Our School

A model for what is possible in teaching and learning, Rawson Saunders is the leading institution in dyslexia education that empowers, equips, and inspires students to become confident lifelong learners and extraordinary contributors to our world.

Rawson Saunders School is one of the first schools in the nation to be recognized for "excellence and commitment to increasing student achievement through implementation of accredited Multisensory Structured Language Education" by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC). Rawson Saunders was also selected by the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) as a NASET School of Excellence. This honor is presented to private special education schools that meet rigorous professional criteria and have demonstrated truly exceptional dedication, commitment, and achievement in the field of special education.

Rawson Saunders is accredited by Cognia. Rawson Saunders Institute, a Neuhaus partner, is accredited by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC). Rawson Saunders is a member of the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA), the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Texas Private Schools Association, and the Austin Private School Association. Rawson Saunders is also a founding member of ALDS (the Association of Learning Different Schools).

Rawson Saunders has been named a 2022 Cognia™ School of Distinction for excellence in education.
Families come from all over the greater Austin area, neighboring towns, and well beyond. A number of our families traveled from locations across the country and even the world to relocate to Austin to provide their child with a Rawson Saunders education.

Our Core Beliefs

Written language is a code of abstract symbols and students with dyslexia have varying degrees of difficulty deciphering that code. Dyslexia exists wherever there is written language, regardless of race, gender, culture, or socioeconomic status.

Children with dyslexia are intelligent, highly creative, outside-the-box thinkers with a wide range of natural aptitudes and gifts.

Students with dyslexia can master the essential skills of reading and written expression and excel academically.

Research-driven, multisensory, individualized instruction is the way all students, and especially students with dyslexia, learn best.

Small class sizes ensure optimal teacher engagement, individualized instruction, and student participation.

Every student deserves to feel confident and secure enough to take the risks and make the effort that learning requires.

High academic standards and an emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) prepare students to embrace the challenges of our complex and increasingly technology-dependent world.

Passionate, expert instructors teaching what they know and love best ensures that students receive the highest quality education possible.

History

Rawson Saunders was established in 1997 by a consortium of educators and parents determined to fill the need for a new, innovative school in which dyslexic students could thrive. Margaret Byrd Rawson (1899-2001) and Roger E. Saunders (1924-2006), preeminent pioneers in the research, diagnosis, and treatment of dyslexia, graciously lent their names and support to the new school. Both were instrumental in the founding of what now is known as the International Dyslexia Association, formerly the Orton Society. Margaret was the Orton Society's national president through the 1960s. She worked closely with Dr. Samuel T. Orton, who identified dyslexia as a medical diagnosis in 1925 and who co-founded the Orton-Gillingham research-proven teaching methods for dyslexic students that Rawson Saunders uses to this day. Margaret wrote nine books and countless articles on dyslexia. She remained an authority on dyslexia and tireless advocate of dyslexia awareness until her death in 2001 at the age of 102. Roger Saunders was a psychologist, dyslexia expert, and dyslexia awareness advocate who sought to educate teachers, parents, and students that dyslexia was neurological and not an emotional or intelligence issue as was previously believed. Roger had studied under June Orton, widow of Samuel T. Orton, and served as the president of the International Dyslexia Association for six years in the 1970s. He made several visits to the Rawson Saunders school in its early development to help shape its mission, and also worked to further dyslexia awareness in the Austin area.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees generously volunteer their time and talents for the benefit of this and future generations of Rawson Saunders students.

Arun Chatterjee, Chair
Will Burnett, Treasurer
Al York, Secretary
Samantha Borders, Board Member
Keith Buchanan, Board Member
Bill Clark, Board Member
Lisa Dallmer, Board Member
Tim Dowling, Board Member
Jocelyn Hornblower, Board Member
Joe Llamas, Board Member
Catherine Scott, Board Member
Melissa Sela, Board Member

Laura Steinbach, Head of School, ex officio

In the News

October 2023: Rawson Saunders School Joins New LD Education Association. Read more here.
September 2022: "Rawson Sunders proudly celebrates 25 years." Find out more here.
September 2022: "Rawson Saunders is named a Cognia School of Distinction." Find our more here.
September / October 2022: Austin Monthly includes Rawson Saunders in their Faces of ATX 2022 section as the "Faces of Dyslexia Education."

October 2022: Austin Family Magazine features Rawson Saunders 25th Anniversary here.
December 2021: "Rawson Saunders gives back." Find out more here.

Diversity Statement

Rawson Saunders School values the beautiful diversity of our community and of our world, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. In addition, Rawson Saunders seeks to provide a superior education to students of all socio-economic backgrounds. Rawson Saunders is strongly committed to an inclusive environment which honors the uniqueness of each individual's background, values, and point of view. Visit the Rawson Saunders DEI Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion page.

Website Accessibility

Rawson Saunders is committed to making this website accessible to visitors with disabilities and is continually working to increase its accessibility and usability.

https://www.rawsonsaunders.org strives to conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, Level AA. These recommendations outline how to make website content accessible to a wider range of people with disabilities. We are on a regular basis seeking opportunities to bring all areas of the site up to the same level of overall web accessibility.

Most popular browsers and plugins contain built-in accessibility tools and features. For more information, please visit the accessibility information pages for these tools:

In addition, we support assistive screen reader technology from JAWS, NVDA, and Apple VoiceOver.

If for any reason you cannot access any of the material on our website, please email communications@rawsonsaunders.org and we will work to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

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