How do I know the Davis Program will be a good fit for me or my child?
Suitability for a Davis Program is determined during an initial consultation with the client. This informal assessment typically lasts about 2 hours. Items covered include:
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Overview of the dyslexic learning/thinking style
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Perceptual Ability Assessment
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Symptoms Profile Interview form
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Client created goals
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Determination of client motivation and willingness to participate in the program
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Explanation of the program
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Q&A
If it is determined that an individual is a suitable candidate for a Davis Program, a personalized program can be scheduled that will address the client’s stated goals.
What happens during the program?
The Davis Program is provided to suitable candidates, one-on-one.
Some of the tools the client will receive are as follows:
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Davis Orientation Counseling® or Davis® Alignment to allow the individual to experience accurate perceptions and to be able to turn off false perceptions at will.
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Davis Symbol Mastery® to eliminate confusion with symbols, such as alphabet letters, numerals, punctuation marks, and words that are difficult to picture the meaning.
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Self-management tools to reduce stress, relieve tension, and control energy.
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Kinesthetic exercises to strengthen balance and coordination.
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A Student Kit with all the necessary items needed for at-home follow-up work.
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Support training for parents/teachers/tutors.
What can I (or my child) expect to gain from the program?
Clients leave the program with basic tools for learning, including:
- Experience and knowledge of how to correct perceptual disorientations.
- Increased awareness of what causes disorientations.
- Significant improvement in one or more basic academic skill.
- Knowledge and experience with learning methods for resolving confusion about symbols.
- Improved confidence and self-esteem.
Consistent use of the tools, as well as completing the prescribed follow-up work, is necessary to assure continued success with the program.
What happens after the program?
The client leaves the program with everything necessary to continue the process at home. Using the materials provided in the Student Kit, the support person will assist the client with completing all prescribed follow-up work. The client can call the Facilitator with questions or schedule up to three brief review sessions.
How is this program different from other programs?
Some of the ways that the Davis Program is different from other programs are as follows:
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The Davis method does not rely on instruction based on phonics.
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The Davis method does not employ repetition or drill.
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The Davis method does not rely on physical devices, such as colored overlays or large print books.
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The Davis method does not rely on medications or herbal treatments.
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The Davis method gets to the root cause of the problem by using the natural strengths and talents of the individual (rather than remediating a weakness). If the reason for the problem is eliminated, the problem ceases to exist!
Can the Davis Program help individuals with other diagnostic “labels?”
Dyslexia is a term used to describe a broad range of symptoms. Depending on the tests administered, often an individual with learning differences may experience symptoms of dyslexia, but be given a different label. Other common diagnoses that can be helped by the Davis Program (but are not limited to) are:
• ADD or ADHD
• Reading disability
• Language-based learning disability
• Dyspraxia (balance)
• Dyscalculia (math)
• Dysgraphia (handwriting)
• Auditory processing disorder
• Visual processing disorder
Why is the Davis Program “drug-free?”
Stimulant medications (Ritalin, Concerta, Strattera, etc.), antidepressants (Prozac, Zoloft, etc.) and antihistamines can prevent successful implementation of the Davis tools. Click here for more explanation of the reason these drugs can interfere with a Davis Program.
Clients will be asked to fully disclose all medications being used and are required to seek advice and permission from the prescribing physician if they choose to discontinue use of the medication.
Can this program help adults?
Yes! Ronald D. Davis made the breakthrough discovery about his own dyslexia that led to the development of the Davis Program at the age of 38. The level of maturity of adults, coupled with years of life experiences dealing with dyslexia, can bring about an amazing week of self discovery and empowerment during the Davis Program.
How does the Davis Program work for children who are in home school?
The Davis Program is ideal for students in home school. After the completion of the initial Davis Program, the support person can implement all the follow-up work into the daily home school schedule, and it can be paced to meet the needs of the student. Even siblings who aren’t dyslexic can benefit from some of the follow-up exercises!
Where do I start?
To familiarize yourself with the core concepts of the Davis approach to the correction of dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, ADD/ADHD, read The Gift of Dyslexia and The Gift of Learning, by Ronald D. Davis. Click here to order these books.