In collaboration with Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas, research professor Marjorie Zielke PhD’07 has developed an animated virtual therapist that helps children with reading, speech and language issues. “There aren’t enough teachers who are dyslexia experts,” said Zielke, director of the Center for Simulation and Synthetic Humans at UT Dallas. The lessons are based on a curriculum developed by Karen Avrit, director of dyslexia education at the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders at Scottish Rite. Using specialized motion-capture recording technology, Zielke’s team recorded Avrit’s facial movements, dictation and vocal tones to create the virtual therapist. In addition, Scottish Rite is preparing trainers throughout the country so they can share the program with educators in multiple regions.