For most of my school years, I struggled with learning,
especially in high school. I worked
really hard and studied hard but could never remember what I was studying or
comprehend what I was reading. In
ninth grade I was diagnosed with having ADD.
I started taking Ritalin and stayed on that until after I
got married. It helped me a lot and
my grades did improve, but I always lived with a gut feeling that there was
something else missing because I was still having trouble comprehending what I
read. In 1995 I quit taking
Ritalin. I could not function
adequately without medication and in 1999 started taking Wellbutrin.
It helped me as well.
Before I went through my program with Larry Smith, I was a
little sceptical. I thought maybe
nothing could do any better that my being on Wellbutrin.
I decided to take the Davis learning course with
Larry for my reading, and even though I would be off my medication during the
course, I was sceptical about staying off of it.
In any case, I clearly decided I was going to take the course.
During the course, I first realized just how poor my
reading comprehension was. In fact,
I had difficulty accepting the fact that I had to start working at a grade 3
level reading. As Larry proceeded
to help me with the reading, I felt better about it.
Most importantly I felt like I was learning and I was able to easily
comprehend what I read. By the end
of the course, I jumped 10 grade levels and I was
feeling very happy about myself and feeling as though I could understand so much
more.
Working with the clay was the most fun.
I am still working with my words and I really enjoy doing them.
It just goes to show that we as dyslexics do think in pictures and we do
quite well at it. When Larry and I
worked with the clay, I was able to get a clearer picture of what the words
truly meant.
When we worked with the Koosh balls, it helped me to stay
focused and oriented. I was able to
reorient quicker. The unique thing
about Larry, that not many teachers that I have had could do, was he could
connect with me, and learning was not only fun, but also
simple and relaxing. He did
not push at all, and he could always tell when I was having difficulties. Larry
was very patient and let me take breaks whenever I felt I needed them as well as
when he could tell I needed one.
There were many times that I was enjoying myself so much that time was flying
by, and when it came time for a break, I wanted to keep going.
Now that I am done with the course, I
have gone completely off my medication, and I intend to stay off of it.
I am awake and alert without it.
I feel better about myself and other people have
told me time and time again that I look better and more relaxed.
I would definitely recommend Rocky Point Academy to anyone who is ADD and
dyslexic. Larry has a gift with
working with people and he is very good at what he does.
He helped me out a lot and I did better than I than I would have thought
during my course with him.
Ashley
