FAQ
Is the Davis Dyslexia Correction Programme right for me?
To find out whether a Davis Correction Programme® could help you, call one of our facilitators for an initial telephone consultation. If we, and you, believe that you would benefit from the programme, an appointment for the first meeting will be set up.
A standard programme entails 30 hours of intensive, one-to-one support and up to 6 further hours available for review should the client want to use them. There will be follow-up work for the client to complete with a support person, trained by the facilitator.
Can I do it myself?
The short answer is, "Yes, you can."The reason Ron Davis published his book, The Gift of Dyslexia, in the first place, was so that it would be possible for parents to work with their own children, or so that anybody who could read the book and understand it's content could support a motivated dyslexic through the programme.
It is possible to do it from the book, and there are kits available to provide all you need, from clay and Koosh balls to alphabet strips and a dictionary and even a self help dvd. The dvd shows short demonstration presentations of the basic Davis skills, conducted with dummy clients who are straightforward in that they behave as the textbook says they should and don't do anything unpredictable. The dvd does the same job as the book for those who learn visually rather than from written instructions.
A facilitator receives a minimum of 400 hours training over 11 modules. Apart from gaining technical expertise, a facilitator is trained to a high level in:
- interpersonal sensitivity
- building rapport
- keen observation(especially of signs of disorientation, confusion and concentration)
- tenacity
- agility in adapting the textbook methods while adhering to Davis core principles when clients behave unpredictably
- the art of motivation and the mechanics of responsibility
Facilitators also have a strong theoretical grounding in why we do what we do, which equips us uniquely to be able to track an individual trigger back to its source.
We understand that a Davis Programme with a licensed facilitator, though probably costing no more than a family holiday, is still an expensive investment; so, by all means, try working from the book if you wish to; you may well have great success. If you do not feel confident to do so, or if your relationship with the dyslexic person gets in the way (as often happens) or you find a situation that is not textbook, feel free to speak to a facilitator. We are great value for money.
Why is it called correction rather than cure?
Dyslexia is neither a disability nor an illness, it is a different thinking/learning style, a natural ability, a talent. You will never stop being dyslexic and, when you think about all the advantages your thinking style gives you, you would not want to. A Davis Programme will put you in control of your gift so that you can correct those aspects of being dyslexic that cause you problems; it will never take your dyslexia away from you and would not want to.
How is it a gift?
The natural talent that dyslexics have is that they are able to include their imagination into their thinking style. This leads to an amazingly rapid and intuitive thought process, as most dyslexics think using mental imagery rather than words. It makes most of them extremely creative and great at problem solving and lateral thinking. Because of their speed of thought they see the whole picture and because they see the whole picture, rather than thinking sequentially, they can think outside the box. When a dyslexic is locked into seeing only the difficulties that arise because of the fact that others often neither respect nor understand the dyslexic thinking style, it can be hard to recognise their talents for the gift they are.
In 2009, Dyslexia Awareness Week celebrated Dyslexia Strengths. In support of Dyslexia Awareness Week, we assisted schools in accessing a free 15-part professional development course that challenges key assumptions about dyslexia.Further details of the course, and online subscription, are available at www.whytyrannosaurusbutnotif.com
What makes the Davis® method different?
The Davis method is different because:
- it does not rely on instruction based on phonics.
- it does not rely on repetition or drill.
- it does not rely on devices such as coloured overlays or large print books
- it does not rely on medications or herbal treatments
Instead it uses a visual, meaning based approach to reading, relying on full understanding rather than parrot learning, leading to full retention. This allows the individual to take control of his own learning without needing to be dependent on any outside device, medication or supplement.
Davis facilitators know that Dyslexia and other Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) are not a disease or psychiatric condition. There is nothing wrong with a dyslexic’s brain, it simply works differently.
How do I know if my child is dyslexic?
If you are wondering whether you are or your child is dyslexic, try our online dyslexia test. It is not conclusive but will give you a good idea of whether you could be dyslexic. Generally speaking if there is a large discrepancy between your child's intelligence and his reading and writing ability he may well be dyslexic.
What will it cost?
Each facilitator is an independent practitioner and will set their own rate of charges. However once your child has completed a programme, you will be able to contact your facilitator for advice at any time in the future at no extra cost and you will not need to pay for remedial help for the rest of your child's academic career.
How long does it take?
A basic reading programme is usually delivered over a period of 30 hours, normally, spread over 5 days. Included in the price is a further optional day for follow up or review.
A programme to specifically target ADD or Dyscalculia may take up to 8-10 days, in which case hours above 30 will usually be charged at an hourly rate and the optional extra day will still be available.
What involvement/commitment must I make?
The programme gives the individual tools to control stress and personal energy levels and to turn off the disorientation, that is at the heart of the gift that is dyslexia, when it is not helpful. It then shows how to confront and eliminate the confusion in symbols and words that trigger disorientation.
If you are the dyslexic client it is your job to take responsibility for using your tools. There are approximately 219 trigger words in the English language: those words like and, but, to, the, because that have no obvious picture. It will be your job to complete the work started during your programme to confront and eliminate the confusion in those trigger words. Ideally we like to train a support person to assist you with this task.
If your child is dyslexic it is your job to support her in doing the above or, if you feel you cannot do this, to find someone who can. It is very important that the support person never tries to take over responsibility for the dyslexic's tools and follow up work: to do so can sabotage the programme.
What changes can I expect by the end of the programme and over the longer term
At the beginning of a Davis Programme we ask the dyslexic client to set his or her own goals. During a Davis Programme your child, or you yourself, if you are the dyslexic client, will be given the mental tools to resolve your own dyslexia.
By the time the programme is completed, you or your child will have had experience of using those tools effectively, and will have experienced positive results in relation to the goals set at the start of the programme. You will understand why you had difficulty in the past and will know that you can change that; that you are the person in control.
This gives a tremendous boost to self esteem.
When you go home the key factor is that you continue to use your tools. We give guidance about how to do this and, particularly with children, we will train somebody to act as your support person as you do your follow up work.
As you continue to work through the follow-up tasks set you will experience increased success in those areas you wanted to address: be that reading or writing, organisation or focus or maths. You are also likely to find a lot of other things, that you may not have realised were hard for you, becoming easier.
Will it work for me?
Each dyslexic is different, as is the pattern of their dyslexia. A Davis Programme may not be the answer at a particular time for a particular dyslexic. For this reason a facilitator will meet up with you to ensure that the programme will be suitable. If it is not, we will tell you so and explain why.
There is, however, a growing body of research evidence, some of which demonstrates the effectiveness of our methods and some, completely independent of our programme, that supports the techniques that we use.
Perhaps it would help you to be able to speak to someone who has already completed the programme. Many of our past clients would be happy to chat to you on the phone about their own experience.
If you have any further questions, please contact the DDFA for further information.