From the
Harrisburg Patriot-News. In the picture, Paige Redmond receives instruction in vocabulary structure with Latin roots by tutor Eleanor Weigle while at the learning center.
When Ali Rubin was in the first grade, her mother noticed she was having trouble reading.
"She seemed to struggle and yet was so very bright," said Jenny Rubin of Harrisburg. "On one of her first spelling tests, all the words were correctly spelled but were mirrored letters."
Immediately, Jenny and her husband, Steve, sought advice from other parents and had their daughter tested for learning disabilities. Through a combination of programs and hard work, Ali is now in public school, on class level in the eighth grade and recently received an outstanding report card.
"A critical part of her success is she now understands her learning process and what strategies work for her," Jenny Rubin said. "It has taken a great deal of hard work on her part, but she has confidence in herself and her abilities. And, she is also a well-rounded child, which is evident in all she accomplishes."
Experts say it is often scary for parents to admit their child has a learning problem. The fear of their child being labeled is coupled with a fear of failure and a sense of not knowing exactly what to do.
According to the National Institutes of Health, one in seven Americans has some degree of learning disability. Additionally, 80 percent of students with learning disabilities have trouble reading.
Janet McCaulin, director of special education in the Central Dauphin School District, said most reading comprehension issues start in elementary school. The district's teachers, through observation and screening can discover if a student is not performing at class level.
"Our goal is for early intervention to unlock that puzzle," she said. "Interventions, which typically last a few weeks to a year, close the gap and try to boost the student's achievement. We continually try something new to make progress."
"The number of students in kindergarten to second grade identified for special ed has dropped considerably because of early interventions," she said. "As a parent, you can request testing if you suspect a disability and be a self-advocate to the teachers."
Sometimes, a child with reading problems can get extra help outside of school.
The 32nd Degree Masonic Learning Center for Children in Harrisburg provides after-school tutoring for children with reading problems.
R. Sylvia Rosen, director of the center, is enthusiastic about the potential to "cure" reading problems.
"There is a new report from the medical community based on brain scans -- functional MRIs --studying the brains of people with learning disabilities," Rosen said. "It shows that, neurologically, those with reading problems have an area of the brain that isn't firing correctly. So, you have a student who is intelligent, athletic, has all sorts of talents, but can't read due to this misfiring. Our goal is to remediate, to change the situation from what it is and to make it better. It's actually "curing" the situation. Before and after remediation brain scans have showed incredible results."
The Masonic center uses the Orton-Gillingham program, which works with all senses, and teaches language in sequential ways, Rosen said. "It's multi-sensory, very structured. ... We want people to read accurately and easily, comprehending what they're reading."
The center in Harrisburg, one of 55 in the Northeast, has served more than 200 students since 1994. The program, funded by the Masons, is offered free of charge to students. Tutors work with the students one on one, so the program is tailored to them.
There is a three-year waiting list to get into the program, and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.
There are also schools that are designed for children with learning differences. The Janus School in Mount Joy is the only independent school in the midstate offering core academic programs to students with learning differences. Students from 14 counties arrive daily at the K-12 school. Ali Rubin credits her 21/2 years at Janus as the key to understanding that "all great minds don't think alike."
Robin Payne, director of admissions, said learning differences are often misunderstood. "At Janus, we teach our kids to understand their learning differences and advocate for themselves."
Typically, families have explored other options before they reach the Janus school, and they're often "frustrated," she said. "Early on, we make sure kids understand their learning differences, what they mean and don't mean. And, they need to understand their learning differences aren't going away. If you understand that, then you can work to acquire specific strategies for what works best for your needs."
Janus is a "transitional school," Payne said. "Our goal is constant, independent learning, helping students academically, socially and with communication skills."
Classes are small and intense with specific programs designed for the individual's need. Forty percent of students receive financial aid. There is also a summer program for students to keep current with their new skills as well as for new students to get acclimated to Janus and meet new friends.
Encouragement from parents and teachers as well as new strategies for learning help to assure a child's development and self-esteem.
"In addition, find a non-academic activity your child loves and can excel at, such as swimming, art or theater," Jenny Rubin said. "It will be a rewarding outlet."
From the Harrisburg Patriot-News. In the picture, Paige Redmond receives instruction in vocabulary structure with Latin roots by tutor Eleanor Weigle while at the learning center.
