Before the program our son avoided reading using excuses from a sore arm, headache etc that was because he was not able to read. When he printed he printed letters backwards, he used capitals at the wrong places; there were no sentences or words, just a bunch of letters on the paper that all ran together and unable to decipher most of it. After a psycho-educational assessment (which we paid for because the teacher said, “he just doesn’t want to”), Gage was reading and writing at a kindergarten level at the end of his grade 3 year. Every morning he woke up with, “I don’t want to go to school”, “The teacher always yells at me”, “nobody likes me”, “The teacher always gets mad at me”, “I have no friends”, “I hate my life”, etc. etc. When he came home from school I heard the same comments again!! How does a child get up and continue going to a place that makes him feel so bad!!!

To be honest, I was sceptical of the Davis program, I didn’t understand how any of this could work because I do not see or think that way. But I was more desperate to help my child than sceptical. After meeting with Helen for his assessment I felt more comfortable about what she will be able to help him with.

Our son went on a one week program with Helen. Every day after the program when I picked him up, he always spoke great words describing Helen’s patience, kindness and how great it felt to have someone understand how he can learn. He wished he could stay longer than a week. He came home a “Spartan”, he was going to keep fighting to win! Helen gave my son the ability to learn which also gave him his self esteem. There was such an incredible difference in him after this one week program that I don’t know where to begin! Not only has his reading reached a grade 3 level (within 2 months of the program), but his printing is better, his self esteem has improved, his whole person seems to be so much happier. I rarely hear the words about being yelled at, no one liking him etc. We continue our clay words weekly (we do about 3 a week), daily koosh ball (which helps immensely), and reading.

We are planning on going back to Helen in the spring to do another program to deal with some ADD issues and some social issues. He is looking forward to another week with Helen. I cannot say enough about how much I believe that this program helped my child. He was so depressed and even spoke of not wanting to live any longer; that broke my heart. I have not heard those words since the program.

Thank you so much Helen for giving us so much!!

Charlene (Gage's mom)