Dys•lex´•ic Read´•er

The
~
VOL. 42 Davis Dyslexia Association International ISSUE 3 • 2006

The Seven Causes of Handwriting

Problems, Part 1
Excerpted from The Gift of Learning Handwriting is an art form that
by Ronald D. Davis and Eldon Braun requires certain skills to accomplish.
Some people may consider it dispensable
Until the typewriter was widely used, in today’s education process, but the
good handwriting was considered education system still considers legible
essential. Clerks and scribes wrote handwriting an essential element of the
every legal and business document in grade school curriculum. A child with
impeccable script. People spent a lot dysgraphia (difficulty writing) or
of time and effort composing personal agraphia (inability to write) is likely to
letters to friends and relatives. Now be labeled “learning disabled” and sent
there is considerable debate as to to special education. I think most of us
whether or not good handwriting is would agree that it is handy and valuable
relevant in today’s world of computers, to be able to fill out paper forms, or to
e-mail and such. If a student can learn jot down a grocery list you can read
to use a keyboard and a spell checker, once you get to the store. An individual
maybe that’s enough to get by. (Cont’d on p. 6)

IN THIS ISSUE Mr. Lucas and the Capital A

Excerpted from the book “Homeschooling and
News & Feature Articles the Voyage of Self-Discovery” by David H. Albert

The Seven Causes of Handwriting . . . .
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Mr. Lucas and the Capital A . . . . . . . .1
Overcoming a Roadblock . . . . . . . . . .3
Humor Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Mr. Lucas, my sixth grade teacher at
Public School #131 AND Three-
Quarters in New York City had a plan
(I’ve changed the number to protect,
well, I’m not exactly sure what I’m
trying to protect, but it
to junior high school, was there to
ensure the incoming students from P.S.
131-3/4 were not going to be found
wanting. Or at least not if he had any
say in the matter.
Mr. Lucas was a former

seemed like a good idea). military man who fought in

Famous Dyslexics Remember . . . . . . . .5

We were all going to North Africa in WW II. One

Dynamic Duo “Entrepreneurs . . . . . . .9

leave his 6th grade class of his preferred activities

Bee Wear the Spill Chequer . . . . . . . . .9
with absolutely perfect
Gift of Dyslexia Now in Danish . . . . .11
Ecos Colombianos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 handwriting, and he was
A Davis Graduate Speaks . . . . . . . . .18 going to make sure that it
Facilitation and Freedom . . . . . . . . . .23 happened his way. You
see, he understood that
our current state of
Regular Features
In the Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
imperfection wasn’t our
Book Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-11 fault. It was a result of
Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-17 poor teaching and a lack
New Davis Licensees . . . . . . . . . .20-25 of attention to detail in the earlier
grades, and he, being in charge of us
before we made the great leap forward
Davis Workshops . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-28
was to regale us with stories
of imbibing diverse varieties
of African bug juice, thus
making all the girls, including
Stacy Schwartz who was
already too hot from her new
training bra (did they really
need training?), extremely
uncomfortable. (Would “bug
juice talk” now be considered a form
of sexual harassment?) So his plan was
simple: handwriting was to take place

(Cont’d on p. 8)
PAGE 2 THE DYSLEXIC READER

In the Mail:
help. She is even talking about taking completing Alphabet Mastery and
college classes when she reaches high Punctuation Mastery and progressing
school. to Spell-Reading, he complained of
I feel that the Davis Method is a glare from the white background
a gold mine that we were fortunate against the black text of the book we
Five years later
Dear DDAI:
Our daughter attended the Davis enough to find. My greatest wish is were reading. It didn’t appear to be
Method training in Renton, that all kids had this opportunity. linked to any specific triggers at word
Washington with Marilyn Anderson Kristine Morrison or letter level.
in 3rd grade. The difference that one I decided to conduct an experiment
week made in her life is immeasurable. with ReadOn, because of its versatile
facility to select a wide variety of
Success with ReadOn
Even five years later, she is reaping Dear DDAI:
the benefit of that week. She is active I feel compelled to share with you an different colours for both text and
in sports, has A’s in reading, science, exciting experience I had recently background.
math and history, and a B+ in writing. with an adult client using the ReadOn We discovered that with black
She is an eager learner, becoming an software. text on a lightish grey background my
avid reader, and has an attitude and The young man I was working client didn't experience any “glare.”
confidence that is awesome. She is the with showed symptoms of what I took So I asked him to read from the screen
one that the other students call for to be scotopic sensitivity. After with plenty of Release and Alignment.
Every few sentences, I lightened
the background very slightly, asking
my client to continue monitoring his
Copyright 2001 Randy Glasbergen. www.glasbergen.com

Release and Alignment and taking a

break whenever “glare” symptoms
occurred.
By the end of the programme,
we had progressed to a background
just off of white.
Last week, he came back for a
Review session. When I asked him
about his progress in reading, he
casually commented, “Oh, by the way,
that glare thing doesn’t happen any
more. So I’ve been reading loads from
books and newspapers.”
Best wishes,
Richard Whitehead
Director DDA-UK
Staplehurst, Kent

The Dyslexic Reader is published quarterly by Davis Dyslexia Association International (DDAI), 1601 Bayshore Hwy.,
Suite 245, Burlingame, CA 94010 USA. Tel. +1 (650) 692-7141.
OUR GOALS are to increase worldwide awareness about the positive aspects of dyslexia and related learning styles;
and to present methods for improving literacy, education and academic success. We believe that all people’s abilities
and talents should be recognized and valued, and that learning problems can be corrected. EDITORIAL BOARD:
Laura Zink de Diaz, Alice Davis, Abigail Marshall & Maria Fagioli. DESIGN: Gideon Kramer. SUBSCRIPTIONS: one year
$25 in US, add $5 in Canada; add $10 elsewhere. BACK ISSUES: send $8.00 to DDAI. SUBMISSIONS & LETTERS:
We welcome letters, comments and articles. Mail to DDAI at the above address. VIA FAX: +1 (650) 692-7075
VIA E-MAIL: editor@dyslexia.com INTERNET: www.dyslexia.com

The opinions and views expressed in articles and letters are not necessarily those of DDAI. Davis™, Dyslexia Correction®, Davis Symbol Mastery®, Davis
Orientation Counseling®, and Davis Learning Strategies® are trademarks of Ronald D. Davis. Copyright © 2006 by DDAI, unless otherwise noted.
All rights reserved.
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 3
improvement, and then we tried and now shuns new activities, rarely
an eye therapy program that was willing to step out of his small area of
said to cure eye-tracking and comfort. How I miss that silly, playful
focus issues. After more than a little boy, and I do realize that I have
year, we abandoned the eye played a part in his withdrawal. In my
therapy, much to Nathan’s relief. frenzied attempt to identify the problem
Based on his poor performance, and find the right program, I was hard
we had Nathan repeat first grade on him. I pushed, begged and bribed
when we moved to a new area. him, hoping that if he just experienced
some success, doors would open for
By the time Nathan entered fifth him. I only succeeded in helping to
Tests and More Tests
By Janet,
Nathan’s Mom grade, he had been tested by cement his obstinacy and create a
the public school with the full thick barrier of resistance between us.
battery of tests, a speech and A Davis Dyslexia Correction
hearing specialist, specialized Program
optometrist, Lindamood-Bell So, when we started the Davis
specialists etc. Although the Program, it was clear that Nathan
One roadblock overcome; combined costs of these tests, would be resistant. He had tried so
many more to conquer. programs and tutoring hours many programs and worked with
added up to more than a college many wonderful people, only to find
From the time my 11-year-old Nathan education, my husband and I were most the road frustrating and unsuccessful.
was in preschool, I knew that the concerned about how the constant One month after completing the one-
traditional building blocks of academic testing, failed programs and frustratingly week Davis dyslexia correction training,
learning were not getting through to slow progress affected Nathan. Nathan’s interest had waned. He did
him. When he was four and attending During Nathan’s schooling, there not want to work on the trigger words
morning preschool, he still could not were periods when we just let him or do his daily fine-tuning; as far as
consistently identify colors or shapes. work through school on his own while he was concerned, it wasn’t helping.
Upon entering kindergarten, he had providing any needed support. But as Although I realized that Nathan and I
mastered only half of the alphabet more time passed it was evident that had fallen into our old dysfunctional
letters at best, and even fewer of the he was not going to “grow out of it.” roles, I had no idea how to extricate
alphabet sounds. Although French us from this situation.
fries were one of his favorite treats, I called on Dee, the director of
he often could not find the words in the Burlingame office, for help. She
his head and would simply describe encouraged me to talk openly to Nathan
the food as “those straight things.” about his resistance and feelings about
From his toddler stage on, he always the program, and to allow him to make
preferred to point and grunt rather than some suggestions on how to proceed.
using language to express himself, but He needed to be in control and set the
he was a joyful and imaginative child pace. I needed to be the supporter, not
who enjoyed playing alone with his the pusher.
toys or building elaborate structures. I talked openly with Nathan about
His preschool and kindergarten teachers The disparity between his ability and my concerns, his unwillingness to
all assured me that he would “grow the classroom expectations grew more proceed with the program. Although
out of it.” He was a happy, playful quickly with each grade level. he didn’t respond or offer much
child who laughed often and loved his Amazingly, Nathan always earned information, he seemed, at least more
friends and the activities in school. good grades, mostly a B average. But open to setting a schedule and following
By the time Nathan was in first these were hard won. The amount of through. His difficulty with the Koosh
grade, it became clear that he was not time and effort to stay afloat grew balls, I think, stemmed from his roving
progressing, and he started to show incrementally with each passing year. mind’s ear, so we have been doing the
signs of frustration and fatigue where It was inconceivable that he could work ping exercise daily along with the Koosh
school was concerned. Individual any harder. The playful kindergartener balls. Although he lacks enthusiasm at
tutoring that consisted of more of the had turned into a solitary, quiet fifth times, he has been consistent.
same phonics and memory-based grader who worked hard, talked little Yesterday we counted up all the
learning by his well-meaning teacher and opted out of any social involvement words he has completed; he had 16
proved fruitless. By the end of first or lunchtime activities. words finished. Realizing that he was
grade, Nathan had been tutored in the Over the years, Nathan has close to his first benchmark, 25, he
Lindamood-Bell program without withdrawn from his circle of friends agreed to work with the clay on a
PAGE 4 THE DYSLEXIC READER
weeknight. In our earlier conversations, He was still angrily crying, and I
I had mentioned that tension was could hear him clambering up onto his
growing between us because I was bunk bed. When I went in his room, he
pushing and he was shutting down. was curled up in his covers sobbing. I
I told him that I did not want this quietly asked him if he wanted me to
program to become a burden on our stay or leave. “If you don’t want to see
relationship; if it was going to work, or talk to me, I will leave you alone,
he needed to be motivated and meet but I want you to know that I am here
me more than halfway. I asked him for you.”
how he felt when it was time to work think of anything to make. We made Not surprisingly, there was no
with the clay or do fine-tuning. What up more examples and I encouraged answer. I slowly climbed up the bunk
was he seeing in his mind? How did him to use me in the sentences. “Why bed and lay down next to him. His
his body react? Never one to elaborate, don’t you say something like, ‘When head and body were turned away from
he simply grunted and shrugged his Mom pushes me, I resist.’” me in an attempt to shut everything
shoulders. I described the signs he He grudgingly made a model the out, so I just snuggled up next to him
exhibited when he was shutting down: size of a tack. I questioned how he and hugged him and rubbed his back
no eye contact, no words – responding could possibly show the word resist in repeating, “I am here for you, go
with grunts and shrugs – turning his such small figures. He moaned and ahead and cry, get it out.” I couldn’t
back on me, fiddling with his hands or slouched; I teased him that he was help but cry myself; I felt so useless,
hair, to name a few. He acknowledged “resisting” me and continued to make but I started to realize that I cannot do
that he resists me but I wasn’t sure he sentences containing the words resist, any of this for Nathan. He needs to
wasn’t simply agreeing with me to get Nathan and Mom. He made bigger work through these tough spots. I
me to stop pestering him. models but didn’t put a head on his body. don’t have the power to take the pain
At the family dinner table the topic As he was cutting one block into away. As you know, that is a very
of the dyslexia correction program came two legs for a model of him, it looked difficult realization for a mom.
up. Both John and I asked Nathan if like the Nathan model was kicking the I asked Nathan again, ”Do you
he thought the program fit him, if the Mom model. I teased him and said that want me to stay?” He nodded yes so I
fine-tuning and other techniques make a it really showed “fighting against” even hugged him tighter and let him cry.
difference at school. He enthusiasticallythough I don’t think he did it on purpose. Then, he got up to move, turned and
said that it was helping, that he noticesHe continued to hem and haw, so I hugged me tight. My heart melted.
a difference – thumbs up. Again, John encouraged him to finish the final step After awhile, I asked what he was
and I looked at each other, a bit dubious;
of the process. feeling. He said, “Sad, mad.” I asked if
we often found that Nathan would say Spelling the word, he was clearly he was mad at me, and he said, “kind
anything to end conversations about frustrated; I could feel the anger bubbling of.” I told him he can be really mad at
his difficulties. up inside. He spelled it wrong and me, he doesn’t have to lessen it with
insisted he couldn’t do it; didn’t like it ‘kind of.’ I asked how his body felt.
After dinner, Nathan got out the clay etc. etc. I asked him if he wanted to He said he felt tight in his stomach and
The Walls Go Up

and we worked on three words. His take a break. “NO!” his fists became clenched. I explained
energy level was high and he was “Should we just stop here and that he probably had such a big reaction
motivated to do more even though it come back?” “NO!” to this word because it is such a part of
was getting late. After finishing three “Well, Nate it is up to you.” And his defense system. I asked him if he
words, I suggested that we do the word I just sat and waited. Clearly he was resists other people and experiences
“resist.” Nathan was reluctant and fighting within himself. My guess is besides me, and he said, “Sometimes.”
tried to persuade me to do it later, but that he was very uncomfortable and I smiled at him and announced, “This is
I held my ground saying that Dee had wanted to run away. Finally, he took a a good thing. We hit a major road block!
suggested we try it. look at me and ran out of the room. Do you understand why it is good?”
The definition was “to fight He slammed doors, threw things and “Yes,” Nate said, “because now I
against or work against,” – easy broke a light. I could hear him sobbing can work through it.” This resistance
enough to visualize. When we started from the other room. had become such a part of Nathan’s
making sentences, I said, “When I coping skills that he had never realized
want to work with the clay, Nathan
Sad, Mad how much he had been automatically
What do I do? It was so hard to hear shutting out. He acknowledged that he
sometimes resists me.” He looked at the frustration and pain in his voice,
me but didn’t say anything. As we “doesn’t do” things because of this
but I was afraid to go after him. internal resistance. We talked about
worked on the models, Nathan quickly Wasn’t I the one causing this reaction?
became deflated. He didn’t like this how hard it is to look inside ourselves
I let him simmer for ten minutes and and see things that are working against
word; it was too long. He couldn’t then decided to see what he was up to. us, but it is a necessary step towards
THE DYSLEXIC READER
positive change.
After some
quiet time, I asked
Nathan if he just
wanted to stay in
bed. He said that
he wanted to get
up. Then I asked
him if I should
clean up the clay.
“No,” he said, “I
want to finish it
now.” There was no mumbling or
indecision. We sat down and looked at
his broken model. I teased him about
breaking us apart. He laughed. He took
a deep breath and said, “Resist meaning
to fight against or work against;
r-e-s-i-s-t, t-s-i-s-e-r, r-e-s-i-s-t, resist.”
He turned to me with a triumphant
smile.
I then showed Nathan my model.
I had made a block model of Nathan
with a sour face and arms outstretched
keeping everything at a distance. My
Mom model had open arms and
concerned eyes. I wrapped my model’s
arms around the rigid Nathan model
and said, “Resist – to fight against or
to work against. Even when Nathan
resists, Mom still loves him.” Nathan
gave me a bright smile and hug.
While we cleaned up the clay,
Nathan remembered that he needed to
study for his 50-State test. We went
and snuggled in my bed with the map
Famous Dyslexics Remember
Dan Malloy,
mayor of
Stamford,
Connecticut and
2006 candidate for
Governor. In an
interview with The
Associated Press
after his nomination, he stated,
“Realistically, if you asked people
about me from my childhood, they
would not have predicted the level of
success that I’ve been able to achieve.
If you can’t read, you can’t do math
and you can’t spell, then how is anyone
going to assume that you can be
successful?”
PAGE 5
of the United
States. He whipped
through all the
answers, spelling
the important ones.
When I asked him
where his energy
dial was, he said,
“5.” After a long
hug, Nathan
skipped off to bed.
When I went to
check on him 10 minutes later he was Learning Numbers
sleeping blissfully. The teacher asked one of her
This was a powerful experience young students if he knew his
and most of the way through it I had numbers.
no idea what steps I should take. “Yes,” he said. “I do. My father
Thanks to Dee’s guidance and support, taught me.”
we hurdled a difficult roadblock. “Good. What comes after three.”
“Four,” answers the boy.
“What comes after six?”
Epiphany
Today I had an epiphany – instead of
trying to avoid the hard stuff in life, it “Seven.”
is so important to face it head on. My “Very good,” says the teacher.
personal strategy has been avoidance “Your dad did a good job. What
of conflict – to keep everything calm comes after ten?”
and under control; Nathan has been “A jack,” says the little boy.
modeling me. Now I see the importance
of meeting challenges with a positive
belief that resolving and overcoming
tough spots makes life better. And I
“He who uses many words
am going to provide my children with
to explain any subject,
the opportunity and encouragement to
doth, like the cuttlefish,
meet their personal struggles with a
hide himself for the most
sense of confidence and purpose.
part in his own ink.”
One roadblock overcome, many
– John Ray, Naturalist
more to conquer. v (1627-1705)
Barbara Corcoran, real estate executive, author and TV
personality. In the February 2006 Fortune Magazine article
by David Whitford, she states, “If you can picture it, you
can get it. It’s a great business talent, because I could always
see it all right away–the timetable, the money, me being
successful.”
Patrick Dempsey, actor and star of the TV series, Grey’s
Anatomy. In a March 2006 pre-Oscar interview with Barbara
Walters, Dempsey revealed he was diagnosed with dyslexia
at age 12. “I think it’s made me who I am. It’s given me a
perspective of ‘you have to keep working.’ I have never
given up.”
PAGE 6 THE DYSLEXIC READER
Disorientation
– child or adult – with dysgraphia or agraphia There are three different situations wherein
Handwriting problems . . . (cont’d from p. 1)
International
has a problem that is more than just an disorientation can be a factor in handwriting.
Davis Dyslexia

inconvenience. Even though some people The trigger word phenomena in reading
Correction ®

may trivialize the problem, it can be a source dyslexia can carry over to writing, and the
Providers

of extreme embarrassment, and can contribute trigger words can cause disorientation when
The Davis Dyslexia

attempting to write.
Correction program is
now available from more
to lowered self esteem.
Also in this situation, a person with
than 430 Facilitators

reading dyslexia can experience an overall

around the world.
The Seven Causes of Handwriting
confusion with words, where the mere act
For updates, call:
Problems
Every handwriting problem has two elements: of writing words becomes the trigger for
(888) 805-7216 [Toll Free]
or (650) 692-7141 or visit

specific skills that are missing and the reason disorientation. Two common characteristics
www.dyslexia.com/

those skills haven’t yet been developed. The that identify this problem are:
providers.htm

v Argentina handwriting problem must be observed not

only from the perspective of the absence of • On unlined paper, the writing doesn’t go
Silvana Ines Rossi
Buenos Aires skill but also why the skill did not develop. straight across the page. Sometimes even
There are seven possible reasons why a person on lined paper it may not be straight.
+54 (114) 865 3898

v Australia might have a handwriting problem: • Usually the size of the letters isn’t consistent,
especially in block printing. There may be an
Brenda Gayle Baird
Brisbane 1. brain damage inappropriate mixture of upper and lower
+61 (07) 3299 3994 2. physical illness and deformity case letters. With older students, the writing
Sally Beulke 3. intentionally poor penmanship may be limited to block printing in upper case.
Melbourne
4. inadequate or no instruction
+61 (03) 5727 3517
5. disorientation The other two situations follow the same
Mary Davie
Lilli Pilli, NSW 6. multiple mental images stimulus-response model as reading dyslexia.
+61 (02) 9526 1505
7. an inadequate natural orientation. The individual, in an oriented state, encounters
a stimulus while writing and becomes
Jan Gorman
Eastwood/Sydney
We will not discuss the first three here; disoriented, usually for only a split second.
+61 (02) 9804 1184 only the last four reasons in the list are related During the disorientation, the handwriting goes
Gail Hallinan to dyslexia. askew. This particular problem is rare in children,
DLS Workshop Presenter
Naremburn/Sydney and then almost always accompanied by reading
Obvious That It Is Easily Overlooked dyslexia. In adults this problem can exist
+61 (02) 9405 2800
No or Inadequate Instruction– So
Barbara Hoi
A person may have a handwriting problem unrelated to reading dyslexia.
Mosman/Sydney
+61 (02) 9968 1093 simply because he was never given proper The handwriting disorientation triggers
Eileen McCarthy instructions in penmanship, or the instructions fall into two basic categories: (1) line and
weren’t sufficient to build the necessary skills. shape triggers and (2) motion triggers. Neither
Manly/Sydney
+61 (02) 9977 2061
These deficiencies are not directly related lines, shapes nor motions by themselves can
Marianne Mullally
Crows Nest, Sydney to picture thinking or disorientation, but cause disorientation, so there must be
+61 (02) 9436 3766
disorientation can indirectly contribute to something in between the trigger and the
Mark O’Brien
the problem. The ability to disorient allows disorientation. It is emotion. For reading
Port Macquarie/Sydney
+61 (02) 6582 3633 the student to be physically present in a dyslexia, the triggering emotion is the feeling
John Reilly classroom without being there mentally. An of confusion. For these handwriting problems,
Berala/Sydney
alternate reality or daydream produced by a it could be confusion or something else.
+61 (02) 9649 4299
disoriented state will undermine even the best So, we have the anatomy of a trigger–
Michelle Roach
Sydney +61 (02) 9680 1610 instruction. And there may be another link. line, shape or motion – which produces an
Heidi Rose To determine whether your student’s emotion, which in turn causes disorientation.
Pennington/Adelaide
problem fits into this category, start with an Emotions actually come from the individual’s
+61 (08) 8240 1834
interview: Ask the student if he was given life experiences. Somewhere in the person’s
v Austria adequate instructions. If not, the solution is past is a real life experience that contained
Annette Dietrich simple and straightforward – provide them. that emotion. Somehow, a line in a particular
However, if the student wasn’t given adequate direction, or a certain shape, or a particular
Wien +43 (01) 888 90 25

instructions because of “special education” that motion reminds the individual of that
Jacinta Fennessy
Wien +43 (01) 774 98 22
Ina Barbara Hallermann meant he was pulled out of class for special experience. Subconsciously linking the line,
Riezlern +43 5517 20012 help (or missed school for other reasons) and shape, or motion to the past experience brings
Marika Kaufmann therefore missed writing instruction, there will the emotion forward in time. The individual
probably be other learning problems that need begins to unconsciously experience the past
Lochau +43 (05574) 446 98
Christa Salcher to be resolved first. emotion in the present, and the result is a
Wien +43 (01) 888 61 44 disorientation.
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 7
What the teacher is doing seems reasonable.
The student is given models to follow and
Multiple Mental Images
Disorientation isn’t a direct factor here, but v Bahrain
simply being a picture thinker can make a duplicate. The problem is, the two models Sameera Sadiq Al Baharna
Manama
person vulnerable to the problem. It is created the teacher provided are not identical. This +973 555 201
when a penmanship teacher doesn’t understand wouldn’t be a problem for most students, but
v Belgium
what can happen when visual models are given for a picture thinker it can create agraphia,
to a picture thinker. In the process of giving the most severe of all writing problems. Ann Devloo-Delva
Veurne +32 (058) 31 63 52
instructions, the teacher inadvertently gives The picture-thinking student made an Peggy Poppe
the student multiple models of what writing exact mental copy of the teacher’s model. Borgerhout (Antwerpen)
When the second model was given, he made
+32 (03) 236 54 24
should look like. For instance, a kindergarten
an exact mental copy of that one as well.
Edith Rotenberg
student named John is learning to write his Houtain-St. Siméon/Liège
name in the school’s approved writing format. The next time he tried to draw the word, he + 32 (04) 374-27-87
He draws: mentally looked at both of these mental Viki Vandevenne
Bonheiden
pictures, but not side by side. The pictures +32 (0473) 30 41 51
were superimposed on top of one another.
v Brazil
The models weren’t identical, so the mixture
of the shapes of the lines formed a snarl of Ana Lima
Rio De Janeiro
multiple lines. The mental picture the student +55 (021) 2295-1505
tried to follow was impossible to draw. Canada
In a situation like this, every time the Wayne Aadelstone-Hassel
teacher provides another model, even with North Vancouver
very slight variations, the new model adds +1 (604) 988-7680

more difficulty as it is superimposed on the Rocky Point Academy

Stacey Borger-Smith
He didn’t quite get it on the first try, so as a others. Literally, the more instruction the Lawrence Smith, Jr.
model, the teacher draws the word correctly student receives, the worse the problem Calgary
+1 (866) 685-0067 (Toll-Free)
to the left of the one the student has drawn. becomes. The more models he is shown, +1 (403) 685-0067
the more difficult it becomes for him to Darlene Brown
even attempt to write. He ends up with a Smithers/Prince Rupert
+1 (250) 847-3463
mental picture that looks like this: Paddy Carson
Edmonton/Alberta
+1 (780) 489-6225
Debra D’Aversa
Leamington, Ontario
+1 (519) 322-1297
Sandy Farrell
Hudson, Quebec
+1 (450) 458-4777
He tries again. Terri Fedorchuk
Dryden, Ontario
+1 (807) 223-7769
As a natural reaction, the student will Renée Figlarz
begin to grip the pencil tighter and tighter Montreal, Quebec
+1 (514) 815-7827
until his fingers are fatigued. He will press Sher Goerzen
harder and harder with the pencil until the lead Maple Ridge/Vancouver
breaks or the paper tears. With each attempt +1 (604) 290-5063

he makes simply to write his name, his entire Gerry Grant

Supervisor-Specialist
body will become tenser. Eventually, he will Workshop Presenter
get to the point where he can’t even hold and Waterloo/Toronto
+1 (800) 981-6433 (Toll-Free)
It’s still off a bit, so next to that the teacher manipulate a writing instrument. The mere +1 (519) 221-8484
draws another example. thought of attempting to write could cause Sue Hall
extreme anxiety. It’s quite common for West Vancouver
+1 (604) 921-1084
children with agraphia to be taking prescription
D’vorah Hoffman
medications for the symptoms of hypertension, Toronto
depression or ADD. +1 (416) 398-6779
These signs indicate that multiple Sue Jutson
Vancouver, B.C.
mental images need to be addressed. +1 (604) 732-1516
In the next issue we’ll learn how an Mary Ann Kettlewell
inadequate natural orientation (dyspraxia) London, Ontario
affects handwriting.v +1 (519) 652-0252
PAGE 8 THE DYSLEXIC READER

v Canada (cont’d)
anymore, and that it was really all right. After
all, no matter where you were in the alphabet,
Mr. Lucas . . . (cont’d from p. 1)

Carol Livermore 45 minutes every day. During this time,

Ottawa, Ontario beginning with capital “A”, we were each to you still had to spend your 45 minutes in
+1 (800) 394-1535 [Toll Free]
write ten lines of ten perfect letters (100, all handwriting.
Julie Locke
Truro, Nova Scotia the same), in Roman military formation, and
+1 (902) 895-9015 once we had accomplished this and had them
A “Scarlet” Letter
In four-and-a-half months, and including
Yuko Kimura McCulloch, Ph.D. checked by him, we would be promoted on more centuries assigned in daily homework, I
Vancouver, B.C.
+1 (604) 222-2258 to the next letter. drew a total of 27,923 capital A’s. The reason
Helen McGilivray I know the count to this day is that my friend
Oakville/Toronto
Arthur and I started to keep tabs, and wore
Occupational Hazard
+1 (905) 464-4798 Now my last name begins with “A”, which
Susan Nikolic-Vicentic had condemned me to the front-row, right the number of our red-stained A’s as badges
Newmarket/Toronto hand-side desk near the door for the past of honor (I can’t claim to have read The
+1 (905) 953-0033
seven years, and made it difficult (but not Scarlet Letter yet, but when I finally did, I
imagined a black, cursive capital “A” with
Brenda Osadchy
Medicine Hat, Alberta impossible) for me to stare out at my favorite
+1 (403) 529-7902 tree in the schoolyard. Occupational hazard, big red “X” on it. We were, however, deeply
Tina Panaritis that last name beginning immersed in The Red
Montreal, Quebec
+ 1 (514) 690-9164 with A, and I was lucky Badge of Courage,
Judy Parley not to have developed a which may have been
Taber, Alberta permanent crick in my more on point.)
+1 (403) 330-9873
neck from perennially I never would have
Sharon Roberts
Waterloo/Toronto being forced to look escaped capital “A,”
+1 (519) 746-8422 left, or to have been except that in January,
Kendra Rodych permanently disfigured Mr. Lucas, normally a
Saskatoon/Saskatchewan
+1 (306) 955-2972 as a result, like a galley man of iron – a veritable
or (306) 230-8961 slave chained in perpetuity Cal Ripken of the
Sharon Schachter to a single oar on the left school teaching world –
Thornhill, Ontario
+1 (905) 764-6774 side of the ship. who ruled the schoolyard
Catherine Smith So, anyway, I did my ten lines of ten during recess like the army lieutenant he was,
Oakville/Toronto capital A’s, all with my Waterman cartridge and without a winter coat, got sick for two
+1 (905) 844-4144
1-888-569-1113 toll-free pen as neatly as I could (quite a trick, as days. A substitute came in who didn’t quite
Edwina Stone most of the ink used to leak out all over my know the rules. She, rather shapely as I
Whitehorse, Yukon shirt pocket), and brought my paper up to remember, would walk around the room in a
+1 (867) 393-4489
Mr. Lucas’ desk, behind Johnny LoSassini, haze of cheap toilet water (I told this to my
Kim J. Willson-Rymer
Oakville/Toronto
the class artist, who was onto the capital J’s older daughter, and she burst out laughing,
+1 (905) 825-3153 before I could manage his name once without and the term still makes me inwardly smile),
a lisp. Mr. Lucas, pen in hand, began to put and as she passed your desk, if you’d hastily
v China
Livia Wong
big red X’s (capitals or smalls, I couldn’t tell) scribbled barely a line or two she would
Hong Kong over a third of my A’s, mumbling “Potato-head” check your paper and you were on to the
+852-2810-0282
or “Looks like a squished pear” or “Needs to next letter. In two days, I went from capital
v Colombia go on a diet”, and sent me back to my desk “A” to lowercase “m.”
Laura Zink de Díaz to create another century. I honestly don’t remember if I ever
Bogotá
+57 (1) 638-6342
Days, and then weeks went by. At first, finished the alphabet, but I do know that
I used to approach Mr. Lucas’ desk with some from that year forth, my handwriting has
v Costa Rica concern, hoping that my A’s would finally deteriorated into the inscrutable, and most of
Maria Elena Guth Blanco
San Jose pass muster so I could go on to B’s. But no the letters between capital “A” and small “m”
+506 296-4078 such luck. There were always potato-heads are a veritable wasteland. Oh, and what of
Marcela Rodriguez or beer-bellies or squished pears and lots of Arthur, my partner in this tale of scrawl? He
Alajuela
+506 442-8090 red X’s on my paper. After about three weeks, became a famous Park Avenue cardiologist,
with everyone else in my class moving ahead and I think he now uses a self-inking rubber
v Cyprus
Alexis Mouzouris except me and my friend “A”rthur (wouldn’t stamp for his signature. v
Limassol you know it? And Stacy, still in training, David H. Albert is a homeschooler and
+357 25 382 090
was already on “P”!), I began to become author of Homeschooling and The Voyage
v France embarrassed, and then ashamed. After six of Self-Discovery: A Journey of Original
Seeking (Common Courage Press, 2003),
Christine Bleus weeks, the shame turned to barely concealed from which this story is excerpted. More
Saint Jean de Gonville/
Genève +33 450 56 40 48 anger, and then, maybe three months into information about his books and homeschooling ideas
this exercise, I discovered that I didn’t care are available at his website, www.SkylarkSings.com
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 9

“Dynamic Duo” v France (cont’d)

Corinne Couelle
Entrepreneurs Marsannay-le-bois/Dijon
+33 (0380) 357 953

From New Hope Learning Centers, Inc, Edina, Jennifer Delrieu

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It was clear from the beginning that
Ben and Abbey with some of their tasty v Germany/Deutschland
Abbey and Ben are very gifted individuals.
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As we got to know them during the program Bannewitz
week, we learned that they are
+49 (0351) 40 34 224
Abbey and Ben are bright, gifted,
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Ute Breithaupt
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Cornelia Garbe
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good enough for people and are handmade Das Legasthenie Institut
Ioannis Tzivanakis
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Lörrach
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spoiled a bit too) when Abbey’s around. Mom It shows me strait a weigh Rainer Knobloch
Röthenbach/Nürnberg
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with the changing culture. He converts VHS +49 (07148) 66 08

tapes into DVD’s using his own computer.

PAGE 10 THE DYSLEXIC READER

v Germany/Deutschland
(cont’d)
Marianne Kranzer
Book Reviews
Königsfeld
+49 (07725) 72 26
Anneliese Kunz-Danhauser
Sign Language
Rosenheim
+49 (08031) 632 29 Made Easy
Sabine La Due
Stuttgart Reviewed by Jacqueline Ward
+49 (0711) 479 1000
Gundula Patzlaff My son, Michael, was born with a developmental
Stuttgart delay, later diagnosed as cerebral palsy, which
+49 (0711) 23 64 86 0
among other things resulted in a speech and
Margit Pleger
Wetter/Dortmund language delay. It was actually his first physical
+49 (02335) 84 87 60 therapist who recommended we teach Michael
Ursula Rackur-Bastian sign language as a means of communication.
Idstein/Rheingau-Taunus-
We began signing at 18 months and by the
The Everything Sign Language
Kreis/Wiesbaden
age of three, Michael had a vocabulary of
Book: American Sign Language
+49 (06126) 565 01
over 80 signs.
Made Easy
Colette Reimann by Irene Duke
Landshut
+49 (0871) 770 994 Learning sign language came naturally Softcover: 286 pages ($14.95)
Ursula Rittler for us with the help of our special education Publisher: Adams Media
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+49 (0711) 47 18 50
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Petra Saeger
Storkow curious to find this book, The Everything Sign www.dyslexia.com
+49 (03987) 52106 Language Book.
Phoebe Schafschetzy I was immediately at home with the
Hamburg
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Gabriela Scholter
language. With a fun, no pressure approach, visual models. There are even sections for
Supervisor-Specialist this book takes you through the alphabet, review, practice, and self tests.
Stuttgart
+49 (0711) 578 28 33
numbers, colors, feelings, and signs for an Whether you are a parent, educator, or
Inge Starck
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Battenberg/Eder Language Book is well organized into the guide for you.
+49 (06452) 93 28 88
Beate Tiletzek
Waldkraiburg Overcoming Dyslexia
+49 (08638) 88 17 89
Andrea Toloczyki For Dummies
Havixbeck/Münster
+49 (02507) 57 04 84 Reviewed by Mary Ann Kettlewell,
Ulrike von Kutzleben-Hausen Facilitator in London, Ontario, Canada
Deisslingen
+49 (07420) 33 46 Written in a warm and humorous style,
Dr. Angelika Weidemann Tracey Wood’s, Overcoming Dyslexia For
Ulm Dummies is overflowing with information
+49 (0731) 931 46 46
about dyslexia: the signs and symptoms,
Susanne Wild
Paar how to help school-age children, teenagers
+49 (08205) 959 08 28 and adults, good explanations of the various
Gabriele Wirtz testing methods, information about IEPs and
Stuttgart
+49 (0711) 55 17 18
alternative schools. It also contains useful
tips for parenting and advice on how to work
v Greece By Tracey Wood
Overcoming Dyslexia for Dummies
Zoe Deliakidou
productively with teachers.
Thessaloniki Wood is a reading specialist with a Softcover:362 pages, in English
+30 2310 434510
Masters degree in Education. She ran a reading Publisher: Wiley
or +30 6934 662438
Irma Vierstra-Vourvachakis
consultancy for many years in the San
Rethymnon / Crete Francisco area, and now writes and speaks that there is no one definitive answer for
+30 283105 8201
or 69766 40292
publicly about reading. She believes that everyone, and that not all children are helped
phonics instruction is key in overcoming by phonics instruction.
v Iceland
dyslexia. One of the appendices to this book Perhaps in recognition of this diversity
Áslaug Ásgeirsdóttir
Mosfellsbaer contains an informal assessment of phonemic she has included a useful chapter called
+354 565-2537 awareness and phonics skills. Notwithstanding “Ten Well-Known Dyslexia Programs and
her belief in phonics, Wood acknowledges Treatments.” Here she includes a description
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 11
of The Davis Dyslexia Correction® Program you can also peek at your watch to remember
and gives contact information. She also which way the numbers face. v Iceland (cont’d)
describes Davis Learning Strategies in another Wood has clearly done extensive Sigrún Jónina Baldursdóttir
section about programs in use in schools. research on dyslexia. The resources and Snaefellsbae
+354 586 8180
She is not convinced that there is a contact information are easy to access. The Gudrún Benediktsdóttir
connection between creativity and dyslexia; book is designed so readers can readily find Hafnarfirdi
nonetheless she does alert her readers to the the chapters they are interested in. However, +354 545 0103 or
+354 822 0910
fact that a child can be creatively gifted and as a Davis facilitator the majority of my clients, Gudbjörg Emilsdóttir
dyslexic at the same time. who come to me for help with language Kópavogur
I found myself struggling with some of difficulties, have already endured intensive +354 554 3452
Wood’s treatment modalities. Her strategies instruction in the phonics programs Wood Hólmfridur Gudmundsdóttir
Gardabae
are designed by verbal thinkers for visual endorses, and discovered that they need a +354 895-0252
thinkers to use, and therein lies a problem. She very different approach. For most of them, Svava Hlin Hákonard
says, “Dyslexic kids especially need to have “Magic E” dust and other such strategies are Eskifjordur
+354 862 1518
a few rules up their sleeves so they can impose simply more rules to memorize. Once Sigurborg Svala
order on letters that otherwise make no sense memorized, I fear they may substitute for real Gudmundsdóttir
to them.” For example she tells us that “Magic learning, and become compulsive solutions.
Mosfellsbaer
+354 566-8657
E” is a special letter. When it sits on the end In spite of these reservations, I think Stefanía Halldórsdóttir Wade
of a word, it throws its magic dust out. The Wood’s book can be a useful starting point Kopavogur
+354 564 2890
dust floats over the neighboring letter but for those in search of information about Nora Kornblueh
sticks to the vowel. The vowel feels so special dyslexia. And it is to her credit that in spite Reykjavik
it shouts out its name.” This is cute, but what of her preference for phonics instruction, she +354-562-1295
about words like “were,” or “there”? nonetheless includes other treatment options Ingibjörg Ingolfsdóttir
Mosfellsbaer
She also offers the “Bossy E” rule. When and resources in the book. For those readers +354 899-2747
you add “e” to the end of small words like who have already discovered that certain Sigrún Jensdóttir
“pin,” the “e” bosses the earlier vowel into programs are unhelpful, this book can point Mosfellsbaer
+354 897 4437
shouting out its name. Again, it’s not hard to them towards effective help. v Valgerdur Jónsdóttir
come up with a number of very common words Overcoming Dyslexia for Dummies is a paperback DLS Workshop Presenter
this offers no help with, like “are” or “where.” book, and is also available as an e-book at the
Kópavogur
+354 863 2005
Another piece of advice: keep the “b” publisher’s website: Sturla Kristjansson
and “d” facing the right way by drawing a bed www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd DLS Workshop Presenter
or using the bat and ball method. Another -0471794457.html. The purchase price for either
Hafnarfjordur
+354 845 6956
chapter gives advice on memorizing by version is $19.99. In addition to this book, Ms. Ásta Olafsdóttir
visualizing or rhyming. Wood states that Wood has written Teaching Kids to Read For Vopnafjordur
+354 473-1164
dyslexics need a great deal of repetition. Dummies and Teaching Kids to Spell For Erla Olgeirsdóttir
And her solution for left/right confusion is Dummies, both published by Wiley. Akranes
to wear a watch on your left wrist. This way +354 694 3339
Hugrún Svavarsdóttir
Mosfellsbær
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Thorbjörg Sigurdardóttir
Danish Edition of Reykjavík
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Kolbeinn Sigurjónsson
The Gift of Dyslexia Mosfellsbær
+354 566 6664 / 661-8654
now available! Margret Thorarinsdottir
Selfoss +354-486-1188

Published by: Forlaget Klim v India

Carol Ann Rodrigues
Ny Tjørnegade 19 Mumbai
8200 Århus N. Denmark +91 (22) 2667 3649 or
+91 (22) 2665 0174
Tel: 86103700
v Ireland
Fax: 86103045 Paula Horan
E-mail: forlaget@klim.dk Mullingar
+353 44 934 1613
Price: KR 299.00 ($50.48 USD) Sister Antoinette Keelan
Dublin +353 (01) 884 4996
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Clonmel, Co.
Tipperary +353 (87) 415 70 99
PAGE 12
v Israel
Luba Alibash
Ramat Hasharon/Tel Aviv
+972 (09) 772-9888 or
(052) 272-9532
Mira Ashoosh
Kiron +972 (03) 635-0973
Goldie Gilad
Kfar Saba/Tel Aviv
+972 (09) 765 1185
Eliana Harpaz
Ma’Ale Adumim
+972 (02) 590-2110
or 054-441-0789
Baruch Kassiff
Kfar-Saba
+972 (09) 767-3638
Eve Resnick
Kfar Saba/Tel Aviv
+972 (09) 766 2140
Judith Schwarcz
DDA-Israel Director
Supervisor-Specialist
Pearl Zarsky
Ra’anana/Tel Aviv
+972 (09) 772 9888
v Italy
Elisa De Felice
Roma +39 (06) 507 3570
Piera Angiola Maglioli
Occhieppo Inferiore / Biella
+33 (09) 687 8713
Silvia Walter
Bagno a Ripoli Florence
+39 (055) 621 0541
Rafaella Zingerle
Corvara In Badia
+39 (0471) 836 871
v Kenya
Debbie Shah
Nairobi +254 20 577 493
Diana Smit-Jurgens
Nairobi +254 733 895 603
v Lebanon
Samar Riad Saab
Beirut +961 3 700 206
v Malaysia
Hilary Craig
Kuala Lumpur
+603 2096 1342
v Mexico
Cathy Calderón de la Barca
México D.F.
Fundamentals Presenter
+52 (55) 5520 1883
or 5282 4196
Hilda Fabiola Herrera Cantu
Culiacan, Sinaloa
+52 81 6677 15 01 19
La Puerta de las Letras
María Silvia Flores Salinas
Supervisor-Specialist
Graciela Trevino Gonzalez
Olga Zambrano de Carrillo
DDA-Mexico Director
Garza García
Monterrey
+52 (81) 8335 9435
Laura Lammoglia
Tampico, Tamaulipas
+52 (833) 213 4126
THE DYSLEXIC READER
Ecos Colombianos
Laura Zink de Diaz, Facilitadora
Laura facilita programas Davis en inglés y
español. Desde su viaje a Colombia en junio
de 2005, ha trabajado con clientes en Quito,
Ecuador y San Juan, Puerto Rico. En julio de
2006, trasladó su centro, Prolinguistica, a
Bogotá, Colombia. Este artículo fue publicado
en el Vol. 41 de Dyslexic Reader en inglés. The
English translation of this article appeared
inVolume 41 of The Dyslexic Reader.
En 1971 yo estudiaba idiomas en la
Universidad de Washington y contemplaba
un viaje a Colombia. Iba a estudiar en la
Universidad Industrial de Santander, en
Bucaramanga. Poco antes de mi supuesta
salida, por poco se canceló el viaje porque
supimos que los universitarios estaban en
paro, y de hecho, habían cerrado la universidad.
Sin saber en ese entonces que los paros
estudiantiles en la UIS son una venerable
tradición, yo insistí mucho en realizar el Colombia, a simple vista
viaje, porque según calculaba, el paro podía
terminarse en cualquier minuto. Y así subí al
Nombre completo: República de Colombia
avión y me fui. Presidente: Álvaro Uribe (2002, 2006)
Como era de esperar, no se terminó el Territorio: 1.038.699 km cuadrados (terreno);
paro. Viví varios meses en Bucaramanga, Total: 1.138.910 km cuadrados
haciendo estudios independientes con Población (est. 2006): 43.593.035 (tasa de
profesores que realmente no tenían ni tiempo
crecimiento: 1,5%); índice de natalidad:
ni interés en mi, enseñando inglés a las
20,5/1.000; tasa de mortandad infantil: 20,4/1.000;
secretarias de la UIS, y en varios institutos
expectativa de vida:72,0; densidad de población
privados de la ciudad. Me encantó cada
por kilómetro cuadrado: 37 (est. 2000).
momento de aquellos meses. Al cabo del
Capital y ciudad más grande (est. 2003):
semestre, no recibí ningún crédito universitario,
Santa Fé de Bogotá, 6.837.800
y la UIS seguía cerrada. Pero no me importaba
Otras ciudades grandes: Cali, 2.283.200;
- estaba tan enamorada del idioma, la gente, y
Medellín, 1.957.800; Barranquilla, 1.330.400;
Cartagena, 901.500; Bucaramanga (ciudad)
la vida colombiana en general, que de ninguna 553.046
manera estaba lista para volver a mi país. De Unidad monetaria: peso colombiano
modo que subí a un bus de Berlinas del Fonce,
y cruzando el Paso de Chicamocha, llegué a
Idioma: español
Bogotá, la capital. Allí mi intención era buscar
Etnicidad: mestiza 58%; blanca 20%; mulata
14%; negra 4%; mezcla negra-indígena 3%;
mi fortuna como maestra de inglés. Claro, nadie indígena 1%
encuentra la fortuna en un salón de clase. Pero Religión: Católica Romana 90%
sí viví dos años en Bogotá, trabajando como
maestra de inglés. Recuerdo aquellos años en
Índice de alfabetización: 93% (est. 2003)
Colombia como los mejores de mi vida.
Resumen económico: PIB (est. 2004) $281,1
mil millones; per capita $6.600. Tasa de
Cuando al fin volví a mi país, fue con la crecimiento real: 3,6%. Tasa de inflación: 5,9%.
intención de regresar a Colombia más tarde, Desempleo: 13,6%. Terreno cultivable: 2%
para quedarme. Como suele suceder, la vida
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 13

intervino, y ese sueño nunca lo realicé. Sin

v Mexico (cont’d)
embargo, mis dos años en Colombia me
enseñaron bastante bien el idioma, y esa Alejandra Garcia Medina
Cuajimalpa, Mexico, D.F
destreza me sirvió mucho en mi país. Trabajé +52 (55) 5813 9554
como intérprete y traductora en la ciudad de Sociedad de Consultatoria
Redmond por un tiempo. Después, en Seattle, Organizacional
pasé al Banco Rainier, que ya no existe, a Maria Lourdes Gutierrez
Mexico D.F.
trabajar en su departamento internacional. +52 (55) 5595 8442
Con el tiempo, recordando cuánto me había Lucero Palafox
gustado enseñar inglés en Bucaramanga y Veracruz
+52 (022) 99 351302
Bogotá, me hice pedagoga, dictando idiomas. Ana Elana Payro Ogarrio
Y aunque viajé a muchos países, jamás volví Corregidora, Queretaro
+52 442 228 1264
a Colombia. Todos acumulamos pesares
durante la vida, y esto ha sido uno de los míos. La familia: Claudia (la mamá), y los tres hijos, v Netherlands
Nicolás, mi cliente de 16 años, Andrea y
Es decir, hasta mayo de 2005, cuando sonó el Alejandra, sus hermanitas.
Karin Bakkeren
Breda +31 (076) 581 57 60
teléfono. Ineke Blom
Me estaba llamando de Miami un a llevarme a cenar con toda la familia. Dorpstraat
caballero que quería hablar conmigo en Antiguamente, los terrenos del “Club” +31 (020) 436-1484

español. Su sobrino en Bucaramanga, había
sufrido de dislexia desde kinder. Al principio
era cuestión de que si yo estaría dispuesta a
hacer el programa en español. Después era
se situaban fuera de la ciudad. Pero hoy el Club Lot Blom
Utrecht +31 (030) 271 0005
Campestre es un oasis casi completamente Hester Brouwer
roadeado de la ciudad, con pistas de golf, Groningen
piscinas, canchas de tenis, restaurantes, salones +31 (050) 52 61 146

cuestión de que si estaría dispuesta a hacerlo de baile, y hotel. A pocas cuadras hay un mall Lieneke Charpentier
Nieuwegein
en Bucaramanga. La oportunidad de volver a inmenso y moderno, al estilo norteamericano. +31 (030) 60 41 539
un sitio que había contribuido tanto a mi Si no fuera por los nombres hispanos en unas Hester Cnossen
formación–y también a enfrentarme al reto de la boticas, al entrar pensaría uno que está Veghel +31 (041) 337 5835

intelectual de hacer el programa en otro en un opulento suburbio de EU. Monique Commandeur

Sterksel +31 (06) 13 94 97 54
idioma–imposible resistir la idea. Arreglé Subí al carro con Gustavo (papá), Ratnavali de Croock
maletas y subí al avión. Claudia (mamá), y los tres hijos: Nicolás, mi Oudorp (Aalkmaar)
Cuando aterrizamos en Bucaramanga, cliente de 16 años, Andrea, y Alejandra, sus +31 (072) 511 6881
no reconocí nada de la ciudad. En los ‘70 hermanas menores. “¿Qué deseas comer, Alexandra De Goede
Aerdenhout
habrá sido una ciudad de quizás 100,000. Laura? ¿Comida china, italiana, gringa? – de +31 (023) 524 3263
Hoy, el “área metropolitana” de Bucaramanga todo se consigue”. El ojo mental mío había Mine de Ranitz
tendrá una población de poco menos de millón estado viajando por el tiempo durante todo el Driebergen
+31 (0343) 521 348
y medio. En 34 años la ciudad se ha transformado día así que contesté, “¿Qué tal un restaurante
Christien De Smit
totalmente. Si antes era una soñolienta capital que ofrezca comida típica de Colombia?” Sluis +31 (0117) 461 963
de provincia, ahora es la quinta ciudad del país. Me llevaron a un restaurante al estilo Leonardus D’Hoore
Parecía que ya no existía siquiera un edificio colonial. Como muchos restauranes en Sluis +31 (0117) 56 29 40
que reconociera yo. ¡Hasta el aeropuerto lo Bucaramanga, el diseño abierto de La Puerta Saskia Dijkstra
Amsterdam
habían trasladado a otra parte! del Sol te hace pensar que cenas afuera, en +31 (020) 463-2753
Mis clientes me habían reservado una un jardín. Hace calor en Bucaramanga, y la Marijke Eelkman Rooda-Bos
habitación en el “Club Campestre de humedad es como un abrazo indeseado, por Gouda +31 (0182) 517-316
Bucaramanga,” que celebra este año 75 años eso sentarme al aire libre después de la puesta Johanna Fokkens
Beilen +31 (0593) 540 141
de existencia. Mi habitación pertenecía a otra del sol, rodeada de arbolitos, matas florecientes,
Ina Gaus
época, cuando la gente se fijaba menos en el y linternas de luz suave, fue como un Santpoort-Zuid
número de “unidades” en un edificio, y más consuelo. Cerca de nuestra mesa había una +33 (023) 538-3927
en la belleza y comodidad. Era una habitación pequeña fuente, y durante la cena oíamos el Pérola Gonçalves
Amsterdam
muy amplia, cómoda, con muebles y acabados chirrido cantadito de las ranitas que habitaban +31 (020) 636 3637
de madera hermosa. La televisión ofrecía entre las matas al lado de ella. Arepas, un pan Jan Gubbels
canales que trasmitían programas no solamente colombiano, como una tortilla gruesa, yuca Maastricht
en español, sino en inglés, italiano, francés, y frita, más sabrosa que la papa a la francesa, +31 (043) 36 39 999

alemán. Por las ventanas anchas se veía la carne de cabro, pollo, res y cerdo, todo esto Sue Hillier-Smith
Breukelen
piscina, y más allá la verdura exuberante, que trajeron a la mesa y más. ¡Tantos sabores! +31 (0346) 265 059
chapoteaba en las montañas profundas y ¡Y tantas memorias entretejidas con el sabor! Judith Holzapfel
tropicales alrededor de la ciudad, como en Como el del refajo, de que me había olvidado Deventer
+31 (0570) 619 553
olas vegetales. Mis clientes me permitieron años atrás: cerveza mezclada con la gaseosa Will Huntjens
descansar y arreglarme, y después volverían Colombiana. El refajo fue inventado hace Horn +31 (0475) 589 238
PAGE 14 THE DYSLEXIC READER
muchísimos años para “las damas”, porque el para de nuevo escaparse al aire libre. A veces,
v Netherlands (cont’d)
estímulo tan masculino de la cerveza no es cuando me sentaba en una mesa del restaurante
Mia Jenniskens para nosotras, criaturitas tan delicadas.... del patio, se revoloteaba un pajarito, posándose
Eindhoven
+31 (040) 245 9458 A mi me encanta hablar español – el en el respaldo de una silla. Y después,
Trudy Joling sonido del idioma me es precioso. Hay una solapadamente, pasaba a la mesa, ladeando la
Laren +31 (035) 531 00 66 relación tan estrecha entre lenguaje y cultura, cabeza en busca de migajas, hasta que llegaba
Helen Kaptein y me parece que me gusta un poco más la el mesero a ahuyentarlo con una servilleta.
Middleburg
+31 (0118) 64 37 73 persona que soy cuando hablo español. No es Los padres de Nicolás escogieron el “Club”
Marie Koopman en realidad que sea diferente – no sé explicarlo. porque consideraban que sería mucho más
Bilthoven Quizas es que simplemente me siento más tranquilo que un hotel en el centro bullicioso
+31 (030) 228 4014
completamente “Laura” cuando vivo en español. de la ciudad, donde todo el día se oyen los
Carry Kuling
Heemstede Pero encontrarme tan pitos y el ruidoso cambio de marcha de
+31 (0235) 287 782 repentinamente en el camiones y autobuses.
Edith Kweekel-Göldi ambiente linguístico Escogieron muy bien.
Soest +31 (035) 601 0611
colombiano fue a la vez Dentro de nuestro
Imelda Lamaker
Hilversum encanto y tortura para tranquilo santuario,
+31 (035) 621 7309 mi. Me sorprendió que Nicolás seguía muy bien
Yvie Leenaars-de Rooÿ pudiera hablar, porque las etapas del programa.
Bavel +31 (0161) 433 449
me desorientaba oyendo Había sacrificado buena
ZeiZei Lerninstitut
Drs. Siegerdina Mandema viejos sonidos, sintiendo parte de sus vacaciones
Specialist Trainer viejos sabores, recordando de verano para trabajar
Advanced Workshop
Presenter viejas amistades…. Oía conmigo. La educación
DLS Workshop Presenter palabras que no había secundaria en Colombia
DDA-Nederland Director
Robin Temple dicho desde hace más de Un sector de Girón, pueblo cerca de es exigente. Los alumnos
Specialist Trainer treinta años, cierto ritmo Bucaramanga, preservado tal como era a se matriculan en más
Workshop Presenter
Maria Hoop
y cadencia. Me di cuenta finales del siglo XIX, con calles de adoquín y cursos que nuestros
+31 (0475) 302 203 que no los había oído en ladrillo, edificios con puertas y ventanas de alumnos en EU., y no
Sjan Melsen ningún otro país de un marrón oscuro, adornadas con rejas de todos los cursos se
Arnhem
+31 (026) 442 69 98
América Latina, y que los metal o de madera torneada. reunen todos los días,
Marianne Oosterbaan había echado de menos. Me encontraba de modo que hace falta completar mucho
Zeist +31 (030) 691 7309 sumergida en un español que me producía la aprendizaje fuera de clase. Los colegiales
Ineke Pijp sensación de “liberación”; era como volver a también deben completar un curso de cálculo
casa después de toda una vida en el destierro. para poder recibir su diploma – un estándar
Groningen
+31 (050) 542 0817
Fleur van de Polder-Paton Aunque creo que estuve silenciosa a veces, mucho más alto que el requerido en nuestro
Schiedam tratando de mantenerme en punto, observando país. Cuando llegan las vacaciones de mitad
+31 (010) 471 58 67
todo, charlamos mucho. Acerca de los cambios de año, los alumnos están más que listos para
Petra Pouw-Legêne
DLS Presenter & Mentor
en la ciudad, el país, la situación de Nicolás, su descanso, así que es un indicio claro de la
Beek +31 (046) 437 4907 la vida de las niñas…. Empezamos a conocernos. motivación de Nicolás que decidiera pasar
Karin Rietberg Fue una cena encantadora, pero también para una semana conmigo, encerrado en un
Holten +31 (0548) 364 286 mi, agobiante, de manera inesperada. saloncito con plastilina y un diccionario.
Lydia Rogowski
Helmond
El Club Campestre nos ofreció un Nico es un joven bastante callado; por
+31 (0492) 513 169 saloncito detrás del escenario en uno de los eso a veces me preguntaba si hacía bien mi
Hanneke Schoemaker salones de baile, y allí completamos la trabajo. Mentalmente, él se metía muy dentro
Wageningen
+31 (0317) 412 437
evaluación de Nicolás, y después, su programa. de la plastilina cuando trabajaba, y a veces
Ilse Schreuder
Tenía aire acondicionado, una bendición en veía yo una leve sonrisita, u oía una risita
Dokkum Bucaramanga, y casi siempre hizo un silencio silenciosa, y me daba cuenta de que el joven
+31 (0519) 220 315 adecuado para nuestro trabajo. Cuando andaba en alguna parte donde yo no podía
Silvia Jolanda Sikkema
Drachten
queríamos tomar un descanso, podíamos salir acompañarle, que él jamás me describiría.
+31 (0512) 538 815 al lobby, o al patio donde podíamos oir el Hizo todo lo que les pedimos a los clientes, a
Tonny Stor canto de los pájaros. El lobby y el restaurante veces facilmente, otra veces haciendo mucho
Heerhugowaard del patio están cubiertos, pero abiertos al aire uso de las estrategias, y siempre en silencio.
+31 (072) 57 22 771
por dos lados. Una bandada de pajaritos anida Al tercer día, Claudia me comentó que lo veía
Karima P.A. Turkatte
Amsterdam en uno de los arbustos grandes fuera del diferente, no sabía precisamente cómo, pero
+31 (020) 696 4379 restaurante. Todo el día los pajaritos más algo tenía… Sus hermanas también habían
Mieke van Delden jóvencitos se abalanzaban desde los arboles de comentado que parecía diferente, ¿quizás un
Leek
+31 (059) 4514985 afuera, hacia adentro del edificio, dando una o poquito más feliz? Difícil identificarlo con un
dos vueltas casi rozándose con los techos, joven tan reservado… Después de su programa,
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 15
quedé en Bucaramanga para trabajar con otro que durante mi ausencia, las páginas con
v Netherlands (cont’d)
joven, un poco mayor que Nicolás, con los información en español sobre la dislexia que
dedos cruzados. Nico fue a la finca de su habia colocado en internet poco antes de viajar, Agnes van den
Homberg-Jacobs
abuelo a disfrutar de un cambio de clima y estaban atrayendo muchos más lectores que America Limburg
actividades antes de volver a clases. las mismas en inglés. Un email del Ecuador +31 (077) 464 23 22
Poco antes de mi viaje de vuelta a mi me trajo un cliente en Quito, y se hicieron los Annette van der Baan
Amsterdam
país, Nicolás, Gustavo y Claudia me llevaron arreglos para un viaje al centro del mundo. +31 (020) 420-5501
a conocer Girón, un pueblo cerca de Finalmente, en agosto, llegó un email de Hetty van der Well
Bucaramanga, con un sector preservado tal Gustavo. Con Claudia había asistido a una Oss +31 (041) 263 6403
como era a finales del siglo XIX. Las calles reunión con los profesores y la directora del Annemarie van Hof
Utrecht +31 (030) 65 86 700
son de ladrillo y adoquín; los edificios, blancos colegio de Nicolás. Ambos sabían que no le Sjakkelien van Lier
todos, con puertas y ventanas de un marrón había ido bien el trimestre antes de su programa Deventer
oscuro, adornados con rejas de metal o de de Davis. Y de eso se trataba la reunión. No +31 (0570) 600 008
madera. Por ley, no se permiten letreros iban a haber sopresas – pero…. Juchke van Roozendaal
Oss +31 (0412) 690 312
eléctricos, ni que sobresalgan de las fachadas, Gustavo escribió, “Laura, ayer fue un
Willem Van Ulsen
de modo que los nombres de los negocios día en que quisimos tenerte cerca para darte Groningen
y de las calles están pintados con gracia en un abrazo!” Los profesores estaban asombrados. +31 (050) 542 3941
las paredes de los edificios. Lo único que Nicolás parecía ser otro. Antes hacía pocas Tienke Veenstra-Sierhsma
Meppel +31 (0522) 254 453
sobresale de las fachadas son los faroles finos preguntas en clase. Ahora levanta la mano.
Lia Vermeulen
y los balcones. Al pasar por el sector histórico No tomaba interés en las discusiones; ahora Huizen +31 (062) 3671530
de Girón, sentía que había entrado en un sí. Antes, poco participaba en trabajos en Christien Vos
pasado colombiano muchísimo más lejano grupo; ahora contribuye. El comentario de Tolbert +31 (0594) 511 607
que mis recuerdos de antaño. los profesores: “parece como si se estuviera Lucie Wauben-Cruts
Fue un domingo por saliendo de esa burbuja en Elsloo +31 (046) 437 0329
el atardecer cuando que se encontraba antes.” Christa Wiersma
Onna (bij Steenwijk)
visitamos Girón, yo con mi Y preguntaban, ¿a qué se +31 (0521) 523 303
cara aplastada en el vidrio debe el cambio? Claudia Gerda Witte-Kuijs
del carro. Casi todos los y Gustavo les contó con Heerhugowaard
almacenes estaban cerrados, entusiasmo del método +31 (072) 571 3163

y también la mayoría de los Davis y les entregó un Astrid Zanen-vander Blij

Aerdenhout
restaurantes. Pero la gente paquete de información que +31 (023) 524 3485
caminaba por las calles, o se yo había dejado con ellos. v New Zealand
sentaba en bancos en los Todos estaban de acuerdo que Vivienne Carson
parques, charlando, descansando, con estos cambios en Nicolás era importante Auckland
disfrutando la frescura del atardecer. Al pasar que los profesores y padres trabajaran juntos +64 (09) 520-3278
nosotros por las calles blancas de Girón, vi para apoyarlo y animarlo a seguir avanzando. Catherine Churton
muchos portones abiertos, dejando entrar la Y Nicolás, viendo su aprobación y entusiasmo,
DDA-Pacific Director
Supervisor-Specialist
brisa noctura; y delante de algunas casas, se declaró dispuesto a ponerse las pilas y hacer Auckland
habián sacado sillas a la acera estrecha para lo necesario para ganar el año.
+64 (021) 448 862

fumar un cigarrillo y observar a personas A lo lejos, en Mount Vernon, di unos Jennifer Churton
Auckland
como yo, que pasamos asombradas de la brincos de felicidad y me permití el lujo de +64 (09) 360 4941
tranquilidad del sitio. Yo me imaginaba desorientarme dentro de un mundo verde y Bronwyn Jeffs
formando la plastilina con mis clientes, en tropical. Había sido una suerte magnífica para Christchurch
+64 (03) 344 2526
una oficina anciana de techos muy altos, las mí poder ver una vez más la belleza del mundo Raewyn Matheson
aletas desgastadas de un antiguo abanico, andino, sentir la amplitud y generosidad de Inglewood
rotando arriba, casi silenciosas…. gente de una cultura vibrante y encantadora, +64 (027) 411 8350
Gustavo y Claudia me llevaron al y oír el son consolador del idioma que tomó Rochelle Harden
Wanganui
aeropuerto Palonegro cuando era hora de raíces en mi corazón hace tanto tiempo. Pero +64 (027) 306-6743
volver a mi país. Amigos ya, lloramos cuando la mayor felicidad es saber que Nicolás está Margot Hewitt
me tocó subir al avión. Y en una nada me usando las estrategias, que está más contento North Canterbury
+64 (03) 315 7722
encontré en otro mundo muy diferente, con su vida y sus estudios. En realidad, no
Alma Holden
naufragada en un idioma que siempre me ha hay nada mejor que el trabajo de facilitadora Alexandra
parecido un poco áspero. Al día siguiente, en del método Davis – con la posible excepción +64 (027) 485-6798
mi casa en Mount Vernon, me preocupaba. Ya de hacerlo en una latitud tropical, bajo las Sally Ann McCue
estaba muy lejos para una llamada telefónica.
Nelson +64 (03) 545-1779
aletas desgastadas de un antiguo abanico,
Shelley McMeeken
Laura, calma… ten fé en Nicolás, y en las respirando el español de los Andes.v Dunedin
estrategias…. Me obligué a volver al ritmo +64 3 456 5058
acostumbrado de mi vida aquí. Y descubrí
PAGE 16 THE DYSLEXIC READER

create the first accurate picture the child has

v New Zealand (cont’d)
of the word or concept... but that doesn’t
Sandra Moetra
Whangarei limit the ability to create and keep other
+64 (09) 435 6822 accurate pictures.
Kerrie Palma I mean, going back to my example of
Rodney +64 (09) 425 5941
thinking of “cat” – I don’t always think of or
Jocelyn Print
Kaikoura +64 (03) 319 6711
picture the same cat in my mind to go with
Alison Syme by Abigail Marshall the word. I can comfortably think with many
Darfield +64 (03) 318-8480 different cat-pictures simply because I am so
Lorna Timms Mental Pictures vs. Clay Model confident in my knowledge of what a “cat”
Christchurch Q. I am working with delightful 9-year-old is. So again, the key is that the meaning is
+64 3 359 8556
girl whose mental pictures begin with her accurate and correct.
v Philippines clay models, but have much more substance,
Imelda Casuga
colour and reality. For example, for “become”
Speed-Reading, but…
Baguio City
+63 (744) 42 29 01 she made a rat kitten becoming an adult rat. Q. My daughter began to read at 2-years-old,
v Portugal But her mental picture was of her pet rat as a and was speed reading through her older sister’s
Rita Alambre Dos Santos kitten, getting bigger and bigger, and ending 3rd grade books when she was four. However,
Lisboa 1000-115 up as her adult pet rat. The printed word was she has a “written communication disorder”
+351 (21) 781-6090
on the top of the cage (no cage in her clay and the “classic” signs of dyslexia in other
v Republic of Singapore
model). I have not been urging her to make areas. I read The Gift of Dyslexia when it
Phaik Sue Chin
Singapore +65 6773 4070 her mental picture exactly of her clay model, first came out and my daughter was about
as I assume this is her natural gift at work. 8 years old. At that time I made a note with
Constance Chua
Singapore +65 6873 3873 Her mental pictures do not deviate from the the possibility that my daughter did NOT
v South Africa meaning in any way. Any comments? display dyslexia in reading BECAUSE she
was reading at such a young age. Perhaps the
Sara Kramer
Capetown
A. When I’ve modeled concepts that involve description of early childhood development,
+27 (021) 671 4634 change or movement, I retain a mental image about how kids “create” their dyslexia by
v Spain
that includes those elements, even if it could earlier successful experiences with their
María Campo Martínez
not fully be represented in clay. I also know “gift,” led me to wonder what might have
Murguía, Álava that when I model, I have a mental picture of happened if she had not been exposed to
+34 (0945) 46 25 85 what I want to make that is usually much reading until age 5? Would she have had
Silvia María Sabatés more realistic and better than what I actually the same problem with reading?
Rodrigo
Madrid +34 (091) 636 31 44 make. I happen to be better at imagining than
at sculpting, so my clay models rarely are as
v Switzerland/CH
good as I would like. I think I do retain the
Tinka Altwegg-Scheffmacher
Veronika Beeler
mental image of what I was thinking as I
St. Gallen modeled more than the clay itself. Certainly
+41 (071) 222 07 79 we would all do this for real-world objects:
Monika Amrein if I make a clay model of a “cat” it will not
Zurich +41 (01) 341 8264
supplant the image I have of a real cat” in
Lerninstitut Basel
Bonny Beuret my mind when I read or hear the word.
Specialist Trainer So to me, it seems like what you A. Ron Davis explains in his books that
describe in your student is “normal”... I
Adv. Workshop Presenter
DLS Workshop Presenter symptoms of dyslexia occur when the child
DDA-CH Director guess I would end up saying, “I thought disorients as a response to feelings of
Ruth Froels
+41 (061) 272 24 00 everyone thought that way....” confusion. Typically, the child experiences
Regula Bacchetta-
I can also add that from a neurological this disorientation when exposed to reading
Bischofberger standpoint, what we are really doing is helping instruction in school, so the dyslexic symptoms
Horw /Luzern
+41 (041) 340 2136
a person develop more efficient pathways in are manifested in an inability to learn to read.
their brain – not merely storing up images. Because dyslexics tend to think in pictures
Priska Baumgartner
Wettingen We enable them to think with the words by rather than the sounds of words, it is also
+41 (056) 426 28 88 giving them a picture for each word–but typical for the confusion to manifest when
Mieke Blommers- once they become comfortable with the they encounter phonics-based reading
Friederichs
Basel words, they may not need to rely so much instruction, which focuses on breaking down
+41 (061) 378 9060 on their pictures. the sounds of words– this is a particularly
Michelle Bonardi So it might not matter at all what mental difficult way for a picture-thinker to try to
Castel S. Pietro, Ticino
+41 (091) 630 23 41
picture a person really has, as long as she decode text.
has an accurate picture that does not cause I believe that most children who are
confusion. The clay is the tool that helps self-taught early readers do not learn through
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 17

phonics. Rather, my own experience has word-hearing skills, so you canprobably read
been that early-reading children tend to have and “hear” the words much faster than anyone v Switzerland/CH
strong visual memories, and learn through could speak them. (cont’d)

quickly developing a large sight vocabulary If you have the brain structure typical Vicki Brignoli
Lumino
of whole words. The “speed-reading” you for non-dyslexic readers, the pathway for +41 (091) 829 05 36
describe could also result from a habit of listening to words and for understanding Anne Cécile Clerc
simply skipping past unknown words or them is in the same part of the brain, in the Fribourg
words that do not add to meaning, and using left hemisphere. +41 (026) 322 36 24

contextual clues to ascertain meaning. For a Dyslexics use their brains differently. Carole Dubosson
Veyras/Sierre
picture-thinker, this can mean skipping over They usually have difficulty utilizing the +41 (027) 452 62 02
all the trigger words. Since the child is using pathway from their visual cortex to Wernicke’s Ursula Fischbacher
a method of reading that works for her, reading area, which is the left mid-brain area that Orpund
is easy, and she doesn’t experience confusion processes sounds of language during listening. +41 (032) 355 23 26

or become disoriented. Thus, the dyslexia does So when dyslexic individuals sub-vocalize, Edith Forster
Ettenhausen
not become apparent until the child encounters they are actually activating Broca’s area, +41 (052) 365 45 54
some other activity that causes confusion which is in the left forebrain, and is involved Heidi Gander-Belz
and disorientation. in productive speech. Essentially they are DLS Workshop Presenter
Monchaltorf
Of course, since your daughter was an bringing their motor function on line to +41 (01) 948 1410
early reader, when she arrived at school it is produce the words in speech, because they Elisabeth Gerber
likely that the teachers saw that she was can’t really imagine the sounds of the words Mettmenstetten
+41 (044) 767 10 54
advanced, and did not try to “teach” her unless they make them. Only then can their
phonics or other beginning reading skills. auditory-listening center start working. Katharina Grenacher
Bern +41 (031) 382 00 29
But perhaps they did try to “teach” her the The pictures at www.dyslexia.com/ Elisabeth Gut
correct way to form her letters as she wrote, science/different_pathways.htm show why Grut +41 (044) 932 3242
or the correct order of letters in words... and this is so cumbersome for dyslexic readers. Ursula Hirzel Egler
for her, that may have been the point of What happens is that for the dyslexic reader, Stäfa +41 (01) 926 2895

confusion where dyslexia was manifested.
You might find these articles on our
web site helpful:
• Anatomy of a Learning Disability:
whose primary mode of thought is picture- Christa Jaeger
Riehen +41 (061) 641 4667
thinking, the meaning needs to come from Ina Kretzer
the right side of the brain. A dyslexic who Basel
reads with the sounds of words simply has +41 (061) 278 98 88

www.dyslexia.com/library/anatomy.htm to work much harder in order to make sense Consuelo Lang

Lumino
• Education vs. Child Development: How of the words. The reason Davis methods +41 (091) 829 05 36
Dyslexia Happens: work so well for them is that they are able Claudia Lendi
www.dyslexia.com/library/edart.htm to utilize the right-brain pathways and their St. Gallen
+41 (071) 288 41 85
preference for visual thinking to connect Erika Meier-Schmid
Old Solution or Natural Strategy? the appearance of the words in print to their Bonstetten
Q. I’m a word thinker. When I read, I hear picture-based meaning. +41 (01) 700 10 38
the words in my head and do not picture what However, it probably enhances everyone’s Christine Noiset
I read. I also have very good comprehension. reading abilities to learn to effectively use
Renens/Lausanne
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Does that mean that my word-thinking is an their WHOLE brains while reading. So it (079) 332 2775
“old solution” if I use it when I am reading? would help you, the left-brained word thinker, Jürg Peter
Supervisor-Specialist
A. In The Gift of Dyslexia, Ron Davis defines to use Picture-at-Punctuation* and incorporate Dornach
an “old solution” as the compulsive behavior picture-thinking in your reading–and if you +41 (061) 701 39 16
that results when a strategy is adopted to cope don’t have pictures in your brain, then clay Véronique Pfeiffer
Zürich
with disorientation. modeling will help you access them. +41 (01) 342 22 61
If you think primarily in words, and read However, since you say it is hard for you to Elisabeth Raberger
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probably are not experiencing disorientation always be easier for you to continue to use
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Dyslexic individuals who use
subvocalizing strategies often move their lips * Picture-at-Punctuation is a Davis Reading Doris Rubli-Osterwalder
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or actually utter the words as they read. As a Exercise where the reader mentally pictures +41 (071) 245 56 90

word thinker, you probably don’t do that. You the meaning of the text at each major Benita Ruckli

probably “hear” the words automatically in punctuation mark. Sigigen +41 (041) 495 04 09
or (079) 719 31 18
your head, and you probably have very fast
PAGE 18 THE DYSLEXIC READER

v Switzerland/CH A Davis Graduate Speaks . . .

(cont’d)
Lotti Salivisberg
Basel
Amanda completed a Davis Program with Amanda with her
+41 (061) 263 33 44 Marcia Maust in June of 2003 when she was very special person,
Sonja Sartor eleven years old. Recently Amanda submitted Marcia Maust, of
Laurel Highlands
Winterthur
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the following essay as a school project and Dyslexia Correction
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gave us permission to print it. Center, in Berlin,
Stäfa +41 (079) 704 03 07 Our response, simply: “Wow!” Pennsylvania.
Claudia Taverna Congratulations to Amanda for a wonderful
Sent
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essay! And to Marcia, who must be delighted
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Catherine Warner
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Margit Zahnd
Gerolfingen My Special Person
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(032) 396 19 20
By Amanda Betker
Champion Middle School, Warren, Ohio
v United Arab Emirates
Linda Rademan
My special person is extremely special to me in many ways. A special person
Dubai +9714 348 1687 is someone who is nice; for example, someone who changes your life. To also be
v United Kingdom
a special person, you must be loving and caring to all. The very special person
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in my life is Marcia Maust. She is a facilitator for the program called Davis
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+44 (02380) 704 734 able to do everyday things. This will have a lasting effect on me by helping me
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Hitchin, Herts
to read and write without my dyslexia getting in the way of my life.
+44 (0)1462 435 166 Marcia is very important in many ways. She is a loving, caring, and nice
Sue Bullen person. Also, she understands learning disabilities and other difficulties. She
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and the Davis Program have helped me; in fact they are still helping people
Susan Duguid today. She has showed me that even if you can’t do something like reading or
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writing, you are not dumb or stupid. With these traits, Marcia helps change

Dyslexia Correction Centre

people’s lives every day.
Georgina Dunlop Marcia has made a difference in my life in many ways. She helped me
Jane E.M. Heywood
DLS Workshop Presenter
whenever I needed it. She helped me and showed me how to read small and
Ascot, Berkshire easy words without my dyslexia triggering. Now I am able to keep my balance
+44 (01344) 622 115 and read and write. I have become better at spelling all types of words. I can
Christine East
Kingsbridge, Devon
now say my ABC’s backwards and forwards and I can memorize all types of
+44 (01548) 856 045 things much more easily. I can use what she taught me to visualize how a
Hilary Farmer
Oxford, Oxon
word looks and its meaning by using either colored markers or clay.
+44 (01865) 326 464 Marcia has made a lasting effect in many ways, as well. She has helped
Nichola Farnum me be able to read all sorts of things whether they are easy or hard. I actually
London +44 (0208) 977 6699 enjoy reading now. In addition to reading, she also helped me with my writing.
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Harleston, Norfolk
She helped teach me how to set up my writing and not be afraid to write. I
+44 (01379) 853 810 also worked with her to become more organized. Now I organize and color-code
Carol Forster
DLS Workshop Presenter
everything. I am now getting good grades, but also get good scores on tests.
Gloucester This has made me feel good about myself and like school and reading.
+44 (01452) 331 573 Marcia Maust helped me get over my dyslexia and on with my life;
Achsa Griffiths
Sandwich, Kent
therefore, do everyday things. She is a loving person who helps kids and adults.
+44 (01304) 611 650 Not like in the past, I can now memorize big words and other things by writing
Axel Gudmundsson
London
them in color or forming them in clay. I can read and write every day without
+44 (020) 8341-7703 even thinking it is hard. I now love to read everyday. One more thing she has
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Barrow upon Soar, Leics
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Marcia has made a lasting change in my life.
 THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 19

D Y S L

v United Kingdom (cont’d)

I S E
X
V I
A
Young Learner Kit Annemette Hoegh-Banks

A
D

Berkhamsted, Herts
• •

+44 1442 872185

L
A S S

for Home-Use
N A
Phyllida Howlett
Haverfordwest,
O

O
Pembrokeshire
C

I
I T ®
A
A

+44 (01437) 766 806

T
I O
N R N
I N T E

Angela James
Reading, Berkshire
+44 (0118) 947 6545
Based on the Davis Dyslexia
Liz Jolly
Correction methods, this Kit
enables parents and tutors of Fareham, Hants
+44 (01329) 235 420
Lisa Klooss
children, ages 5-7, to home-teach
and help young learners to: London
+44 (0208) 960 9406
Marilyn Lane
• focus attention
• control energy levels Redhill,
• improve eye-hand coordination +44 (0173) 776-9049
Madeleine Miles
Dereham, Norfolk
• learn the alphabet
• learn basic punctuation +44 (01362) 861 136
• develop and strengthen pre-reading Fionna Pilgrim
Keighley, West Yorkshire
+44 (01535) 661 801
and basic reading skills
Maxine Piper
• prevent the potential of a learning
problem Carterton, Oxon
• improve sight word recognition and +44 (01993) 840 291
Elenica Nina Pitoska
London +44 (020) 8451 4025
comprehension The Kit includes:
• establish life-long “how-to-learn” skills. Rebecca Ross
Tonbridge, Kent
• Instruction Manual
The Davis Methods • Sturdy nylon briefcase +44 (01892) 838 109
Pauline Royle
Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancs
for Young Learners • Reusable modeling clay (2 lbs.)
• Clay cutter +44 (01253) 899 875
Ian Richardson
Davis Focusing Strategies provide
• Webster’s Children’s Dictionary
children with the self-directed ability to Blaisdon Longhope, Glos
+44 (0145) 283 0056
(hardcover)
be physically and mentally focused on the
• Punctuation Marks & Styles Booklet Rosemary Savinson
learning task at hand. London
+44 (0208) 316-1973
• Two Koosh Balls
Elizabeth Shepherd
Davis Symbol Mastery enables children • Letter Recognition Cards
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Janice Scholes
marks and basic sight words with a simple, • Stop Signs for Reading Chart
easy and fun alternative to pencil-paper Liversedge, West Yorkshire
activities and drill. +44 (01274) 874 712
Nigel Sharp
Davis Reading Exercises improve Isle of Wight
+44 (0)1983 867 116
Judith Shaw
accuracy with word recognition and
comprehension. Supervisor-Specialist
St. Leonards on
Sea/Hastings, East Sussex
The Kit is priced at $119.95 +44 (01424) 447 077
(Shipping and Handling will be added) Dyslexia Kent
Margarita Whitehead
DDA Director
Richard Whitehead
To purchase a kit, use our secure on-line
ordering at: DDA Director
DLS Workshop Presenter
Fundamentals Presenter
www.dyslexia.com/bookstore
or call our toll-free number: Staplehurst, Kent
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1-888-999-3324 The Young Learner Kit Lynne Smith
Brighton, East Sussex
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Note: For older children (ages 8 and up), we
Barbara Timmins
recommend the Davis Symbol Mastery Kit.
Solihull
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PAGE 20
v United Kingdom (cont’d)
Drs. Renée van der Vloodt
Supervisor-Specialist
Reigate, Surrey
+44 (01737) 240 116
Evelyn White
Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
+44 (01932) 230 624
Rachel Williamson
Hassocks, West Sussex
+44 (01444) 245 260
Francis Wright
Devon/Cornwall/Hampshire
+44 (077) 9684 0762
v United States
Alabama
Paula Morehead
Birmingham
+1 (205) 408-4420
Lisa Spratt
Huntsville
+1 (256) 426-4066
Arkansas
Rebecca Landes
Mulberry / Fort Smith
+1 (479) 997-1996
Arizona
Dr. Edith Fritz
Phoenix
+1 (602) 274-7738
Nancy Kress
Glendale/Phoenix
+1 (623) 203-1890
John F. Mertz, Jr.
Tucson
+1 (877) 219-0613 (Toll Free)
+1 (520) 219-0613
Jeannette Myers
Sedona +1 (928) 204-1963
California
Reading Research Council
Dyslexia Correction Center
Dr. Fatima Ali, Founder
Alice Davis, DDAI Director,
Ray Davis
Ronald D. Davis, Founder
Sharon Pfeiffer,
Specialist Trainer
DLS Workshop Presenter
Dee Weldon White
Lexie White Strain
Burlingame/San Francisco
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Rancho Santa
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Angela Dean Educators
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Karen Thorworth-Pongs
Diamond Bar
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Michelle Palin
Santa Cruz
+1 (831) 419-8338
Newly Licensed Davis Facilitators,
Specialists and Presenters
A special welcome to our first Davis Facilitator in Uruguay!
Marcela Piffaretti has
always believed that we can all
learn, no matter what others may
say. She enjoys sharing this
belief. That is how she became
interested in The Gift of Dyslexia.
Marcela is a teacher of English
as a second language and is about
to become a biologist. She believes the school
system must respect the fact that dyslexics have
their own learning style. She is ready to work with
children and adults, in Spanish or in English. El
Genio Dislexico, Fedra 6570, Montevideo 11500,
Uruguay. +59 (82) 604-2691.
elgeniodislexico@gmail.com
Silvia Jolanda Sikkema
“I am 44 years old and I’m from
the North of the Netherlands.
Since my 20-year-old son and
I are both dyslexic, the Davis
Program has meant a great deal
to us. It has entirely changed
our lives. My motivation to
become a Davis facilitator comes from the heart.
I want to share the Davis method with other
dyslexics and picture thinkers. I am starting a
Davis practice here in the Netherlands, at my
home address.” Handwerkerszijde 133, Drachten
9201 CL, Netherlands. +31 (51) 253-8815 or
+31 (62) 920-6451. silvia_jolanda@hotmail.com
Ilse Schreuder is a primary
school teacher. Her special
interest is “to improve
conditions for picture thinkers
at school.” Learmune 39,
Dokkum, ED 9102, Netherlands.
+31 (51) 922-0315.
f.schreuder@plnet.nl
Lisa Spratt holds a Bachelor
of Science Degree in Child
Development and Family
Relations. “I have been home
schooling my three boys for
several years. I recognized a
learning difficulty in my
youngest son. After being told
he was dyslexic, we tried various programs but
his frustration continued. I was very excited when
I learned about the Davis Dyslexia Correction
Program because I knew it would be the key to
helping my son. In a very short time his self-esteem
improved and he was working more independently.
THE DYSLEXIC READER
As a Davis Facilitator, I am eager to help others
reach their goals.” Northeast Alabama Dyslexia
Correction Center, 228 Holmes Avenue, Suite 214,
Huntsville, AL 35801, USA. +1 (256) 426-4066.
nadc@knology.net
Vivienne Carson “I realized
the potential of Davis Dyslexia
Correction after I completed the
Fundamentals Workshop in
Sydney, Australia. Life has not
been the same since. I’ve been
on a profound journey of
learning, understanding and
mastery. I look forward in eager anticipation to
sharing this program with future clients, helping
them realize the full potential of their gift, and
learn to use it to their advantage.” Dyslexia
Mastered, 107 Maungarei Road, Remnera, Auckland
New Zealand. +64 (09) 520-3278.
Vivienne@dyslexiamastered.co.nz
Judy Parley a teacher of 17
years, has seen many students
frustrated with school–students
who were bright, yet struggled
year after year. Now, armed
with the Davis Program, she is
prepared to unleash the stifled
potential of individuals within
her school district and private practice. South
Country Learning Center, Box 4602, Taber,
Alberta T1G 2C9, Canada. +1 (403) 330-9873.
judy.parley@hotmail.com
Rhonda Lacy is the mother
of a dyslexic child, Drew. After
he completed a Davis Program,
his reading world was changed
forever! Rhonda was so
impressed with the tools he
learned, she decided to become
a licensed Facilitator to help
others facing similar challenges. Rhonda holds a
B.S. in Elementary Education from the University
of Central Oklahoma. She has 24 years of experience
teaching Kindergarten, Second Grade, and the last
few years, Remedial Reading. She looks forward
to meeting new clients and helping all realize
how truly blessed they are to possess the “gift”
of dyslexia. Oklahoma Dyslexia Learning Center,
1206 Frisco, Clinton OK 73601. +1 (580) 323-7323.
rhondalacy@oklahomadyslexia.com
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 21
Elisabeth Gerber “I am an Rebecca Landes “During
educator and special-needs teacher, 21 years of teaching I saw many v United States/
California (cont’d)
the mother of three nearly grown-up students struggle. One child’s
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It is especially important for me looking for something – anything +1 (408) 983-0968
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So when I saw an advertisement
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for a talk by Ron Davis in
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children myself and as a governor of a Junior
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years in special education. During
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PAGE 22
Kentucky
Rochelle Abner
Winchester
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Louisiana
Wendy Ware Gilley
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Christina Martin
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Carolyn Tyler
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Nicki Cates
Saint Clair Shores/Detroit
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Sandra McPhall
Grandville/Grand Rapids
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Ann Minkel
Six Lakes/Grand Rapids
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Dean Schalow
Manistee
+1 (800) 794-3060 (Toll-Free)
Michele Wellman
Alma/Lansing/Grand Rapids
+1 (989) 463-5276
Minnesota
Cindy Bauer
Plymouth/Minneapolis
+1 (612) 483-3460
Cyndi Deneson
Supervisor-Specialist
Workshop Presenter
Edina/Minneapolis
+1 (888) 890-5380 (Toll-Free)
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Bernadette Peterson
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THE DYSLEXIC READER
Sally McCue “I finished my by current methods. I was fortunate to have been
degree in Teaching and Learning, able to undergo Facilitator training and now look
ready to enjoy a satisfying forward to my new career helping people to use
teaching career at the primary their talents to overcome a system which has let
level…But realizing the enormity them down.” Charnwood, Harlequin Lane,
of the dyslexia issue had a Crowborough, East Sussex, TN6 1HT United
profound impact on me. I felt Kingdom. +44 (0189) 266-1052.
the pain and frustration of Elizabeth.shepherd@virgin.net
children who were failing in school. Every day
Rosemary J. Savinson “I
I saw the sadness and the old solutions they
have spent most of my working
developed to cope with their suffering. I heard
life in adult education, first as
the desperation in their voices and sensed the
a teacher of English as an
underlying reason for my empathy with them:
additional language. Over the
these feelings were exactly what I had experienced
years, I came across many gifted,
at school! At nearly the same moment, I heard
talented but often frustrated
Ron Davis on the radio and promptly attended
dyslexic students and I decided to take a qualification
one of his presentations. I knew this method was
to become a dyslexia support tutor. Then I heard
what I needed and I could visualize myself using
Ron Davis talk and I was inspired. I felt I had really
it to effectively reach others. The Davis Dyslexia
begun to understand what dyslexia was all about,
Correction Programme felt natural and comfortable
how people could overcome their difficulties and
to me and it has helped me to grow in so many
let their talents shine through. I now offer Davis
ways. As a trained Facilitator I can reach out and
Programmes to adults and young people in my
help change my students’ outlook on themselves
college. It’s wonderful to help people acquire the tools
with an authentic and empathetic awareness of
they need, and to see their self-esteem grow and their
how it “really is” for them.” Dyslexia Solutions,
confidence blossom.” 10 Littleheath, Charlton, London,
RD1 Wakapuaka, Nelson, New Zealand.
SE7 8HU United Kingdom. +44 (208) 316-1973.
+64 (03) 545-1779.
rosemary.savinson@ntlworld.com
sally-dyslexiasolutions@xtra.co.nz
Gabriele Doetsch “For
me, the key experience was my
Margrét Thorarinsdóttir
“Having been a farmer, milking
son Gregor’s program in
cows and training horses for 35
Hamburg. After he completed
years I felt that it was time to do
it, we brought new energy,
something different and new.
vitality and happiness back
In 2003 I heard Ron Davis give
home with us. The dynamism
a lecture about dyslexia and the
of the Davis method has inspired us. With this in
correction program in Reykjavik.
mind I have worked, developed and found my
I instantly knew that this was what I wanted to do.
“Berufung.” I don’t know the English translation
Within two months I was in the United Kingdom
of that word. But it means “the job I am meant
and started my training as a facilitator.” Efsti-Dalurla,
to do!” Lindweg 10, Bad Windsheim 91438,
801 Selfoss, Iceland. +35(4) 486-1188.
Germany. +49 (09) 841-1637.
maggajona@sudurland.is
Rochelle Harden “As a
Elizabeth Shepherd
newly trained teacher, I worked
“I was introduced to The Gift
in adult education. In that capacity
of Dyslexia by our Osteopath.
I met a number of talented
He told me that my youngest
young men who found learning
son was dyslexic. After
difficult, despite being clearly
researching various options I
intelligent. I read The Gift of
decided to pursue a Davis
Dyslexia and haven’t looked back. I knew in my
Programme for him. As I
heart these young men had the cognitive ability to
observed his Programme I realized that I wanted
read and write. Ron’s book reinforced my thinking
to be able to give other children the opportunity to
100%. I am excited about my new journey as a
benefit from the Davis methods. I have regularly
Davis Facilitator and can’t wait to help clients
volunteered in schools throughout the 16 years I
achieve their goals.” Dyslexia Unlocked, PO Box
had children of my own in primary education.
92, Wanganui, New Zealand. +64 (027) 306-6743.
In recent years I have mainly provided reading
dyslexiaunlocked@gmail.com
support for children who are frustrated by their
struggle to read. I am disappointed by the number
of children whose needs are not adequately met
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 23

Facilitation and Freedom v United States/Montana

(cont’d)
by Ian Richardson, Davis Facilitator in Gloucester, England Robin Zeal
Whitefish
I want to say a big thank you to all the change, and real growth of a person’s life +1 (406) 862-6210
folks who supported and guided me and comes about when people make a shift Nebraska
shared with me their knowledge of Davis towards revealing their “selves,” when Shawn Carlson
Lincoln +1 (402) 420-1025
and the ways of dyslexia. Most of all I they are able to become more themselves Nevada
wanted to acknowledge and really highlight and put those selves into the world, Barbara Clark
Gardnerville/Carson City
something about the spirit I have found unabridged. +1 (775) 265-1188
throughout. When the word “change” is replaced New Hampshire
I think a lot about the nature of with “reveal,” that, to my thinking, is Glenna Giveans
Lebanon
change, growth and development, both in when a person attaches a steering wheel to + 1 (603) 863-7877
myself and in others. I'm becoming more life, lets the handbrake off and drives out Michele Siegmann
convinced as I gather years and experience of the garage. Mason/Manchester/Boston
+1 (603) 878-6006
(and hopefully not to much moss!!), that at This = FREEDOM. Helping someone
one level, change can come about when a do this = facilitation. New Jersey
Lynn Chigounis
person learns “stuff.” An individual can What I am saying is thank you for Montclair
+1 (973) 746-5037
grow by gaining knowledge. That’s good. helping me to recognise that freedom is
However, I’m sure you will agree, mine and for giving me the opportunity to Nancy Cimprich
Elmer/Philadelphia
that on a different level, creative, positive help others in this same spirit. +1 (856) 358-3102
Charlotte Foster
Supervisor-Specialist
Bernardsville/Newark
Rhonda Erstrom “I have best methods available to help these bright students +1 (908) 766-5399
been an elementary school who were just not achieving up to their potential.
New York
teacher for 22 years. My son When I found Ron’s book, The Gift of Dyslexia, Lisa Anderson
completed the Davis Program in I knew I had found great tools for my students, Seneca Falls
but I wasn’t entirely sure that I needed to do the +1 (315)568-3166
2004. His success inspired me to or (800) 234-6922
become a Davis Facilitator and entire training program. I decided to attend the
Ann Hassig
bring this program to my school Fundamentals workshop – and here I am. I think Gouverneur
district. I look forward to helping others overcome this is absolutely the best way for me to share the +1 (315) 287-0531
their obstacles.” Vale, OR 97918, USA. fun of learning with my clients.” Three Rivers Hadar Lily Hellman
+1 (541) 881-7817. erstrom@fmtc.com Learning Center, 6950 SW Hampton Street, New York City
+1 (212) 781-3689 or
Tigard, OR 97223, USA. +1 (503) 957-2998. +1 (718) 614-8240
Angela Keifer has a degree
m2slominski@comcast.net Wendy Ritchie
in Psychology from Clearwater Hilton/Rochester
Christian College. Being married Ann Mataczynski “I have +1 (585) 233-4364
to a man with dyslexia, she sees a Masters degree in education North Carolina
the potential that is sometimes with a reading emphasis. But Gerri W. Cox
overlooked in children and I couldn’t figure out why my DLS Workshop Presenter
Shallotte/Wilmington
adults with learning disabilities. boys struggled to read. Once +1 (910) 754-9559
Angela is looking forward to I discovered it was dyslexia, Tina Kirby
helping people see the true gift of dyslexia and I tried the Orton-Gillingham Sanford/Fayetteville
+1 (919) 499-0774
overcome the learning difficulties associated with it. approach. But I still felt there
were pieces missing and progress was minimal. I Ruth Mills
Angela is excited about Bright Futures Dyslexia Pineville/Charlotte
Correction and the impact she can have in the Tampa continued my search and found Davis Dyslexia +1 (704) 541-1733
Bay area. Bright Futures Dyslexia Correction, Association. I became a Davis Facilitator to help Jean Moser
10003 Cedar Dune Drive, Tampa, FL 33624, USA. those smart yet struggling kids and to educate Winston-Salem
+1 (336) 765-6310
+1 (727) 480-1093. brightfuturesdc@hotmail.com society on dyslexia. I am thrilled to open my center
and begin this journey.” GEM Learning Center Ohio
Melissa Slominski “The
LLC, 7606 Bluebell Lane, Wausau, WI 54401, USA. Lorraine Charbonneau
greatest joy of my life was hav- Mason/Cincinnati/Dayton
+1 (715) 551-7144. mataczyn@aol.com +1 (513) 850-1895
ing the honor of home-school-
ing my son. When he left for Sandra Korn
Liberty Township/ Cincinnati
college I needed to find some- +1 (513) 779-9118
thing that was as powerful and Lisa Thatcher
positive for me to devote my Mount Vernon/Columbus
+1 (740) 397-7060
energy to. I began doing private
tutoring while searching for the
PAGE 24
Oklahoma
Rhonda Lacy
Clinton +1 (580) 323-7323
Oregon
Rhonda Erstrom
Vale +1 (541) 881-7817
Melissa Slominski
Tigard / Portland
+1 (503) 957-2998
Pennsylvania
Marcia Maust
Berlin/Pittsburgh
+1 (814) 267-6694
South Dakota
Kim Carson
DLS Workshop Presenter
Brookings/Sioux Falls
+1 (605) 692-1785
Carina Little
Watertown
+1 (605) 886-8415
Texas
Kellie Antrim-Brown
Ft. Worth
+1 (877) 230-2622 (Toll Free)
+1 (817) 989-0783
Glyndene Burns
Lubbock +1 (806) 781-4891
Janalee Beals
Bedford/Dallas/Ft. Worth
+1 (877) 439-7539 (Toll Free)
or+1 (817) 354-2896
Success Learning Center
Rhonda Clemons
DLS Workshop Presenter
Colleen Millslagle
DLS Workshop Presenter
Tyler/Dallas
+1 (866) 531-2446 (Toll Free)
+1 (903) 531-2446
Shari Chu
Helotes /San Antonio
+1 (210) 414-0116
Lori Johnson
Boerne / San Antonio
+1 (210) 843-8161
Susan Lewis
Lubbock +1 (806) 771-1385
Leslie McLean
Amarillo
+1 (806) 331-4099 or
+1 (877) 331-4099 (Toll Free)
Amanda Meyer
Burleson/Ft. Worth
+1 (817) 426-4442
Dorothy Owen
Supervisor-Specialist
Plano/Dallas
+1 (972) 447-8327 or
+1 (866) 822-2441 (Toll Free)
Paula Roberts
Tyler +1 (903) 570-3427
Casey Linwick-Rouzer
Sugar Land/Houston
+1 (832) 724-0492
Laura Warren
DLS Workshop Presenter
Lubbock +1 (806) 771-7292
Virginia
Donna Kouri
Montpelier/Richmond
+1 (804) 883-8867
THE DYSLEXIC READER
Valarie Abney “After 35 years in the book
business working with teachers and struggling
readers of all ages – including my son – I found
Davis. I am hoping to work with “at risk youth.”
There is a group of Facilitators in the Denver
area and we are excited about working together
and someday possibly having a center.” Picture
Thinkers Inc., 3250 W. Hayward Place, Denver,
CO 80211, USA. +1 (303) 433-9077.
picturethinkers@estreet.com
Annie Garcia “I was a teacher for 28 years, and
22 of those years I was a reading teacher. I agreed
to tutor the grandson of a teacher friend. He was in
fifth grade, but read at the second grade level. I
worked with him a little over a year and did not
make much progress, despite doing everything I
“Ideals are like stars; you
knew. I told his mother and grandmother they will not succeed in touching
needed to find something or someone else for him
because I was not helping him. Shortly after, his
them with your hands. But
grandmother asked me to look at a web site she had like the seafaring man on
come across. It was www.dyslexia.com. I read The
Gift of Dyslexia and interviewed a Facilitator in our
the desert of waters, you
area. I recommended to the mother and grandmother choose them as your guides,
that they try this program, telling them I would, if
and following them you
it were my son. When he started his program he
read at the second grade level, but by Friday he will reach your destiny.”
was reading at the fourth grade level. That sold me!
I decided I wanted to learn how to achieve such – Carl Schurz, general and
results. So now I am back doing what I was intended
to do, helping people learn how to read or change
politician (1829-1906)
their lives as much as they choose to.” Learning
Your Way, 4625 Newland Street, Wheat Ridge, CO Alma Holden “I was a
80033, USA. +1 (303) 423-3397. qualified primary teacher who
learningyourway@earthlink.net specialized in Specific Learning
Difficulties and taught clients
one to one using different teaching
Diana Smit-Jurgens
“I became interested in dyslexia
through my sister’s oldest son. methods including Reading
He is dyslexic and struggled Recovery and HPP. Prior to this
his way through school. I I had 10 years of primary teaching
always felt that there should in multi-level, rural and urban
be an easier way. I was becoming areas, as well as the opportunity to
aware of more and more cases bring our children up on a farm, when not teaching.
when a good friend of mine, Debbie Shah, told Through my training in the Davis Dyslexia
me about this amazing method to help people Correction Programme I now have the ability to
with dyslexia. I jumped at the opportunity to make a difference with clients. The greatest gift
learn more about it when she brought a of all is the blossoming of their confidence and
Fundamentals Workshop and training to Kenya. self-esteem – confident in the understanding and
I have enjoyed every moment of the training knowledge that they can learn. My office is in the
center of Alexandra, where I hope to offer the
(thank you Robin, Siegerdina and Renée) and
am keen to start working with people here. A Davis Dyslexia Correction Programme to Central
big thank you to Debbie, who was the first Otago and Southland clients. This location will be
Facilitator in Kenya and who did the organizing great for our close-knit family as we enjoy exploring
to make it possible for us to do our training the outdoors and the old winery.” dyslexia-help 4 u,
here.” PO Box 24581, Nairobi 00502, Kenya. PO Box 293, Alexandra, New Zealand.
+254 733 895 603. ronikarosmit6@yahoo.com +64 (027) 485-6798. dyslexia-help4u@xtra.c.nz
v
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 25

Newly Licensed Davis Learning Strategies v United States/

Workshop Presenters and Mentor
1 2
DLS Workshop Presenter
1. Valgerdur Jonsdóttir
Grundarsmárii 5
201 Kópavogur, Iceland
Tel: +354 863 2005
E-Mail: lexia@lexia.is
DLS Workshop Presenter
2. Sturla Kristjánsson
Ármúli 5
108 Reykjavík, Iceland
Tel: +354 845 6956 or 862-0872
E-Mail: sturla@les.is
3
DLS Workshop Presenter
3. Gail Hallinan
41 Waters Road
Naremburn NSW 2065, Australia
Tel: +61 (02) 9405 2800
E-Mail: gail@3ms.com.au
DLS Mentor & Workshop Presenter
4. Petra Pouw-Legêne
Heirstraat 37
6191 JS Beek, Netherlands
Tel: +31(046)437 4907
E-Mail: pouw.legene@planet.nl
Virginia (cont’d)
Angela Odom
DLS Workshop Presenter
Midlothian/Richmond
+1 (804) 833-8858
Jamie Worley
4 Yorktown/Williamsburg
+1 (757) 867-1164
Washington
Jackie Black
Arlington/Everett
1-866-218-1614 (Toll-Free)
Aleta Clark
Auburn/Tacoma
+1 (253) 854-9377
Carol Hern
DLS Workshop Presenter
Spokane
Mary Ethel Kellogg
DLS Workshop Presenter
Spokane
Rebecca Luera
Fall City/Seattle
+1 (800) 818-9056 (Toll-Free)
+1 (425) 222-4163
Nancy Sitton
Marysville
+1 (360) 651-1241
Renie Royce Smith
Spokane & Everett
+1-800-371-6028 (Toll-Free)
+1 (509) 443-1737
Center: Alice and Ron Ruth Ann Youngberg
Davis
Bellingham
+1 (360) 752-5723
West Virginia
Gale Long
Elkview/Charleston
+1 (888) 517-7830 (Toll Free)
+1 (304) 965-7400
Wisconsin
New Hope Learning Centers, Inc.
Darlene Bishop
Margaret Hayes
Milwaukee
+1 (888) 890-5380 (Toll Free)
+1 (262) 255-3900
Anne Mataczynski
Wausau +1 (715) 551-7144

Davis Training Programs v Uruguay

Marcela Piffaretti
Montevideo
+598 (02) 604-2691

The Davis Facilitator Training
Program requires approximately
400 hours of course work.
The Davis Specialist Training
Program requires extensive
experience providing Davis
programs and an additional 260
hours of training. Specialists and
Facilitators are subject to annual
re-licensing based upon case
review and adherence to the
DDAI Standards of Practice.
v
Davis Learning Strategies Mentors
and Workshop Presenters are
experienced teachers and trainers with This Directory is current
as of July 1, 2006. It is
subject to change. Between
2-3 years of specialized training and
experience mentoring classroom newsletter issues, new
Facilitators are added, and
occasionally, some become
teachers of children 5- 9 years of age.
inactive. However, the Davis
Providers list at
For information about training and a
full directory of Davis providers, go on www.dyslexia.com
the web to: is always up to date.
www.dyslexia.com/providers.htm
or call +1 (650) 692-7141; or
+1-888-805-7216 toll-free in the USA.
PAGE 26 THE DYSLEXIC READER

Basic Workshop for

Teachers, would you like to…
• Improve the reading skills of all the children in your
class regardless of their learning style?
• Manage your classroom more effectively?
• Prevent the onset of learning disabilities?
• Use research-based methods that are flexible and easily
fit into and enhance any existing curriculum?
Primary Teachers
“It is so exciting to be on the cutting edge of
something so radically life changing for so many.
I am overwhelmed by this entire concept and the
potential of it all. Thank you for your commitment
to this program that is so important to so many.
You have done a tremendous job, and your manual
and training are excellent.”

This two-day workshop provides Primary Teachers (K-3)

–CK, Teacher and Vice Principal, DePaul School,
with unique and innovative strategies for improving
Jacksonville, Florida

reading instruction and classroom management, and equips

young learners with proven life long skills in “how to learn.”
Instruction includes:
• Theory and Reasoning for each Strategy.
• Video demonstrations of each Strategy and classroom
implementation suggestions.
• Supervised experiential practice on each Strategy.
• Q&A and discussion about each Strategy.
Materials include:
• Detailed Manual with suggested year-long guides, black-line
masters, and numerous tips for each implementing each 2006 DATES & LOCATIONS
Strategy in various curriculum activities.
• Videotape or DVD demonstrating each classroom Strategy.
31 July - 1 August: USA (Elbert, Colorado)
Instructor (and contact): Kristi Thompson
• Teacher Kit: alphabet strip, letter recognition cards, clay,
E-mail: info@davislearn.com Tel: +1 (719) 324-5400 x202

cutter, dictionary and two Koosh® balls. (Classroom 7 - 8 August: USA (Lubbock, Texas)
materials sold separately)
Instructor: Laura Warren Contact: Paula McCarthy
Email: info@Davislearn.com
Tel: +1 (650) 692-7141 or 1-888-805-7216
9 - 11 August: Iceland (Kopavogur)
Instructors: Sturla Kristjansson & Valla Jonsdottir
Language: Icelandic
Contact: Gudbjorg Emilsdottir
Email: gem@ismennt.is Tel: +354 554-3452
10 - 11 August: USA (San Antonio, Texas)
Instructor: Laura Warren
Contact: Paula McCarthy or Laura Warren (in Texas)
Email: info@davislearn.com
Tel: +1-888-805-7216 or (806) 771-7292
24 - 25 August: Canada (Edmonton, Alberta)
Instructor: Laura Warren
Contact: Paula McCarthy Email: info@davislearn.com
Tel: +1 (650) 692-7141 or 1-888-805-7216
6- 7 October: Holland (Rolduc, Kerkrade)
Workshop hours: 9am-4pm with one hour lunch break.
Instructor: Siegerdina Mandema Language: Dutch

Cost: $595 per person (US only)

Tel: +31 (0475) 301 277 Email: ddaned@plex.nl

Academic Units or CEUs (US and Canada only)

14 - 16 October &
19 - 21 October: Estonia (Tallinn)
Two Quarter Units are available through California State
Instructor: Richard Whitehead Language: Russian

University. Cost is $54 per unit, plus $35 administrative fee.

Contact: Olga Knut
Email: eknuut@yahoo.com Tel: (+372) 5650 9840
A written assignment, which can be completed before and 24 - 26 November: Switzerland (Basel)
during the workshop, is required. Instructor: Heidi Gander-Belz
Contact: Gabi Lichtenhahn
Language: German

Email: office@dda.ch Tel: +41 (0)61 273 81 85

Would you like to bring a DLS
workshop to your school/area?
Call 1-888-805-7216 and ask for Paula McCarthy.
Visit www.davislearn.com for
additional workshop dates.
THE DYSLEXIC READER PAGE 27

Come Learn and

EXPERIENCE the Davis
Dyslexia Correction
Procedures!
Fundamentals of Davis Dyslexia Correction®
Workshop based on the best-selling book
The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis
FUNDAMENTALS WORKSHOP OUTLINE
DAY ONE
Background and Development of the Davis Dyslexia
Correction® Procedures
• Research and discovery. The “gifts” of dyslexia. Anatomy
and developmental stages of a learning disability.
Overview of the steps for dyslexia correction.
Davis Perceptual Ability Assessment
(a screening for dyslexic learning styles)
• Demonstration and Practice Session
Symptoms Profile Interview (used to assess symptoms,
strengths and weaknesses; set goals; establish motivation)
• Demonstration and Practice Session
DAY TWO
Davis Orientation Counseling Procedures (methods to
control, monitor and turn off perceptual distortions)
• What is Orientation? Demonstration & Practice Session
Release Procedure (method to alleviate stress, headaches)
Alignment (an alternative to Orientation Counseling)
• What is Alignment? How is it used? Group Demonstration
Dial-Setting Procedure (a method for controlling energy
levels)
DAY THREE
Orientation Review Procedure
(a method for checking orientation skills)
• Demonstration & Practice Session
Davis Symbol Mastery® (the key to correcting dyslexia)
• What is Symbol Mastery? Why clay?
Mastering Basic Language Symbols
• Demonstrations and Group Exercises
Reading Improvement Exercises
• Spell-Reading. Sweep-Sweep-Spell. Picture-at-
Punctuation
DAY FOUR
Fine-Tuning Procedure (checking and adjusting
orientation using balance)
Symbol Mastery Exercises for Words
• Demonstrations
• Group Exercises
• Practice Sessions
Implementing the Davis Procedures

To register for US workshops call 1-888-805-7216 (toll-free)

2006-2007 FUNDAMENTALS WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

DEUTSCHLAND 9 - 12 Nov. 2006: Basel UNITED STATES

2 - 5 Nov. 2006: Hamburg
Language: German/English
Presenter: Ioannis Tzivanakis
DDA-Deutschland
Email: germany@dyslexia.com
Tel: +49 (040) 25 17 86 22
NEW ZEALAND
13 - 16 Aug. 2006
Christchurch
Presenter: Lorna Timms
Email: info@ddapacific.co.nz
Tel: +64 (09) 361 6115
SWITZERLAND
28 - 31 Oct. 2006: Basel
Presenter: Bonny Beuret
Email: office@dda.ch
Language: English/French
Tel: +41 (061) 273 81 85
Presenter: Bonny Beuret
Email: office@dda.ch
Language: German
Tel: +41 (061) 273 81 85
UNITED KINGDOM
8 -11 Oct. 2006
Addington, Nr. Maidstone
Kent
Presenter: Richard Whitehead
Email: uk@dyslexia.com
Tel: +44 (01580) 892 928
5 - 8 May 2007
Addington, Nr. Maidstone
Kent
Presenter: Richard Whitehead
Email: uk@dyslexia.com
Tel: +44 (01580) 892 928
18 - 21 Sept. 2006
Washington, D.C.
Presenter: Gerry Grant
Email: training@dyslexia.com
Tel: 1-866-822-2441 or 1-888-805-7216
6 - 9 Nov. 2006
Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
Presenter: Gerry Grant
Dorothy@acomprehensioncenter.com
Tel: +1 (866) 822-2441 toll-free
29 Jan. - 1 Feb. 2007
San Francisco, California
Presenter: Cyndi Deneson
Email: training@dyslexia.com
Tel: 1-888-805-7216
All workshops conducted
in English unless noted
otherwise.

For updated workshop schedules visit: www.dyslexia.com/train.htm

The
Dys•lex´•ic Read´•er
~
PRESORTED

1601 Old Bayshore Highway, Suite 245

STANDARD

Burlingame, CA 94010
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BURLINGAME, CA
PERMIT NO.14
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Fundamentals of Davis Dyslexia Correction Workshop

Based on the best-selling book 2006-2007 International Schedule
The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis
13 - 16 August Christchurch New Zealand
This 4-day workshop is an introduction to the basic theories,
principles and application of all the procedures described in 18- 21 September Washington, DC USA
The Gift of Dyslexia. Training is done with a combination of 8 - 11 October Addington, Kent UK
lectures, demonstrations, group practice, and question and 28 - 31 October Basel Switzerland
answer sessions. Attendance is limited to ensure the highest 6 - 9 November Dallas-Ft. Worth USA
quality of training. 2 -5 November Hamburg Germany
Who should attend: 9 -12 November Basel Switzerland
Everyone involved in helping dyslexic individuals over the 29 Jan - 1 Feb 2007 San Francisco USA
age of eight. 5 - 8 May 2007 Addington, Kent UK

Participants will learn:

• How the Davis procedures were developed.
• How to assess for the “gift of dyslexia.”
• How to help dyslexics eliminate mistakes and focus attention.
• The Davis Symbol Mastery tools for mastering reading.
• How to incorporate and use proven methods for improving
reading, spelling, and motor coordination into a teaching,
home school, tutoring, or therapeutic setting.
See page 27 for more workshop details.
U.S. Course Schedule
• 8:30 - 9:00 Registration (first day)
• 9:00 - 5:00 Daily (lunch break 12:00-1:30)
U.S. Fees and Discounts
• $1175 per person
• $1125 for DDAI members or groups of two or more
• $1075 if paid in full 60 days in advance
• Advance registration and $200 deposit required
• Includes manual, one-year DDAI membership,
verification of attendance, and Symbol Mastery Kit
• Academic units and CEUs available

For a detailed brochure on enrollment, prices, group rates, discounts, location, and further information, contact the DDA in your country.
DDA-Pacific DDA-Deutschland DDA- México DDA-UK
PO BOX 46023 Wandsbecker Chausee 132 Río Volga #308 ote Slaney Place
Herne Bay D-22089 Hamburg Colonia del Valle Headcorn Road
Auckland, New Zealand GERMANY 66220 Garza Garcia N.L Staplehurst, Kent TN12 0DJ.
Tel: +64 (09) 361 6115 MEXICO Tel: +44 (01580) 892 928
Fax: +64 (09) 361 6114 Tel: 49 (040) 25 17 86 22 Tel/Fax: 52 (81) 8335-9435 Fax: +44 (0)1580 893 429
E-mail: pacific@dyslexia.com Fax: 49 (040) 25 17 86 24 or 52 (81) 8356-8389 E-mail: uk@dyslexia.com
E-mail: germany@dyslexia.com E-mail: mexico@dyslexia.com
DDA-CH DDAI-Int’l, Canada & USA
Freie Strasse 81 DDA-Israel DDA-Nederland 1601 Bayshore Highway, Ste 245
CH 4001 Basel 20 Ha’shahafim St. Kerkweg 38a Burlingame, CA 94010
SWITZERLAND Ra’anana 43724 ISRAEL 6105 CG Maria Hoop, NEDERLAND Tel: 1-888-805-7216
Tel: 41 (061) 273 81 85 Tel: 972 (0523) 693 384 Tel: 31 (0475) 302 203 Fax: 1 (650) 692-7075
Fax: 41 (061) 272 42 41 or (0)9 774 7979 Fax: 31 (0475) 301 381 E-mail: ddai@dyslexia.com
E-mail: ch@dyslexia.com Fax: 972 (09) 772-9889 E-mail: holland@dyslexia.com
E-mail: Israel@dyslexia.com
Enrollment limited ❖ Classes fill Early ❖ Call 1-888-805-7216 or 650-692-7141
For updated workshop schedules visit http://www.dyslexia.com/train.htm
For a full description of the Davis Facilitator Certification Program, ask forContinued on page 22
our booklet.