Article

Colleges Fail To Teach Reading To Teachers

"Effective treatment for dyslexia and related language learning disabilities is among our educations systems best kept secrets."
- First Lady Mrs. Barbara Bush

"Several demonstration projects, research studies, and tracking statistics demonstrate the positive impact of special-education techniques, including multisensory reading instruction, in reducing delinquency."
- Dr. Marc Lewkowicz

"It is the schools which hold the key to avoiding the type of conflict we see in the family courts."
- Judge Jeffrey Gailet

Parents Don't Care - Or Do They?

By Joan T. Esposito

"Parents don't care!" This is a comment I hear over and over again, usually from adults who were fortunate enough to be born with the gift of being able to learn how to read and write while attending grade school. Often the comment comes from adults who have high school diplomas and adults who are often gainfully employed in our public school or justice systems. People judge people by their own standards. This article is being written to provide insight into why some (not all) parents might not seem to care or be involved with their children's educational needs.

Article

Holes In Their Soles, But They Can Read

By Joan T. Esposito

This article is being written for teachers in order to emphasize how important you are for our children who have learning disabilities. The future lives of these children are literally in your hands.

There will never be an easy time for me to relate this story to you, so I will try my best to do it now as my last President's message. In February of this year I was called back to my home town Liverpool, England, for my older brother's funeral. Jerry's funeral was one of the most painful experiences of my life.

Article

The Right to Read

By Margie Sloan

"The sadness experienced in school stays with you forever. Early wounds may heal, but the scars are a constant reminder of a painful experience with the traditional method of learning."

So says Joan Esposito, president and founder of Santa Barbara's Dyslexia Awareness & Resource Center. Joan and her husband, Leslie Esposito, started the non-profit group at 928 Carpinteria Street in 1990.

Article

Bad Teachers - Or Are They?

A Commentary By Joan T. Esposito

Volunteer of the Week: Leslie Esposito

By Marilyn McMahon (Santa Barbara Newspress-1999)

Dyslexia was unknown to Leslie V. Esposito until 10 years ago. Now, he spends much of his time educating the community about learning disabilities that can hamper a person's ability to read.

"My wife Joan had the problem, which we discovered soon after we were married. We didn't realize what it was," Esposito said. "She was almost a recluse. I thought it was because she was shy or because she was from England. I also noticed that Joan had trouble writing."

Article

Reading Programs

Multisensory means simultaneously teaching the visual, auditory and kinesthetic-tactile elements to enhance memory and learning.

This fact sheet lists effective teaching approaches for adults with learning disabilities.

No one program works for all children and adults. A well-trained teacher/tutor should be trained in at least three methods of teaching reading, including the multisensory approach.

Article

Recommended Resources and Newsletters

There are hundreds of places to turn to for information about the many aspects of learning disabilities. We've selected a few of the most useful. Listed below are newsletters, Websites, phone number and addresses where you can find additional detailed information and help.

Article

Myths About Dyslexia

Myth: Mirror writing is a symptom of dyslexia.
Truth: In fact, backwards writing and reversals of letters and words are common in the early stages of writing development among dyslexic and nondyslexic children alike. Dyslexic children have problems in naming letters but not in copying letters.

Myth: More boys than girls have dyslexia.
Truth: Boys' reading disabilities are indeed identified more often than girls', but studies indicate that such identification is biased. The actual prevalence of the disorder is nearly identical in the two sexes.

What Is Dyslexia In Children?

Most children have no trouble at all learning to read. At young ages they begin making connections between letters and sounds, sounds and words, words and thoughts. For these children, the process of reading is simple and natural.

For more than one out of ten children, however, learning to read is a continuous struggle.

Pick Your Homepage

DARC Services

About DARC

Reference

Support DARC