In addition to having dyslexia, she is
one of 15 people in the United States
known to have a particular variety of
Primary Immune Deficiency Disease
(PIDD) – and Alopecia. Sara has faced
many challenges in her life so far, yet
she has the most positive attitude and a
delightful, refreshing personality, with
a smile for everyone!

the Davis Method..............1 Davis Family Closer in Texas........6 If You Love a Dyslexic, Get this Book 11 Fa Nichts; Much Ado About Very Little 12 A Cherished Thank You...........14 Love Story?....................15 Please Turn Off That Light

and Go to Sleep..............16 The Lame Goat.................16 Famous Dyslexics Remember.......17 Success Stories in Anthony’s Words . .21 Under One Roof.................22

In the Mail......................2 Book Reviews.................9-11 Q&A.......................18-20 New Davis Licensees..........24-25 Davis Workshops............. 26-28

Before I can discuss the positively
amazing impact the Davis Method has
had on my life, first I should give some
background about my dyslexia.

I was diagnosed as a
“severe to extreme”
dyslexic while in my 3rd
year of study at university.
The reason this was such a
late diagnosis is that there
is a myth in our culture
that dyslexic equals thick,
or stupid. My supporting

not thick (they were concerned at my
development when very young and
took me to a physiologist who said I

Sara – positive attitude, delightful
personality, beautiful smile – and about
to earn a black belt in Tae Kwon Do!

Immune Deficiency (CVID). The
disease is genetic. However, the origin
of the disease is not 100% clear as her
parents do not seem to have it. Sara’s
family is participating in a research
study at All Children’s Hospital, and
hope the doctors there will come up
with some answers.

People with this condition do not
make many antibodies on their own.
For example if you gave me a vaccine,
my body would make antibodies to
fight the disease in question. But Sara’s
body would make very few, if any.

Since Sara can’t make antibodies on her
own, once a week a blood product is
infused underneath her skin (similar to
the way diabetics gets insulin). The
infusion takes about an hour. The blood
product contains antibodies from a
thousand different blood donors.

was bright. So they always believed
that I was intelligent, but if I was not
dumb, in their view, I couldn’t be

dyslexic. By the time a tutor of infinite
patience at the university’s
Neligh Help Centre
suggested I get assessed,
I was very willing.

shoulders. It was a great
moment of vindication.
I remember walking home
from the assessment filled

and talents should be recognized and valued, and that learning problems can be corrected.EDITORIAL BOARD: Laura Zink de Diaz, Alice Davis & Abigail Marshall.DESIGN: Gideon Kramer.SUBSCRIPTIONS: one year $25 in US, add $5 in Canada; add $10 elsewhere.BACK ISSUES: send $8.00 to DDAI.SUBMISSIONS & LETTERS:

We would like to tell you how pleased we are with the Davis Program our son, Chad Leith, participated in with Sher

different strategies. Chad’s teachers and we ourselves have noticed a considerable improvement with his schoolwork.

he now reads aloud in class as well. It
has boosted his self esteem a great deal.
We strongly recommend this program
as it has shown a huge improvement in
our son’s abilities, attitude, confidence
and co-ordination. Mrs. Goerzen and
this program have well exceeded our
hopes and expectations and we hope
more children will get the same
opportunity.

understand that he has never picked up
a chapter book because they were too
difficult for him, yet now he picks up
a chapter book on his own and is able

In any moment of decision,
the best thing you can do
is the right thing, the next
best thing is the wrong
thing, and the worst thing
you can do is nothing.

In November 2005, Cathy Dodge
Smith invited her clients to come to a
Celebration of the Gift of Dyslexia. To
underscore the “magic” of the Davis
Dyslexia Correction program, she hired
a magician who not only entertained
children and adults alike, but showed
kids how to do some tricks! It was a
great day for everyone who attended.

Sean has good
advice for
everyone at the

(Top) Davis Facilitator, Cathy
Dodge Smith, and a group of her
young clients, celebrate their

Dyslexia.” Paul is reading a page from a book – his gift. Amanda is displaying some artwork, while Des is reading a poem he wrote. Sean is telling the

work if they want to reach their goals.
He had just landed his dream co-op
placement as an assistant chef in a
large hotel.