I provide programs of the Davis Dyslexia Association International (www.dyslexia.com) and the Davis Autism Approach (www.davisautism.com).  In my 30 years experience before learning about Davis, I used the best word thinking approaches to help the learner put-together or take-apart sounds to read and spell words. Before the Davis approach recognized the value of employing our natural picture thinking, all dyslexia approaches relied on relating sounds and symbols.  We know that one size does not fit all, thus one way of doing things will not help everyone. 

With dyslexic thinkers, using word-thinking approaches is like trying to download Apple into Microsoft, both being wonderful systems.  Educators and parents can be fooled when a person gains the skill of recognizing and naming words, yet lacks understanding, remains confused and frustrated, often with the feeling of dislike for the activity, upset stomach, frustration when all their trying results in little success. 
 
With autistic thinkers, the world they live in feels made up of random pieces – and each piece is in the ‘now’.  When stuck in the ‘now’, many experiences surrounding them can be overwhelming or be the opposite and not register in their consciousness. The resulting behaviors look like sensory sensitivities and ADD hyper- or hypo- attentiveness. 

The Davis approach is different from every other approach – A fully certified Davis Provider gives the learner credit for being smart in a picture thinking way and provides them with tools to rely on the certainty that comes with knowing how to make sense of language whether reading, spelling or writing. 

It took me decades to discover and two years for each certification with the Davis Dyslexia and Autism Approaches to offer learners a way to ‘make sense’.  Don’t wait until you’ve tried other approaches only to realize that no matter how you try to get the information into the brain, confusion and anxiousness turn on a stream of uncertain possible outcomes picture-thinkers are capable of creating in their multidimensional way;  this results is uncertainty about what is accurately occurring. 

If you and your child and teacher are not getting expected results, consider the possibility that using the only approach relying on getting to the root of struggles using their creative, picture thinking intelligence will be their way of ‘making sense’.

Before the invention of written language, dyslexia and other focus-based and symbol-based ‘dis’abilities didn't exist.  Instead, persons who struggle with written language were likely custodians of oral history because of their excellent ability to memorize and transmit the spoken word.

Imaginative play, an early childhood staple, is rife with examples of intuitive thought and nonverbal thinking. Kids great at this perceive and formulate mental concepts faster than other people, and easily perceive imagination as reality. 

We see kids seamlessly slipping in and out of imagination during their play.  This nonverbal mode of thinking can cause difficulty in learning written language. How?  When efforts to read or write are met with our kids automatic slipping into imagination, they do not come out with words or symbols you expect.  How is this fair?  Their imagination has served them well in other ways, why not with this?

We interpret these difficulties as issues with focus. Unaddressed, this becomes a major complaint, rather than revered gift. 

Being in the real world is a feeling, just as being in the imaginary world is a feeling.  Knowing that negotiating the real world requires both our imaginary-self and real-self to work together is the essence of ‘focus’. 
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By simply recognizing the feeling of focus (being present, oriented), getting tools to make that easier, finding symbols or situations that trigger the need to use their imagination and how to resolve these triggers, you’ll be providing them the best of both worlds.

Keep on doing what you are doing with giving them opportunities to enjoy their creativity alone, with other kids, in group activities, with you.  Take some time to investigate the Davis® tools that help people succeed because of, not despite, their natural way of thinking.  Call, email, or visit my website to consider more Learning Options with which children and adults are empowered.