A Year

The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis

You can talk about reading comprehension, the power of the brain or types of learning styles, all important topics, but the process of becoming a Davis facilitator was one of the most important things for me!

It started in the early 2000's when I was on an intense journey. The journey's mission boiled down to one thing: my students. 

These elementary kiddos had abundant potential (some were my special ed students, others were simply in the same classes as my students. Some spent lots of weekends with my family and I, others only had a few minutes a week in their classroom as part of their IEP) that wasn't being accessed; furthermore, I was confused by the endless stream of medications and drugs some were religiously given. 

The array of seminars I attended had a bounty of information, but the sessions never quite hit the target for my students. 

Seminars were not the only place I searched. There was one book that jumped out at me through my research, The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis.  My husband generously bought me the book and I packed it without questioning for spring break 2001, reading it on the airplane as we passed over mountains in the western United States. My friends made fun of me for 'working' on vacation. I did not care! 

The Journey!

It would be several years before I would finally start the path toward becoming a licensed Davis facilitator, but once that journey began I was ALL IN for the RIDE! 

The year of training was long, required many sacrifices, but I was impassioned to obtain the best results obtainable. There were no short cuts on this journey, I had too many questions to answer. 

There was this one question that nagged at me -- How would people know I was capable of providing the Davis Dyslexia correction program? Would they trust me with their children? Would I honestly be able to help anyone? 

The specialist involved with my training told me she would always be there to vouch for me. That seemed reasonable. I still had questions!  

That was over twelve and a half years ago as I was finishing up my training. I genuinely had no idea time would speed along so quickly through these years! Sincerely, I know there were times in the beginning of opening a new business where I had to jump high hurdles, but sitting here typing, right here in this moment, I cannot name any hardships or struggles that didn't, in the end, pass rather quickly.

Reflecting over years of facilitating the Davis program it truly all comes back to dyslexia. 

That's right, dyslexia. Not in the way you might think of dyslexia, but my own dyslexia, it's about my own dyslexia now.  Some say they think my dyslexia has added to my ability to help others. Maybe they are right; maybe that's my gift of dyslexia, the ability to help others. 

I no longer wonder what my clients, their parents; students, their grandparents or friends think about this program. I believe in them without reservation. Wholeheartedly. Onward with the journey!

Thank you, Ron Davis!

  

Cathy Henkle Cook, M. Ed.

OnPoint Learning Center, LLC

Columbia, Missouri

(573) 819-6010

Empower Your Life with the GIFT of DysLeXia!