Dear Trustees,
Calvin has now completed eight days with our Davis Dyslexia Association Facilitator and we wanted to update you with his progress so far.
Calvin, before the beginning of this course was very hard on himself and always felt different from others in class even though he is a very caring child. He often took to heart small comments that were not meant to hurt anyone and therefore often found social situations difficult. When we picked Calvin up from school often his shoulders were down as he had taken something the wrong way.
During the first week with our Facilitator we had this amazing transformation from a hesitant child to a more confident and talkative child. During this time we learned a lot about Calvin that we as parents had not realized.
We were unaware that there were many things that caused Calvin to disorientate and as Shelley worked with him regarding lines (orientation lines) Calvin opened up as to exactly how disorientated he was including the following:
Calvin has tennis lessons and is a good player but admitted that he had been unable to tell the double and single lines apart and that the ball was sometimes bigger like one and a half balls coming towards him. He also said sometimes there were two nets on the court one down low and the other one up higher. He has since had a tennis lesson and his coach was amazed at how well controlled he hit the ball and was placing it towards the lines.
Calvin's voice level was always louder than everyone else but within three days his voice level was down to ours.
Walking down the street Calvin will now show us things that are brighter in colour or different from the normal.
The first night we had fish and chips Calvin walked up to his plate and said "Wow is this what chips look like?" Before he would eat his fish first then go back for his chips now everything is on one plate.
The change in Calvin was so noticeable that our two other children went to town and brought a present for him from their own monies because they were so proud of him.
This is what their card said: "We decided that we will get you a present because we have seen such a big change in you. Now we have one very happy Calvin." This was all done by Calvin's brother and sister without either Andy or myself knowing.
Calvin has now started back at school and has come home everyday happy and full of exciting news of what he and his friends have been up to. He has even been voted as one of the class's two Student Councilors.
Calvin's schoolwork has improved and is now reading his age group without using his coloured glasses (previous resource - not part of Davis programme).
As we work through the clay models with Calvin he tells us this is making his reading and writing so much easier.
We would like to say a big thank you for helping Calvin to finally feel like he fits in with his peers and give him the tools to help with his schoolwork.
This is truly an amazing course and if we can be of any assistance or act as a referee for when you apply for funding please let us know.
Thank you again,
Denise & Andy
Received by email, 22 February 2006.
Some personal details including surnames have been omitted for privacy.
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This is a personal account from the parents of a child who has completed the Davis Dyslexia Correction® programme through a Scholarship provided by the Cookie Time Charitable Trust.