Volume 39, Number 06
Features
TELL Introduces TESS
Taking the Frustration out of Developmental ConcernsTokyo English Life Line (TELL)—a registered non-profit organization which has been providing support and information to Tokyo’s international and Japanese communities for over 33 years—is now offering an important new service called TELL Educational Support Services (TESS).
Until now, families in the international community had few resources and support available to them when their child had special learning needs.
There was no localized database of developmental specialists, and few international academic institutions have formalized programs for children with even the mildest of learning differences. Families and schools often felt overwhelmed when needs arise for their children. TESS however, will lead the way in formalizing services for these children and their families in the Tokyo area. For families who feel frustrated and concerned, TESS will make issues more manageable with expert identification of the delay, therapeutic support, and referrals to professionals who can help.
If a parent or teacher feels that their child may need extra support in their educational or developmental needs, TESS can provide an educational, developmental and psychosocial assessment. After which, they will point parents towards strategies available to help their children. A team of practicing, licensed psychologists and educational diagnosticians—all of who are experts in the field of child development—use the latest versions of intelligence, achievement, rating scales, observations, and play-based screenings to develop an understanding of the child’s abilities. Based on the findings of the assessments, assistance is provided to families, schools and adjunct service providers, to develop a comprehensive plan which addresses the identified strengths and needs.
TESS will provide a full written report with personalized recommendations for home and school. If a parent gives permission, TESS staff can work with schools to offer consultations and guidance on how to tailor the child’s environments to their individual style of learning. TESS provides families with ongoing communication and consultations—including follow-up sessions—to discuss test results and answer questions.
As with TELL, every specialist in the referral system has been screened to verify experience, licenses and credentials. Eventually, TESS will develop a comprehensive database of specialists that will be freely available to educators and therapists of children with developmental and learning differences in the Tokyo area.
Consultation, and resource referrals are available for both English- and Japanese- speaking children, on a sliding scale fee (fees are determined depending on parents income) meaning no child, is ever turned away. For TELL Educational Support Service enquiries, please contact 03-3498-0231.