Our Mission
Literacy for all, literacy for life — this is Wilson’s driving force and guiding principle. Our commitment to the science of reading and the science of implementation — in combination with our comprehensive professional learning, high-quality structured literacy programs, and dyslexia expertise — creates a pathway to success for teachers and students.
In Their Words
Wilson believes that every individual — from young students introduced to reading for the first time to students in need of intervention support to those with dyslexia and persistent reading challenges — has the right to acquire literacy. By partnering with educators, parents, and students, we know this is possible. Our incredible team has expanded over the years to support our mission, so that now, approximately 200 people work at Wilson Language Training®. We welcome you to explore more about us and to reach out for even more information.
Sincerely,
Barbara and Ed Wilson
Our Founders
The inspiration for Wilson Language Training® began with Barbara Wilson over 30 years ago. After several years as a special educator in public schools in Massachusetts, Barbara completed training in the Orton-Gillingham (O-G) approach to literacy instruction at Massachusetts General Hospital’s (MGH) Language Disorders Unit. She remained there for five years: Working with adults with dyslexia inspired the eventual launch of Wilson Language Training several years later. Barbara has gone on to lead presentations, keynotes, and workshops at over 300 conferences worldwide. Her co-founder, Ed Wilson, served on both the Board of Directors for the New England branch of the Orton Dyslexia Society and the Executive Board of the International Dyslexia Association. Alongside Barbara, he spearheaded Wilson’s transition from a private learning center to a national educational company — all the while staying true to the original goal of helping individuals with dyslexia.
A History of Literacy Education
Wilson’s commitment to literacy begins in 1985. Open the following dropdowns to view a timeline of critical events in our history.
- 1985: Barbara and Ed Wilson open the Wilson Learning Center, a private institution for students with reading disabilities.
- 1988: The first edition of the Wilson Reading System® is published. The curriculum is based on Barbara’s training and work at both MGH and the Wilson Learning Center.
- 1989: As a result of the Wilson Learning Center’s success, Wilson creates the WRS Level I Certification to support and guide educators.
- 1992–93: Wilson shifts focus to professional learning with the goal of making WRS instruction available and successful in public school settings. Wilson Language Training® is incorporated in the state of Massachusetts.
- 1995: The WRS Level II Certification program is created to support teaching in small groups and introduce advanced concepts of language structure.
- 2002: Informed by over 10 years of data from the successful implementation of WRS, Wilson publishes the first edition of Fundations® — an explicit, cumulative, systematic, and multisensory program targeted to K–3 students.
- 2005: Wilson Language Training relocates to Oxford, Massachusetts. The new campus is equipped with offices, learning rooms, and a 20,000-square-foot Materials Distribution Center.
- 2009: In response to demand for a program specifically made for older students and adults with word-level deficits not requiring intensive intervention, Wilson debuts Just Words®. This new program explicitly addresses decoding and spelling needs through an accelerated delivery of the content of the Wilson Reading System.
- 2015: Wilson is awarded Accreditation Plus from the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), recognizing Wilson Reading System’s alignment with the organization’s Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading.
- 2020: The Fundations Virtual Resource Hub — FUN HUB™ for short — goes online, providing remote support and resources to teachers remotely implementing Fundations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2021: The Fundations Ready to Rise™ program is published. Aligning with research-based recommendations for accelerated learning and designed for use during summer school or at the beginning of the academic year, this 20-day program prepares rising 1st and 2nd grade students for the next Fundations level by targeting foundational skills.
- 2021: The WRS Advanced Set and WRS Advanced Set Plus for Steps 7–12 are published. Incorporating all the research-based best practices that have been part of our professional learning courses for years, these sets provide teachers with the resources needed to implement the Upper Steps of the program.
The Wilson Way
Wilson employees strive toward a vision of literacy for all by assisting schools and districts in implementing and sustaining our programs. To achieve it, our team of experienced trained certified trainers coach their peers and help them effectively use our programs. Teams in Oxford, MA, and Portsmouth, NH, support our field staff by building capacity and developing educational materials. Together, in partnership with educators across the country, we can make our mission a reality.
Helping Our Community
Wilson maintains that a sense of community makes the world a better place. To put that idea into practice, we engage in annual outreach and volunteer projects. We’ve planted greenery and collected trash on Earth Day; donated books to local public schools to encourage summer reading; supported employee-selected charities; and more.
Join Our Team
If you’re passionate about Wilson’s mission and believe reading is something everyone can enjoy, you’ve come to the right place. Click the button below to browse our open positions — we look forward to connecting with you.