Dyslexia- A New Definition-‘Dyslexia Correction Breakthrough’.
Dyslexia: A Gift?
Even here and now, in the 21st Century western world, countless thousands of people suffer injustices, unfair treatment
and humiliation throughout their childhood and into their adult lives simply because they struggle to read or write.
Often they appear to be bright in every other respect. Often they are dyslexic.
Despite all our technological advances, literacy remains crucial to living a life of quality yet too many dyslexics
around the world continue to suffer silently.
Breakthrough research in the USA by Ronald D. Davis, author of the internationally acclaimed book The Gift of Dyslexia,
indicates that dyslexia is not a complexity, it is a compound of simple factors which can be dealt with step by step. At
dyslexia’s root is a natural ability, a talent. The gift of dyslexia is the gift of mastery. Davis will be touring New
Zealand 1-14 March to conduct a series of lectures to present his breakthrough methods for treating people with
dyslexia. Davis has helped many thousands of adult and child dyslexics all over the world to read and see their way of
learning as a talent and to enhance their natural creative ability.
Ron Davis believes that dyslexics have visual, multi-dimensional minds that are less predisposed to word-based thinking.
It is this difference in perception and thinking style that causes dyslexics not to easily recognize printed symbols
such as letters of the alphabet and written words and have difficulty with teaching approaches, which emphasize phonics
and phonemic awareness. According to Davis, if control can be gained over perceptual disorientation by using simple
mental processes, and language skills taught with methods adapted to picture thinkers, then someone who is dyslexic will
be able to read and write without problems.
Considered autistic from infancy, Davis grew up labelled a “dummy” at home and “mentally retarded” at school. Despite
his severe learning disabilities, he became a successful engineer, businessman and sculptor. Davis was functionally
illiterate until the age of 38 when he discovered a method that allowed him to read a book cover-to-cover for the first
time in his life without struggling.
Davis went on to research and develop the training procedures known as Davis Dyslexia Correction Program, for dyslexic
adults and children that are now changing the face of special education and learning disability throughout the world.
These methods are geared towards the unique learning style of dyslexics. The unique aspect of his work is a series of
perceptual and kinesthetic exercises called Orientation Counseling which quickly and easily enable people prone to
disorientation and who suffer from learning difficulties to control the mental processes that cause distorted
perceptions of letters, words and numerals.
Davis has also developed creative learning procedures called Davis Symbol Mastery which allows dyslexic students to
think with symbols and words so they can learn to read easily and with full comprehension. The process involves students
modelling symbols and word concepts in clay, a multi sensory process that enables them to exercise their creativity.
With this approach, learning is permanent.
“During my 3 years as a licensed Davis Facilitator I have been honored to work with clients aged 8 to 49 and seen
spectacular changes in their lives’” says Alison Syme of Darfield. “My husband heard Ron speak on his first New Zealand
and was so impressed he enrolled for a programme that night. The Davis methods enabled him to understand his
difficulties, resulting in the confidence and means to set and achieve goals.”
To quote the parent of a 16 year old client, “Results are often long term, but on his return we saw immediate
improvement in his reading, and with the follow up work. His confidence is still gaining. It is an understatement to say
that we are really pleased we chose Davis!”
The Davis methods enable each client to learn successfully and confidently, gaining a higher sense of self-esteem and
self control.
Ron and Alice Davis founded Davis Dyslexia Association International (DDAI) in1995. Its goals are to increase worldwide
awareness about the positive aspects of dyslexia and related learning styles and to present methods for improving
literacy. DDAI is accomplishing these goals largely through Ron Davis’ international lecture tours, professional
workshops, certification and licensing programs, its high profile website www.dyslexia.com and its international
quarterly newsletter, The Dyslexic Reader.
Since 1995, DDAI has established training representatives all over the world including New Zealand. Each of these
branches offers information services in local languages and various levels of professional training in the Davis
methods. Those who undergo the full training regime become licensed and certified Davis Facilitators. DDAI provides
referral services and technical support to more than 450 licensed Davis Facilitators who offer the Davis Dyslexia
Correction Program in thirty-nine countries and in thirty languages.
Davis methods claim a 97% success rate correcting (not curing) dyslexia and related conditions such as dysgraphia,
dyscalculia, attention difficulties and dyspraxia.
Mr. Davis will present two-hour lectures in Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Auckland, Wanganui and Nelson to inform
parents and educators on his breakthrough methods. The program will cover Ron’s fascinating history, how he developed
his methods, and will examine issues including how dyslexics think, how dyslexia develops, how dyslexics learn best and
how the condition can be corrected. The Christchurch lecture is to be held at Christchurch Boys High School, 5 March at
7:30 p.m. The lectures cost $10 per adult. Enquiries To Canterbury Dyslexia
Copies of ’The Gift of Dyslexia’ are available upon request.
ENDS