FAQ
Is the Davis Dyslexia Correction Programme right for me?
To find out whether a Davis Correction Programme could help you, contact a facilitators for an initial telephone consultation. If we believe that you would benefit from the programme, an appointment for the first meeting will be set up. Before you commit to a programme you and the facilitator will ensure that the programme is right for you. You will have established your goals and will know how the programme will help you achieve those goals.
A standard programme typically 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.
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 that develops from a talent. You will never stop being dyslexic and, when you think about all the advantages your thinking style gives you, why would you 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 in 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.
Since 2009 we have been assisting 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
- nor on repetition or drill
- neither does it rely on devices such as coloured overlays or large print books
- nor on medications or herbal treatments.
Instead it uses a visual, meaning based approach to reading, relying on full understanding rather than rote 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. (How Davis is Different)
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 your child seemed particularly bright and ready to engage with learning about the world from a very early age, particularly if s/he was a very early reader, they may be gifted with the difference that can lead to dyslexic difficulties. Generally speaking, we only recognise dyslexia from those things that prove difficult. You can be dyslexic yet never develop a problem. However, perhaps for your child it all went downhill when s/he started school
If you are wondering whether you are or your child is dyslexic, try this 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. A Davis Programme is a life changing experience and, at its most expensive, will not cost you more than a family holiday abroad. However, for those who cannot afford it, there is a bursary fund, albeit with limited resources. This can pay for part of the cost of a Davis Programme. Ask your facilitator for details.
What benefit will I get from employing a facilitator?
A facilitator receives a minimum of 400 hours training over 11 modules and participates in Continual Professional Development activities. 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, 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 is quite an investment, but it provides a sound basis not just for reading, and not just for school, but for the whole of a person’s future life.
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 or 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: words like: and, but, to, the, 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. Your facilitator will train a support person of your choice to assist you with this task.
If your child is dyslexic it is your job to support her or him 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 you 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. You 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. Moreover, you will know the person in control.
This gives a tremendous boost to self esteem.
After the programme, the key factor is that you continue to use your tools. We give guidance about how to do this and will train a support person to help with 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. 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, which demonstrates the effectiveness of our methods. There is other research completely independent of our programme, that supports the scientific background on which it is founded.
