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Alberta Literacy Award of Merit

Finalist for Canadian Postal Literacy Award

Member of:

Davis Dyslexia Association International Logo

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Better Business Bureau of Southern Alberta

How a Gift can cause a Disability

[Overview] [Disabilities Corrected] [How They Think]

At the root of dyslexia, ADD and many other learning disabilities is a gift. It is the ability to think and perceive multi-dimensionally in order to eliminate confusion. These individuals are very intelligent, curious, intuitive and imaginative. They often show great talents in specific areas such as: the arts, designing, engineering, storytelling, piloting vehicles, strategic planning, inventing or spatial awareness. Yet, when they enter school and attempt to read and write, they struggle and can be mislabeled "lazy", "daydreamers", "slow", or "undisciplined". The methods used at Rocky Point Academy^® show them how to recognize and control the mental processes that cause distorted perceptions in vision, hearing, movement/balance, and time.

To make our website simpler we use the terms "dyslexia" and "ADD" when speaking about the thought process we work with. We have had success working with clients diagnosed with the following:
Medical Term	Simple Definition
ADD	struggles with maintaining attention or focus
ADHD	ADD with the addition of physical motion
Asperger's Syndrome	autism with a high level of functionality
Auditory Processing Disorder	struggles with processing spoken language
Dyscalculia	struggles with math
Dysgraphia	struggles with writing
Dyslexia	struggles with reading or spelling
Dyspraxia	struggles with coordination
Hyperactivity	struggles with controlling energy levels
Irlen Syndrome	another name for dyslexia
Learning Disability	unexplained struggles with learning
Nocturnal Enuresis	bedwetting
Non-verbal Learning Disability	struggles responding to social cues
Sequencing Disorder	struggles with sequencing.
Stuttering	repeated hesitation and delay in uttering words
Tourette's Syndrome	involuntary movement, sound and/or language
Visual Processing Disorder	another name for dyslexia

Although we have worked with these disorders, we cannot work with a client until Rocky Point Academy^® has assessed the individual for the thought process we work with. Our assessments are FREE. Our program is primarily designed to correct language based problems, math issues, or attention disorders.

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The following chart shows why this gift can be a disability until correction is given. Again, we are using the terms ADD and Dyslexia when referring to any learning disability caused by the thinking process we work with.

Picture Thinkers

As those with ADD or dyslexia read, write and listen we string together pictures in our minds in order to understand what is being read/said.

Hit a Word with No Picture

When reading, writing, or listening we come across words for which there is no picture. (eg. the, was, but)

Confusion

Usually we push on despite the blanks until the sentences are broken up so much that comprehension is lost.

Disorientation

Dyslexics have a perceptual talent, triggered by confusion (or any emotion), which works against us when it comes to reading symbols such as letters and numbers. Subconsciously, we flip symbols around in our mind and view them from every direction, trying to understand what is being read.

Those with ADD do the same thing with what they hear and see giving them incorrect perceptions of what really occurred.

Mistakes

To dyslexics and ADD individuals, these distortions appear as reality. Therefore we make mistakes in what we are reading, writing, or how we react to situations. Some common mistakes may be:

Dyslexics:

Omitting a letter, number or word.

Altering a sequence of letters, numbers or words.

Skipping lines.

Stopping or hesitating.

Voice becomes monotone.

Writing is illegible or messy.

Reading, spelling or writing becomes slow and laborious

"Guessing" at words and spellings.

ADD/ADHD:

Lack of concentration

Tired in school or while reading

Impulsive

Easily distracted

Disorganized

Inconsistent (one day they can do something - the next day they can't)

Problems following instructions

Difficulty forming/keeping relationships with others

Frequent inability to sit still

Frustration

Due to making mistakes, reading, writing are no longer enjoyable. Those with ADD are frustrated with the reactions of those around them.

Compulsive Solutions

Compulsive behaviors, patterns and mental tricks are adopted to reduce the mistakes and frustrations caused by disorientation.

Some common old solutions are:

Dyslexics:

Extreme concentration.
Memorizing rather than understanding.
Rereading over and over.
Sounding out each letter of every word.
Avoiding reading or writing tasks.
Getting others to read or write for them.

ADD/ADHD:

Hanging around with the "wrong" crowds.
Becoming "class clown".
Withdraw from social situations.
Adopting the "I don't care" attitude.
Extremely good at making up excuses.

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fully licensed by:

Davis Dyslexia Association International^®

(403) 685-0067

info@rockypointacademy.com

^{®
2006}

We gladly accept:

Professional services described as Davis^®, Davis Dyslexia Correction^®, including Davis Symbol Mastery^®, Davis Orientation Counseling^®, and Davis Learning Strategies™ services may only be provided by persons who are trained and licensed through Davis Dyslexia Association International^®.