What is involved in the program?
The client will first learn how to correct perception and disorientation at will. This is accomplished via Davis Orientation Counseling®—as outlined in The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis.
The client will then learn how to master the basic symbols for reading and writing by creating the alphabet and abstract words using clay. This is a fun and easy way for clients to overcome confusions.
How much follow-up work is necessary?
In order to ensure continued success and improvement after your Davis® Dyslexia Correction Program, continued use of the Davis tools and follow-up work must be completed. Time frames will vary depending upon each client’s personal goals and support situation.
Does this program work with adults?
Yes! At the age of 38, Ron Davis discovered the tools that allowed him to correct perception and, for the first time in his life, read an entire book in one sitting. After his discovery, the program was further tested and developed by working with adult Dyslexic volunteers.
Motivated adults bring a level of maturity and self-awareness that make the program extremely rewarding and successful!
Paradise Learning Unlimited Services has helped adults of all ages to improve their reading, writing, spelling, focus, and stress-levels.
How is this program different from others?
The Davis® methods address the root cause of learning disabilities. This positive, creative-based, and multi-sensory program is DESIGNED for the learning style of the visual-spatial person. It uses the natural strengths and talents of the client’s personal learning style. Clients will learn HOW THEY LEARN and leave with the ability to implement the knowledge obtained during the program into daily life.
The program does not use phonics, colored-overlays, rote memorization, or repetitive drill – which address only the symptoms, not the root cause of Dyslexia.
Unlike other programs that require weekly visits over the course of many years, the Davis® Program follow-up is done from the comfort of your own home…on your schedule.
What can I expect to gain from the program?
Clients leave the program with the tools of basic literacy—including:
- The ability to recognize and correct disorientations at will
- The ability to focus attention
- The knowledge of how to eliminate confusions in words and symbols
- Increased self-confidence and ability in reading, writing, math or physical skills
Implementing the tools into every day life, as well as doing Davis Symbol Mastery® follow-up on trigger words, is necessary to ensure continued success with the program.
How does the Davis® Program work with home schooled children?
The Davis® Program is a wonderful complement to the home school setting. After the 30-hour program, support training for the parent provides a basis for follow-up over the next 4-6 months. All necessary materials are provided, and when added into a daily routine, the follow-up exercises go quickly. Many Paradise Learning clients have found great success with implementing the Davis® strategies into their home school environments – even for their non-dyslexic children!
How much improvement in reading and writing can I expect?
The Davis Dyslexia Correction® program has a 97% success rate! A typical program will provide for a significant improvement by the last day of the program. This is a literacy jump start…future progress is determined by the client’s motivation, continued use of tools, and completion of Symbol Mastery after the program.
Does Paradise Learning Unlimited Services (PLUS) diagnose Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is not a “disease” – it is thinking and learning style. Therefore, there is no medical way (i.e. blood test) to determine if you are blessed with the gift of Dyslexia.
Frustratingly, there is also no uniformly accepted criteria for diagnosing Dyslexia, so professionals may disagree on whether or not a person is dyslexic, and/or use alternative diagnostic labels to describe the client’s symptoms – many will not use the word “Dyslexia” at all. There are more than 70 different diagnoses that can be used to describe the various manifestations of dyslexic symptoms.
What is the difference between an assessment/ screening and a diagnosis?
An assessment/screening for Dyslexia will consist of an informal collection of information from the client and parents (if applicable) that will indicate if enough characteristics/symptoms are present.
Diagnostic testing will be more extensive and typically include tests for vision and hearing, as well as tests related to intellectual functioning, processing, intelligence (IQ), vocabulary/comprehension/phonemic awareness, and achievement. In order to receive an official diagnosis for Dyslexia, this extensive testing must be done by a qualified professional, such as a neuropsychologist or educational psychologist. Be sure to ask specifically for Dyslexia testing.
Paradise Learning Unlimited Services (PLUS) provides a thorough screening for Dyslexia, but does not provide an official diagnosis. The assessment will determine if the client exhibits the signs and characteristics of Dyslexia and is a suitable candidate for our programs.
**An official diagnosis is NOT necessary to participate in the programs provided by Paradise Learning Unlimited Services.**
Why would I need a diagnosis?
If you or your child fit the common characteristics of Dyslexia and are looking for help, a formal diagnosis may not be necessary. An official diagnosis is typically appropriate if you are looking to:
- Qualify for accommodations/special education programs in public schools (inquire with the school system prior to seeking private testing, as you are legally entitled to request evaluation through the school district)
- Receive accommodations for work/employment
- Obtain proof of a disability for legal purposes
- Qualify for public services or disability services
Why is the Davis® Program “drug-free?”
One of the main goals of the Davis® Program is to enable a person to correct their perceptions and control their attention on their own without the use of medication. A person under the influence of certain medications is not able to experience the contrast and improvement that voluntary control of orientation has on their learning ability as well as their creativity.
Medicines such as antihistamines, codeine-based cough syrups, stimulants (Ritalin, Concerta, Strattera, etc.), and antidepressants (Prozac, Zoloft, etc.) should be avoided.
These medications inhibit a person’s ability to use creative thought, or to visualize or picture things using imagination. This becomes significant when doing a Davis Program. During the Program, clients are asked to use multi-dimensional thought and perceptual abilities that are quite natural for them. Psychoactive drugs inhibit the individual’s ability to use these talents.
In order to ensure that the client receives the full benefits of the Davis® Program, full disclosure of current medications being taken (including non prescription medications or natural, herbal remedies), is essential. Also, whenever possible, the client should refrain from certain medications for at least one week prior to starting a Program. However, no prescribed medication should ever be discontinued without seeking the advice and permission of the physician who prescribed it.
This doesn’t mean that it is impossible for a medicated person to do the Davis® procedures. Medications such as antibiotics and aspirin, when necessary to treat a temporary physical problem, are acceptable. Also acceptable are medications for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma.
From Dyslexia the Gift web site, www.dyslexia.com
© 1995-2006 Davis Dyslexia Association International
Reprinted with Permission
The Davis® Dyslexia Correction Program – the alternative to medication…
If you have concerns regarding the long-term affects that stimulants may have on you or your child, the Davis® methods provide a drug-free alternative.
Paradise Learning Unlimited Services (PLUS) provides clients with highly effective mental techniques that enable them to self-monitor and control their own:
- Focus
- Stress and anxiety
- Energy levels
…without potentially harmful medications!