with tools to navigate the "real world."
I think one of the biggest challenges for students during the pandemic was the sudden shift to virtual learning. For our students, who thrive on one-on-oneconnectionss, being on a Zoom with 30 other kids was overwhelming. It was very different from our one-on-one virtual sessions, where we mailed our students physical materials and manipulatives to create a more engaging, hands-on experience. This allowed us to duplicate the in-person environment as much as possible, which was crucial for their learning.
I believe our work is a gift, and it's our job to empower students by showing them their progress. When we work with a student who has had years of failure, it’s heartwarming to see them finally succeed. We show them their growth—for example, a student who could only write one sentence with no punctuation at the beginning is now writing a full, organized paragraph. This visual progress helps them build their self-confidence and see their true potential. We also try to work as a team with parents and teachers to ensure a consistent plan of action for the student.
The landscape of special education has changed dramatically, with more knowledge and strategies available to help neurodivergent students excel not just in school but in life. Each of our tutors has a specialty, and we match them with students based on their needs. This ensures that every student gets the best possible help from someone passionate about their success.
