Do I need a formal diagnosis of dyslexia before starting a program? 

 

No, we work together to ensure a Davis® program will meet your needs.

It is not necessary to have a formal dyslexia diagnosis to benefit from a Davis program. In our Initial Consultation we go through a survey called the Symptoms Profile. These questions investigate strengths and challenges of you or your child. This is a detailed exchange of information regarding your individual learning style, plus the areas you are looking to improve. This conversation helps us be sure that a Davis program will be the right match for your needs. If we determine that is not the case, I will offer suggestions for other resources.

 

 

How is a Davis® program different from tutoring?

 

Dyslexia Correction or Attention Mastery program: 30 hrs +/- intensive 1-on-1 work in 1 week vs. 1 to 2 hrs/wk for months or years; Math Mastery program: 48 hrs +/- over 2 week /post program tutoring recommended in most cases.

The Davis® approach is substantially different from tutoring. A Davis® intervention takes place in a concentrated time frame, instead of 1 to 2 sessions/wk over many months. Helping clients become solid using their Orientation Point or Alignment is a “re-set” for learning. 30 hours +/- of one-on-one support from a Davis facilitator provides clients a solid start with their Davis learning tools. To increase and sustain long term gains, clients must continue to use their tools after the program week. I train a support person to work with you during the “post-program phase”. I am available to support your post-program practice via emails, phone calls, and 3 face-to-face review sessions.

 

 

How is the Davis® method of instruction different from other dyslexia intervention programs?

 

The Davis® method of facilitation is different in a number of fundamental ways from the majority of other dyslexia interventions:

• No rote learning

• No phonics

• No worksheets

• No medications

• No colored overlays or adjustments to printed materials

• Gains often experienced in the short term

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• There is no rote learning, repetition or drill involved. You create your own learning models. This ensures that your learning is uniquely appropriate for you. You absorb and master what you learn because it comes from within you, and you are in charge of it.

 

• We don’t rely on phonics based instruction. The skill of connecting letters to the sounds they represent is addressed. But this is not the primary means for reading instruction. You will learn to connect the 3 essential parts of a word: meaning, sound, and spelling. You will create your own unique 3-dimensional visual definitions of the challenging “trigger words”, along with their spellings. 

 

• We don’t use worksheets or handouts. Your learning will be carried out primarily with clay, in 3 dimensions. This approach matches the natural, effective learning style of dyslexic individuals: visual-spatial, and/or kinesthetic. 

 

• There are no medications or herbal supplements involved. You will learn how to control your energy level appropriately for various tasks using the Davis® tools of Dial and Release. Developing your Orientation Point or Alignment eliminates distorted perceptions, so that the problems they cause are eliminated. 

 

• We don’t rely on colored overlays or other changes to the size, color and fonts of printed materials. You will learn to get oriented so that you can successfully interact with symbols—letters, words, punctuation, numerals, math signs—the way they show up.

 

• Our concentrated period of work typically yields tangible improvement in skills in a shorter time than is often achieved through tutoring. Gains vary from individual to individual, and generally continue to increase over the period of “post-program work”. Motivated clients who use their tools consistently will experience noticeable improvement in at least one academic area in the short term.

 

 

Are these programs only beneficial for school-aged children? Can I benefit from a program as an adult?

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YES, Davis® programs work for people of ALL AGES.

• Davis® programs are designed to be appropriate for ALL AGES. 

• Ronald Davis made his groundbreaking discovery regarding his own ability to eliminate distorted perceptions at age 38. This discovery allowed him to become a reader for the first time in his life!

• Adult clients often see dramatic results when they engage in a program. They clearly understand the specific areas they need to focus on to improve their performance in school or on the job. 

• Adults entering into Davis® programs are intrinsically motivated to apply their prodigious gifts to this new way of learning. Positive self-discovery and increased feelings of empowerment are generally commensurate with the level of commitment adult clients bring to the experience. 

 

What is the full range of learning challenges that Davis® programs address?

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• Davis Dyslexia Correction program: improved skills and abilities in the areas of reading, writing and handwriting

• Davis Math Mastery program: dyscalculia--problems with numbers, counting, computing, basic math functions, money

• Davis Attention Mastery program: ADD/ADHD; distorted perceptions of time and space; difficulty recognizing personal responsibility for outcomes of own choices and actions

• All programs can provide assistance with 

  • Dyspraxia--problems with balance and spatial relations

  • Auditory processing--challenges with distorted hearing

  • Visual processing--challenges with distorted vision

 

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How can I be sure a Davis® program will be a good match for my own or my student learner’s needs?

 

We work as a team to clarify your learning goals, then match the program to meet those goals.

As a facilitator, it is my job to carefully assess the combination of natural skills and learning challenges each client is experiencing. During the Initial Consultation, I take my client through our Symptoms Profile. This lengthy survey is an information gathering tool, covering questions in a broad range of categories. Clients rate their abilities in all areas of academic skills as well as athletics, music, art, hobbies and special interests. When working with student clients, I engage the parents in a separate Symptoms Profile. Parental perspective is essential to the process of matching the right program to each client. Establishing a fully developed picture of the client’s areas of struggle and learning needs ensures that a Davis® program matches identified goals.

 

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What makes a Davis® program successful?

 

Clearly defined goals and authentic client motivation are the greatest predictors of success.

The greatest single factor in predicting success of a program is client motivation. Clients who feel a deep hunger for solutions to their learning struggles generally experience the greatest gains. Clients who identify concrete learning goals and are fully open to investigating the Davis tools will get the most out of the program. Individuals with a strong desire to improve their skills and authentic motivation to apply their natural gifts to the learning tasks will reap optimal benefits.  

 

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Will my child need to miss school to engage in a Davis® program?

 

Possibly, but the gains almost always outweigh the class time missed.

Facilitators tailor programs to the needs of individual clients. For children attending public school, planning a program during vacation time is often a priority. For many students seeking a Davis® program, daily gains in the classroom are limited. Taking time out to participate in a Davis program improves the client’s capacities to perform at school. When students return to the classroom with Davis tools in place, they get more out of their learning. Facilitators communicate with classroom teachers to help families determine the least disruptive time to miss school. 

 

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Are Davis® programs a good match for homeschoolers?

 

YES, we work closely with homeschoolers to fit Davis® programs into your schedule.

Davis® programs fit smoothly into the homeschooling approach. Most homeschooling parents and children are familiar with individualized instruction. Students have previous experience working in a one-on-one approach. Facilitators work with homeschooling parents and instructors to fit the program into a student’s schedule when it will cause the least disruption and reap the most benefits. Ongoing activities of the post-program phase are easily assimilated into a homeschooler’s weekly schedule.

 

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Why do you require clients to be “drug free” when participating in Davis® programs?

 

Many medications interfere with a client’s ability to get optimally oriented.

It is generally recognized by Davis facilitators that certain prescription medications interfere with a client’s ability to achieve the mental focusing technique central to Davis® programs. These include stimulant medications frequently prescribed for ADHD, antidepressants and antihistamines. We ask that clients and families disclose any medications being taken. Individuals wishing to engage in a Davis® program can consult with their physician to discuss the protocol for discontinuing use of medication before beginning a program.

 

• link to DDAI site: “Why Drugs and Davis Don’t Mix”