Davis Toolbox Elements
The uniqueness of the Davis™ approach is that it is created for “picture thinking” minds, unlike language or sound based approaches to reading, which are unnatural to the minds of those with LD's. The benefit of these tools is that confusion is no longer a cause for frustration, simply a challenge to overcome; which means that calm and focused learning can occur.
Davis Orientation Counseling™
Orientation counseling is the initial step to mastering the disorientation associated with a persons' learning difference. It allows a person to better understand when they are disorienting and to choose, at will, if they would like to stop. Being able to disorient lends itself well to creativity, yet is a detriment to learning to read. Only once a person has the ability to turn this disorientation on/off as required will it be seen as a positive ability. This tool is taught through perceptual and kinesthetic exercises, and puts a person in control of their abilities to address math, word, and spatial problems effectively.
Release and Dial-Setting
These tools are used to address the issues associated with controlling anxiety, stress and energy levels. Before the program, clients find that their energy levels can fluctuate daily, and that at times, be a direct obstacle in productively accomplishing tasks. These tools help a person become in control of their level of energy, so they can master the ability of exerting the necessary amount of energy for the particular activity they are doing - without the use of medications and their side effects.
Davis Symbol Mastery™
This tool is a hallmark of how the Davis™ program works with the picture-thinking mind. This tool is one that can be applied to mastering all language through a method of breaking down words through visual clay models into what they look like (visual), sound like (auditory) and mean (definition). It begins with mastering common language-based symbols that may be a trigger for disorientation, such as the alphabet, grammar symbols and common words in the English language that do not have concrete visual representations. e.g. "tree, cat, flower" has a visual awareness - whereas "of, at, the", do not.
The purpose of Davis Symbol Mastery™ is the elimination of the "blank picture" that comes from not having a mental picture of the meaning of a word. Once there is a picture, the visual learner is better able to remember the word and hence read it.
The Concept Mastery, used in several of the advanced programs, is about grasping the natural laws of the physical universe and filling in basic missing life concepts, through the use of clay models as well.
Koosh® Ball Exercise
Used as daily practice for the tools and to re-enforce the neurological pathways established through the orientation, release and dial-setting so that clients can learn to stay oriented over longer periods of time.
Davis Autism Approach ® is a trademark of Ronald D. Davis. Commercial use of this trademark to identify educational, instructional, or therapeutic services requires licensing by the trade mark owner.
Professional services described as Davis™, Davis Dyslexia Correction®, Davis Symbol Mastery®, Davis Orientation Counseling®, and Davis Math Mastery® may only be provided by persons who are employed by a licensed Davis Specialist, or who are trained and licensed as Davis Facilitators by Davis Dyslexia Association International.