ellycat3

In My Own Words

I reluctantly chose to homeschool my daughter after years of public schools not working for her. From Feb 2007 to May 2008 we paid $400 a month for tutoring through the Huntington Center. They were a wonderful Center, but we really couldn't afford it. But what choice did we have? In March, 2008 we received her diagnosis from Allegheny General Hospital. Dyslexia. We felt confident that with the diagnosis, her Instructional Support Team would be able to help us. They dismissed the diagnosis and said they were going to use the same methods that had not worked for the past 2 years. We enrolled her at Laughlin Center June 2008. Again, $400 a month. She started the Orton Gillingham program. It is a multi-sensory program that helps dyslexic children understand their world of text. We realized that her public school would not let her learn that way. There would be no cheering of spelling words allowed. They wouldn't even allow extra time for reading test. June 2008 I enrolled her in PA Cyber Charter School. August 2008, her Instructional Support Teacher offered to give her tutoring an hour a week. December 2008, they gave her 2 hours a week with a Title 1 instructor. January 2009 we pulled her out of the Laughlin Center because PA Cyber offered a similar program free of charge. We are also currently experimenting with Vision Therapy, which luckily our insurance is paying for. I also have a painfully shy pre-schooler. I am scared to death for him. I am hoping he will grow out of it, but we will cross that bridge when we have to!

Parents I'd Like to Meet

I am no expert, but if you are at the begining of your journey with dyslexia, feel free to contact me. I would also know what it takes to shake up the current school board. Why aren't they spending money on new programs for education instead of astro turf?