Description
At Ease with Dyslexia is a one to one visualisation programme for children and their parents, who have difficulty learning and who struggle with homework, spellings, reading or writing at school.
I am on the dyslexic journey with my son, and we have had to climb some very big mountains,cross dangerous rivers, and came up against many twist and turns on the road ,BUT we are at a stage where the mountains are hills, rivers are streams and the roads are motorways. Is it an easy journey? NO . Is it a worthwhile journey? ABSOLUTELY YES
We both have gone from tears, frustration, using the word stupid and no confidence in our ability to learn,to reaching out beyond the school to find a programme that EMPOWERED us both.
It is an automatic instinct for mothers and fathers to help their children,and it is so heartbreaking to see them struggle, although they are trying so hard to learn and you are left in the dark on how to help them.
When my son was in second class we were in deep deep waters, although he was receiving help in school, it just didn’t seem to make any difference.If anything, the extra work,on top of the daily homework only added to an already distressed situation. He just couldn’t read,retain words he had seen a million times,had no idea what the story was about and was unable to answer any questions. As for weekly spellings, they were hell on earth for us both. From early Monday morning and evenings till Friday in the car on the way to school we ploughed through them and still my poor suffering son only managed maybe 6-8 right out of 20!!!!! I just could not understand what we were doing wrong.
I knew we had to intervene as we were losing our very happy,confident child,who could build amazing Lego without the every looking at the instructions booklet,could repair bicycles,go karts and build ramps without my husbands help. I just knew he was so much more than what the school or Educational Psychologist report told us.
It was at this point that I started to research programmes out side the school, and I came across the Visualisation one that seem to tick all the boxes,especially the box that said the parents will be trained how to help their child at home on a daily basis.
We had to travel to Co.Wicklow from Galway twice, and it was the best decision we ever made. On the first visit we learnt as Andrew was being assessed that he had a phonically processing difficulty ie he couldn’t blend sounds, his auditory member was very poor and that he was a visual learner. I was apprehensive that all his learning issues could be sorted by using his visual memory,but I had no need to worry, as on the first visit he spelt “Hippopotamus” forwards and backwards.
I could see a light being turn back on in my sons eyes ,and a weight had being lifted off our shoulders. The second session was all to do with reading,comprehension,sequencing,eye tracking.
We applied all that we learnt while doing Andrews homework with him every day, and the results are just amazing. Obviously every parents wants their child to do well in the academic world, but what they really truly want, is a child that is happy,confident and believes in themselves to be what ever they want to be.
Our son is now just finished 2nd year in secondary school and his average score per term is 82.5%. I trained in the Learning by Pictures Program for 2nd level and applied the Visual techniques to curriculum .He mentions training to be a Engineer but who know, the world is his oyster.
If you want to invest in a life changing program that is being proven to work,who is taught by a mother of a dyslexic child this is the one.
“Dyslexia is not a pigeonhole to say you can’t do anything.It is an opportunity and a possibility to learn differently.You have magical brains,they just process differently.Don’t feel like you should be held back by it.”Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary of York.
The programme is called At Ease with Dyslexia.
Key Focus will be on the following problem areas:
- Forgetting Spellings
- Phonological Deficit
- Eye-tracking Difficulties
- Reading comprehension
- Sequencing Difficulties
- Writing Difficulties
- Handwriting Difficulties
The programme consists of 2 x 3 hour sessions with parent and child,usually a week apart and includes an initial assessment. Your child DOES NOT NEED to have a Educational Psychologist report. The parent stays with their child through out the two session and are giving clear verbal and written instructions at each session, so they can apply the techniques at home on a daily basis for 28 days. Why 28 days? The first 7 days is dedicated to child and parent learning new ways to learn, the next 21 days is changing the child’s mindset to a new way of learning, and forming long term new habits.
Parents and I will be in contact through out the 28 days, and I advise the parents to contact me immediately if they have any issues going forward and we can arrange a follow up appointment.
Most students completely the program smoothly and continue to use it throughout their National School days.
They then return usually in the summer prior to entering Secondary School to do the Learning by Pictures Program, that educates them on how to retain large volumes of information,be able to identify key points from any subject, learn how to use State Exam papers to their advantage and how to be so organised by using a “diary system” that will teach them planning six weeks in advance.
I really look forward to meeting your child in my centre Enhanced Learning for All( ELFA) in Loughrea ,Co.Galway
Breda (086)3792360
Cost: €500 2- 3 hour sessions complete program. Assessment, reading,spelling,eye tracking,comprehension,sequencing
Testimonials:
1.My son David, who is eight years old, has been struggling in school, from the first day really. Earlier this year, after many an assessment and a muddle of visits with various experts in their field, it was decided that David has Dyspraxia and dyslexia. While school have been largely supportive throughout and the advice from professionals such as his Occupational therapist, were invaluable, we still were at a point where we finished with first class with David struggling to one degree or another in lots of areas. Homework was the stuff that nightmares were made of and we coped by using alternative therapies to deal with the knock on stuff for David like anxiety and frustration.
We completed the month long program with Breda over the summer. It was hard work, it took commitment and lots of patience. Lots of the work had a fun aspect, so we just maximized that side of things when the going got tough, it was all worthwhile!
He is back in school two weeks and the improvements are immense. Spelling and reading have improved hugely, he is also much improved when it comes to listening to instructions and task completion and i just find we both have the coping skills to deal with the problems better as they crop up.
Most importantly, he is walking tall, going in the school gate and that means everything.
This program is great, it works and i wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it to anybody. Breda is an exceptional person, she has the personal experience and i found she had a great way with motivating David and explaining things, to both of us. As he said himself, i wish my teachers could be more like Breda!
Many thanks Breda,
Karen
2.Our son is dyslexic and it was when he first moved to first class I began to notice a slow reading pace , relying on phonic sound to say a word and spelling was a disaster , we struggled along , he got resource help at school and over time he seemed to be coping , my second son now in first class is showing the same difficulties . It was at this point I decided to look into dyslexia further and see what available help is out there . Don’t get me wrong the boys have wonderful teachers and get great support at school but why should they not be able to overcome these difficulties . Then I found Breda in October and is was like an angel had sent me to her . We had our first visit on Nov 16th and I left her office buzzing and for the first time could see light at the end of the tunnel . After speaking to Liams teacher it was agreed she would take him back into the spelling test for three to four words ,and I said let him do all of them as he does know them . He impressed her no end as he got all ten right and I know the same will happen again today . I have a bit more work to do with Liam and in the new year start all over again with my second son . This gives me great pleasure as I know this will help him also . Thank you Breda . Hilda Kerins Mayo
3.Thank you Breda for your programme. We are near an end and Christopher is flying it. There’s a whole new world of learning for children who need a different way of understanding and comprehending English. He is reading books that would take me a year to read!! This programme is for the young AND older child. Emma Moore Claire
4.Hi Breda,
Just a short note to let you know how we are getting on. It’s day 21 & already I can notice a change in Patrick, learning his spellings is not the big chore it used to be not only that he has increased the number of spellings he is learning every week and remembering them.
He is enjoying the what’s next & object games &; I can see his 2D & 3D memory improving the whole time, not only his it’s become a game we all play. His reading is still a bit slow but he is able to make a movie out of everything he is reading so I know he is understanding it.
At the beginning of this I was wondering how we would manage doing it every day for 28 days but it has just become a part of our daily routine & I think the fact that Patrick can see the results himself makes it easier. Be in touch soon.
Mary Roscommon.
5.My son Robert and I completed the At Ease with Dyslexia program with Breda Coughlan in February last. On the first day Robert came out spelling Hippopotamus front and back, he was on a high. The program is easy to follow and very comprehensive. The only thing a parent needs to do is commit – you must commit to doing it for the 28 days – but the results are great.
Robert is extremely lucky in that he has incredibly supportive teachers who are totally dedicated to helping him reach his potential. By completing this program I now feel that I also have a tool that is assisting him both at home and in school so the learning is full-time but in a fun way.
Robert is often hesitant about trying new things but, by listening to his needs and tailoring the program to way he learns Breda very quickly built rapport and trust with Robert.
It’s a great program and I would recommend it to any parent who is looking for a new tool to help their child with dyslexia.
Maureen Cork.
6. My son aged 9 had been struggling with his English and spellings for some time and was not up to the standard of his class. He had been assessed by the school but not diagnosed with any condition, no dyslexia or learning difficulty, but to me he was finding both these subjects hard going and therefore lacking in confidence in the classroom. He worked hard every week and put a lot of time into learning his 20 English spellings for the week. But I noticed that the following week he got them wrong and was not retaining them.
I heard about Breda’s program from another mother who son was diagnosed with Dyslexia and decided to look into it.
We completed the program for spellings and reading and the difference to my son is really great. The program provided us with a method of learning so that what he learns is retained in his long term memory. He is spending much less time learning spellings now but is doing much better and this has made him more confident in himself and at school.
We also did the reading program which was helpful in getting him to visualise the story he is reading and not just reading words. He is happier to read by himself now and is reading more books than ever.
For us it was a very useful program just to give us a method of learning spellings big or small and it has given my son a boost in his English and spellings and over all he is much happier with both subjects now.’
Breda Galway
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7.Hi Breda,
Just letting you know how we found the Dyslexia techniques you showed Emilie this August. When we finished we had a week off before school restarted.
Two months on her spellings have improved so much. She can spell backwards faster now than forwards. She may get 1 out of 12 wrong occasionally. But most of the time she gets 9 – 12 letter words right. Her reading has come on leaps and bounds.
Its not a quick majical fix. Its a work in progress. Most of all her confidence has grown. We are on a much better path. Homework is not the nightmare it once was.
Regards
B Sarah and Emilie Donlon Roscommon
8. Before the programme Oran simply had no tools to enable him to learn and retain spelling. He was and is unable to use phonetics as a key to unlocking words. Now thanks to Breda Coughlan and press play he is able to learn and retain even the most difficult of spellings.
Thanks Breda
9.Dear Breda,
Just a note to thank you for all your help . Since completing the programme Gavin has gained so much confidence in everything that he does. I no longer have to sit beside him when he is doing his English. He has being in two plays and learned all his lines in a few days. He has also sang in church and is learning the tin whistle. He reads in bed at night and is always writing stories. I would never have envisaged any of the above ever taking place before we did the press play programme.
Thanks very much
Aileen Leitrim
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